Description
Crispy pizza bagels are a quick, customizable, and crowd-pleasing after school snack for kids. With a crunchy bagel base, gooey cheese, and your favorite toppings, these bites are ready in under 20 minutes and perfect for busy families.
Ingredients
- 4 mini bagels (plain or whole wheat), sliced in half
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 8 tablespoons pizza sauce (store-bought or homemade)
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese (part-skim recommended)
- 16 pepperoni slices (regular or turkey, optional)
- 1/4 cup diced bell peppers (optional)
- 2 tablespoons grated parmesan cheese (optional)
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning (optional)
- 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
- Nonstick spray or parchment paper
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or spray lightly with nonstick spray.
- Slice 4 mini bagels in half horizontally using a serrated knife to make 8 halves. Place cut-side up on the prepared baking sheet.
- Lightly brush or drizzle the cut sides of the bagels with about 1 tablespoon olive oil.
- Bake the bagel halves for 4-5 minutes, until edges start to turn golden and feel slightly firm.
- Spoon 1-2 tablespoons pizza sauce onto each bagel half and spread evenly.
- Top each bagel with about 2 tablespoons shredded mozzarella cheese and a sprinkle of grated parmesan if desired.
- Arrange 2-3 pepperoni slices, diced bell peppers, or other toppings on each bagel.
- Sprinkle with Italian seasoning and red pepper flakes if desired.
- Return tray to oven and bake for 8-10 minutes, until cheese is melted and bubbly, and edges are crisp.
- Transfer bagels to a wire rack for 1-2 minutes to set the cheese and keep bottoms crispy.
- Serve warm and enjoy.
Notes
Pre-toast bagels for crispiness and avoid soggy bottoms. Use low-moisture mozzarella for best results. Let kids assemble their own bagels for a fun, hands-on snack. For extra crunch, broil bagels for 1 minute at the end. Bagels can be made gluten-free or dairy-free with substitutions. Store leftovers in the fridge for up to 3 days or freeze for up to 1 month.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 13-15 minutes
- Category: Snack
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 mini pizza bagel h
- Calories: 170
- Sugar: 3
- Sodium: 350
- Fat: 6
- Saturated Fat: 2.5
- Carbohydrates: 22
- Fiber: 2
- Protein: 7
Keywords: pizza bagels, kids snack, after school snack, easy pizza, crispy bagels, quick snack, customizable, party food, kid-friendly, cheese, pepperoni, vegetarian option, gluten-free option