Homemade Pizza Bagels covered with layers of sauce and cheese on a slate serving tray on a dark wooden surface (with logo overlay)

Quick and Easy Homemade Pizza Bagels Recipe

Ordering pizza can get costly, so I found a way to make my own personal pizza bagels whenever I want it for lunch or dinner or a late-night snack.

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I am a sucker for some good cheesy pizza! I craved pizza so badly when I was pregnant with Tyler. Pizza was about the only craving I really had. And nothing could beat it. To keep the costs down, I started making homemade pizza bagels at least once a week. 

I have always enjoyed pizza, though. When I was in high school, Friday night was pizza night. We always ordered our Papa John’s pizza and a Coke. My best friend knew it. She was over most Friday nights and everyone knew that was pizza night in the Beller household!

Ordering pizza can get costly, though, so I have found a way to make my own personal pizza whenever I want it for lunch or dinner or a late-night snack. Besides, have you ever checked the ingredients and nutrition facts for frozen mini pizza bagels? I much prefer to make them at home so I can use decent ingredients. And when it only takes a few minutes, there’s no reason not to.

Actually, Justin was the one who made homemade pizza bagels one night when we were in college. I don’t know why I hadn’t ever thought of it before. I love bagels. In our family my grandma was known as the “bagel queen” and I was the “bagel princess”. You can almost always find a package of bagels in my pantry at any given time.

The best part of this recipe is being able to customize it to exactly what you want. I like cheese only and I like ricotta cheese along with mozzarella. Justin doesn’t like ricotta but always wants pepperoni on his. Tyler and Ryan can never make up their minds if they prefer cheese only or pepperoni, so we have to ask every time. That’s also why we make regular homemade pizza most of the time, too. 

I’ve only ever made this recipe with plain bagels, but I’m sure you could also try it with some of the flavored bagels as well. I don’t think blueberry would be very good for it, but everything bagels might be if you like those ones. I always buy Thomas brand bagels, but that’s just a personal preference since it’s what I grew up eating. And if you want small ones for the kids, you could also buy mini bagels and make those as well.

The best way to cook pizza bagels is in the oven under the broiler. But you can also heat them in the toaster oven or the air fryer. This easy recipe is so versatile, it makes the perfect easy snack or dinner for those busy weeknights. 

Topping Suggestions

Some of the toppings we have tried on pizza or pizza bagels include:

  • ​Mozzarella Cheese
  • Ricotta Cheese
  • Parmesan Cheese
  • Cheddar Cheese
  • Pepperoni Slices
  • Mini Pepperonis
  • Turkey Pepperoni
  • Ground Beef
  • Italian Sausage
  • Bell Peppers
  • Onion
  • Black Olives
  • Mushrooms
  • Pizza Sauce
  • Marinara Sauce
  • Garlic Powder
  • Italian Seasoning
  • Red Pepper Flakes

Homemade Pizza Bagels Step by Step

Ingredients

  • 2 bagels
  • 4 tbsp pizza sauce (or marinara sauce)
  • 1/2 cup mozzarella cheese (shredded)
  • 2 tbsp each pizza toppings desired

Preparation

Pizza Bagels are fairly simple to make. Start by lining your baking pan with foil. Of course, you don’t have to do this, but it makes for a much quicker cleanup when you are done. Or you can use a silicone baking sheet since those still clean easily and don’t waste the aluminum foil.

Lay your bagels open on the baking sheet and start to build your pizza by adding the sauce to each bagel half. Tip: If you are using ricotta cheese, it’s easier to spread that before the sauce so it can stick to the bagel better.

Sliced bagels covered with a layer of ricotta cheese placed on a dark baking stone
Sliced bagels covered with a layer of ricotta cheese and pizza sauce place on a dark baking stone

Top the sauce with mozzarella cheese and any other desired toppings such as pepperoni, black olives, mushrooms, extra cheese, etc. Anything that would be good on a regular pizza will be good on these bagels as well.

Set your oven’s broiler to low and cook the pizza bagel halves under the heat for about 5-7 minutes. You want the cheese to melt and start to brown but not get too cooked. This will also warm the bagels a bit and the sauce. Remove from the oven and serve while they are warm!

Homemade Pizza Bagels covered with layers of sauce and cheese on a slate serving tray on a dark wooden surface (vertical)

Pizza Bagels Leftovers

Storage: Store leftover pizza bagels in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 days.

Reheating: The best way to reheat pizza bagels is in the oven, toaster oven, or air fryer. If you microwave them, the bagels tend to get soft and chewy.

Freezing: If you want to freeze leftovers, lay them in a single layer on a rimmed baking sheet. Once frozen, move to a freezer bag. They should last for up to 2 months in the freezer.

Pizza Bagel Recipe

Originally Published On: November 14, 2016

Last Updated On: June 13, 2023

Homemade Pizza Bagels covered with layers of sauce and cheese on a slate serving tray on a dark wooden surface

Homemade Pizza Bagels

Ordering pizza can get costly, so I found a way to make my own personal pizza bagels whenever I want it for lunch or dinner or a late-night snack.
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 5 minutes
Total Time 10 minutes
Course:
Main Dish
Cuisine:
American
|
Italian
Keyword:
bagel
|
cheese
|
sauce
Servings: 2 pizza bagels
5 from 4 votes

Ingredients

  • 2 bagels
  • 4 tbsp pizza sauce
  • 1/2 cup mozzarella cheese (shredded)
  • 2 tbsp each pizza toppings desired

Instructions

  • Line pan with foil for easy cleanup
  • Add sauce to the bagels
  • Add cheese and toppings on the bagels
  • Broil on low for 5-7 minutes or until cheese starts to brown
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Nutrition Facts
Homemade Pizza Bagels
Amount Per Serving (1 each)
Calories 379 Calories from Fat 63
% Daily Value*
Fat 7g11%
Saturated Fat 3g15%
Cholesterol 22mg7%
Sodium 893mg37%
Potassium 226mg6%
Carbohydrates 58g19%
Fiber 2g8%
Sugar 1g1%
Protein 17g34%
Vitamin A 320IU6%
Vitamin C 2.1mg3%
Calcium 160mg16%
Iron 1.9mg11%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

All nutritional information is based on third-party calculations and should be considered estimates. Actual nutrition content will vary based on brands used, measuring methods, portion sizes, and more.

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34 thoughts on “Quick and Easy Homemade Pizza Bagels Recipe”

    1. I was told by someone else that they do the same and it’s very similar. I love the texture of bagels and how thick they are, so that’s what I use. I’m going to try English Muffins next time though since it’s been suggested a few times.

  1. 5 stars
    My daughter and her friends love to make their own bagel bites for their sleepovers! Sometimes we use the mini bagels and sometimes they pick thier own flavors!

  2. These look like my kids would seriously devour them. They love bagel bites and so these would be so much easier and better I am sure!

  3. Pizza bagels? Oh yes please!!! Love how easy they look to make, this is a perfect snack for kids and adults. Amazing recipe

  4. 5 stars
    Yum, pizza bagels! I remember coming home from work one evening and my kids were so excited because daddy let them make special pizzas. When I questioned him what special pizzas were it was bagel pizzas. I love the memories that are tied to such simple things.

  5. 5 stars
    These look GREAT! Here is a little secret. Where I live they DO NOT make bagels! My daughter’s favorite is a good bagel and she would love this pizza bagel idea! Maybe we will try it when we move back to America. YUMMO!

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