Air-fryer bagel bites make an easy after-school snack, lunch or dinner. They come together quickly and are completely customizable – add your favorite pizza toppings and enjoy.
If you grew up eating bagel bites in the 90’s as an after-school snack, you are going to love this homemade version. Bagel bites are completely nostalgic, crave-worthy and so fun to eat. They are everything you want in a comfort food. The bagel bites you find in the frozen section at your local grocery store are delish but if you want something a bit less processed, try making them yourself. When you make them in the air-fryer, you can have them ready in just a few minutes.
Mini bagels are topped with pizza sauce, mozzarella cheese and your favorite pizza toppings. Air-fryer them for a few minutes to toast the bagels and melt the cheese until it is golden, ooey-goey and completely delicious.
Air-fryer bagel bites are a nostalgic snack for adults and if you have young kids, they will love them too. Bagel bites are everything you remember them to be, chewy, cheesey, salty and crispy.
If you didn’t eat bagel bites as a kid, you may have made English muffin pizzas. The main difference between the two is that bagels are denser and chewier and have a slightly sweet flavor. They are able to hold up to the toppings better and the slightly sweet bagels go so well with salty toppings.
Ingredients:
You don’t need too many ingredients to make air-fryer bagel bites and you can customize the toppings to your liking. Use your favourite pizza toppings.
Mini bagels: classic (store-bought) bagel bites are small – hence the name “bites” so mini-bagels work best for this recipe. If you can find whole wheat mini bagels, go for those to add a bit of fibre to the recipe. If you can’t find mini bagels, regular sized bagels would also work and be a bit more substantial.
Pizza sauce: use your favorite pizza sauce for these air-fryer bagel bites or marinara works well too. If you have homemade sauce, feel free to use that.
Mozzerella cheese: grated mozzerella is a classic pizza cheese that melts well and has mild flavor.
Pepperoni: diced or quartered pieces of pepperoni work well because bagel bites are small. You could use regular pepperoni or turkey pepperoni for a healthier option.
Other toppings ideas:
Olives – sliced black olives cut up would be delicious and add a salty bite.
Pesto – swap pizza sauce for pesto for a grown-up twist on these bagel bites.
Mushrooms – add an earthiness to the air-fryer bagel bites
Bell peppers – finely diced bell peppers would add a touch of natural sweetness and a bit of crunch to the bagel bites.
Basil – garnish your bagel bites with chopped fresh basil if you want to add a bit of brightness and fresh herb flavor.
Cheese variations – provolone cheese also melts well and is delicious on pizza. It has a slightly stronger flavor than mozzarella and adds a grown up element.
How to make air-fryer bagel bites:
Making bagel bites is so easy! Start by slicing your mini bagels in half. Spoon about 1-2 tsp of pizza sauce over each bagel half.
Add diced pepperoni and whatever other pizza toppings you are using. Because the bagels are small, you don’t want to use too many toppings or else they will just fall off.
Top with grated mozzarella cheese.
Preheat the air-fryer to 350°F. add the bagels in a single layer. Air-fry for 3-5 minutes until the cheese melts and gets slightly golden.
Cool slightly and enjoy.
If you want to add a grown-up spin to these, top them with some spicy honey. Chef’s kiss.
Recipe FAQ:
Are bagel bites better in the air-fryer or oven?
Bagel bites turn out well with either cooking method. One main difference is they get crispier when cooked in the air-fryer. The air-fryer is fast and since this is a small recipe, it’s easier to use the air-fryer over turning on the oven. If you don’t have an air-fryer, you can put the bagel bites under the broiler of the oven and broil until the cheese melts and the edges of the bagel get crispy (3-5 minutes). Broilers are very hot and things can burn quickly so be sure to keep an eye on them.
How do you air-fry bagel bites?
This recipe is for homemade bagel bites and they need to be air-fried for 3-5 minutes.
Air Fryer Bagel Bites
Equipment
- Air fryer
- Cheese Grater
Ingredients
- 6 mini bagels
- 1/2 cup pizza sauce
- 12 pieces of pepperoni
- 3/4 cup grated mozzerella cheese
- olives, diced bell peppers, or your other favorite pizza toppings optional
Instructions
- Slice the bagels in half.
- Spread about 1 tsp of pizza sauce over each bagel.
- Top with pepperoni and other toppings if you are using them. Evenly distribute the mozzarella cheese over the bagels.
- Preheat the air-fryer to 350°F or 162 Celcius. Air-fry the bagels for 3-5 minutes until they are golden brown and the cheese is melted.
- Cool slightly and enjoy!
