By Becky Hardin
Updated Mar 13, 2025
My homemade Pizza Bagels are better than anything you can buy frozen! I cannot tell you how many times my two young kids have requested I make this recipe. It’s a fun, quick, and easy after-school snack that can be made with any toppings their hearts desire. You only need 3 ingredients (mini bagels, pizza sauce, and cheese) plus your favorite toppings to make these. It’s the perfect lunch for kids, appetizer for game day, or quick 15-minute snack for when you’re craving a bite of pizza!
As a busy mom of two young boys, I love that all I need to make them happy are mini bagels, sauce, and cheese. Once I developed this recipe, I’ve never gone back to store-bought. It’s just too easy and way too delicious, not to mention the boys love to help!
Variations on Mini Pizza Bagels
There are so many ways to change up this pizza bagel recipe. Try swapping out plain bagels for onion, everything , rye, asiago, or multigrain. You could also switch out the pizza sauce for marinara , pesto , Buffalo sauce , BBQ sauce , or alfredo sauce .
I sometimes swap out the mozzarella for cheddar, Parmesan, or pepper jack cheese! I love to ask the kids what they want to do for toppings and even let them help. At our house, the favorites are pepperoni, sausage, pineapple, olives, basil, tomatoes, Buffalo chicken , barbecue pork , or even garlic shrimp !
Notes from the Test Kitchen
- If your pizza sauce tastes a little plain, mix in some Italian seasoning or a pinch of garlic powder to amp up that classic pizza flavor. I usually make my own big batch of marinara sauce and use it for these mini pizzas, pasta dishes, and more—it’s a great time-saver!
- Toasting the bagels before adding sauce is key to avoiding a soggy base. A quick toast makes them sturdier and gives you that perfect crispy bite under all the melty cheese.
- For the best melt and fresh, creamy flavor, shred your own mozzarella instead of using pre-shredded. Store-bought shredded cheese often contains anti-caking agents, which can affect how well it melts.
Ingredients1x2x3x
- ▢ 10 mini bagels
- ▢ ½ cup pizza sauce
- ▢ 1½ cups freshly shredded mozzarella cheese
- ▢ Your favorite toppings: mini pepperoni, cooked italian sausage, italian seasoning, pineapple, olives, fresh basil, etc.
Video
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 425°F.
- Open the bagels and place them all cut side up on a rimmed baking sheet. Place the bagels in the oven for 5 minutes, or until they are just beginning to toast on top. 10 mini bagels
- Spread each bagel with 1 tablespoon of pizza sauce and top with 2 tablespoons of shredded cheese, as well as any of your desired toppings. ½ cup pizza sauce, 1½ cups freshly shredded mozzarella cheese, Your favorite toppings:
- Return the pizza bagels to the oven for an additional 5-7 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and gooey.
Equipment
- Baking Sheet
Becky’s Tips
- I’m using mini bagels for that classic “bagel bite” look but you could make these with regular-sized bagels as well.
- I’m using a store-bought jarred pizza sauce– but feel free to use whatever you have on hand. Marinara sauce would work just fine as well.
- Mozzarella is a must-have on pizza! Feel free to use as much or as little as you like on your pizza bagels. I recommend a whole milk low moisture shredded mozzarella for the best cheese-pulls!
- Nutritional information does not include toppings.
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
How to Make Pizza Bagels Step by Step
Toast the Bagels: Preheat your oven to 425°F. Open 10 mini bagels and place them all cut side up on a rimmed baking sheet. Place the bagels in the oven for 5 minutes or until they are just beginning to toast on top.
Top the Bagels: Spread each bagel with 1 tablespoon of pizza sauce and top with 2 tablespoons of shredded cheese, as well as any of your desired toppings.
Bake the Bagels: Return the pizza bagels to the oven for an additional 5-7 minutes or until the cheese is melted and gooey.
How to Store and Reheat
Pizza bagels are best served hot from the oven, but if you have leftovers, they will need to be refrigerated to keep them from spoiling. Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat in a 350°F oven for 5-10 minutes or until the cheese has melted.
How to Freeze
Freeze homemade pizza bagels in a single layer on a lined baking sheet until solid, about 1-2 hours. Transfer to an airtight container or Ziplock bag to store for up to 3 months. Reheat directly from frozen in a 350°F oven for 10-15 minutes.
Serving Suggestions
These mini bagel pizzas are the perfect easy dinner for kids or game day appetizers . Dip them in marinara sauce or ranch dressing for a classic pizza pairing!
More pizza recipes we love
Meat Lovers Breakfast Pizza (Sheet Pan Breakfast Pizza)
Texas Toast Pizza
S’mores Dessert Pizza Recipe (Easy S’mores Pizza)
Sausage Pizza
Pizza Bagels Recipe
Equipment
- Baking Sheet
Ingredients
- 10 mini bagels
- ½ cup pizza sauce
- 1½ cups freshly shredded mozzarella cheese
- Your favorite toppings: mini pepperoni, cooked italian sausage, italian seasoning, pineapple, olives, fresh basil, etc.
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 425°F.
- Open the bagels and place them all cut side up on a rimmed baking sheet. Place the bagels in the oven for 5 minutes, or until they are just beginning to toast on top. 10 mini bagels
- Spread each bagel with 1 tablespoon of pizza sauce and top with 2 tablespoons of shredded cheese, as well as any of your desired toppings. ½ cup pizza sauce, 1½ cups freshly shredded mozzarella cheese, Your favorite toppings:
- Return the pizza bagels to the oven for an additional 5-7 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and gooey.
Video
Notes
- I’m using mini bagels for that classic “bagel bite” look but you could make these with regular-sized bagels as well.
- I’m using a store-bought jarred pizza sauce– but feel free to use whatever you have on hand. Marinara sauce would work just fine as well.
- Mozzarella is a must-have on pizza! Feel free to use as much or as little as you like on your pizza bagels. I recommend a whole milk low moisture shredded mozzarella for the best cheese-pulls!
- Nutritional information does not include toppings.
Nutrition
By Becky Hardin
Published Jul 12, 2017
This Essential Grocery List is an absolute life saver for my family on the busy weeks. When I started this journey to learn how to cook, I quickly realized that the first step in cooking is having staple ingredients on hand. I want to avoid having to run out to the grocery store every single time I prepare a new recipe. Having a well-stocked pantry has made my life in the kitchen so much simpler, because when it’s time to cook, I have what I need.
Essential Grocery List
It’s so helpful to have a basic grocery list to help me remember which foods to buy at the store. This food shopping list is my go-to!
It’s better to stock up on things like grains, seasonings and spices, baking essentials, oils, condiments, canned and frozen foods, etc. so I can just grab them when I need them. These things have a long shelf life , so I keep them in my kitchen for convenience.
However, I do have to go to the supermarket sometimes, and there’s a way to make that trip easy and hassle-free: I keep a grocery list! If I go in blindly, I’ll leave with things I don’t need, and nothing that actually helps me prepare a good meal.
In the list below, I’ve compiled everything I always have on my stock-up grocery list.
I’ve got you covered! I created an easy grocery list filled with all of the essentials. Plus there’s a free printable version that you can take with you to the grocery store. It has everything you need to stock your pantry, your freezer, and your refrigerator.
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List
What to Buy at the Grocery Store
This is the perfect grocery list filled with all the basics and essentials. It should help get you going if you’re new to cooking, or if you’re just left staring helplessly at an empty pantry and don’t know how to fill it.
When I first started cooking, things could seem overwhelming. I quickly realized that they more prepared I could be, the more confident I felt. If you already have the basics in your kitchen, then you can shop stress-free.
So print out our easy grocery list, stock up your pantry and fridge, and you’ll be cooking in no time!
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List for the perfectly stocked pantry and freezer!
Fresh Produce
- Apples
- Bananas
- Strawberries
- Avocados
- Bell Peppers
- Carrots
- Broccoli
- Garlic
- Lemons/Limes
- Onion
- Parsley
- Cilantro
- Basil
- Potatoes
- Spinach
- Tomatoes
GRAINS
- Breadcrumbs
- Pasta
- Quinoa
- Rice
- Sandwich Bread
- Tortillas
MEAT/PROTEIN
- Chicken
- Eggs
- Ground Beef
- Sliced Turkey
- Lunch Meat
DAIRY
- Butter
- Sliced Cheese
- Shredded Cheese
- Milk
- Sour Cream
- Greek Yogurt
BAKING GOODS
- Baking powder
- Baking Soda
- Granulated Sugar
- Brown Sugar
- Flour
- Honey
- Vanilla Extract
- Dry Yeast
- Chocolate Chips
- Cocoa Powder
- Powdered Sugar
FREEZER
- Fruit and Berries
- Frozen Veggies (Corn, Peas, Broccoli, etc)
- Juice Concentrate
- Pizza or Other Convenience Meals
- Pie Crust
- Cookie Dough
CANNED/DRIED GOODS
- Chicken stock/broth
- Salsa
- Diced Tomatoes
- Jam/Jelly
- Peanut Butter
- Pasta Sauce
- Beans (Black Beans, Chickpeas, Baked Beans, etc)
- Soups
- Tuna
- Green Chiles
- Canned Veggies
- Coffee or Tea
Get more details on the best non-perishable and pantry foods
CONDIMENTS/SPICES
- Black Pepper
- Chili Powder
- Cinnamon
- Crushed Red Pepper
- Cumin
- Garlic Powder
- Ketchup
- Mustard
- Mayo
- Nutmeg
- Paprika
- Salt (Course Sea Salt and Kosher Salt)
- Soy Sauce
- Steak Sauce
- Hot Sauce/ Buffalo Sauce
- Salad Dressings
OILS/VINEGARS
- Apple cider vinegar
- Balsamic vinegar
- Coconut Oil
- Olive Oil
- Vegetable/Canola Oil
- Red Wine Vinegar
- White Vinegar
- Cooking Wine
- White Wine Vinegar
SNACKS
- Crackers
- Nuts
- Quick Oats
- Popcorn
- Tortilla Chips
- Cereal
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List for the perfectly stocked pantry and freezer!
Click ☝🏻 for my FREE Grocery List Printable!
I hope this essential grocery list can help you buy what you need and make your home cooking so much easier!
Stock Your Kitchen
Find more ideas for your grocery list, stock up your kitchen, and print more cooking guides and charts to keep handy!
Non-Perishable Foods to Stock Up On
Frozen Vegetables to Stock Up On (and Recipes to Make)
Ultimate List of Cooking Herbs for Your Kitchen
Ultimate List of Cooking Spices for Your Kitchen
Cooking Oil 101: Types of Cooking Oils to Use
26 Types of Pasta and When to Use Them
What Fruits and Vegetables are in Season?
Meat Temperature Chart (Free Printable)
How to Meal Prep (Guide for Beginners)
Basic Cooking Measurements & Kitchen Conversion Chart
