These homemade air fryer bagel bites are crispy, cheesy, and ready in 5 minutes. Top mini bagels with pizza sauce, mozzarella, and your favorite toppings, then air fry at 380°F for 3 to 5 minutes. Each serving has 7 grams of protein.
Air Fryer Bagel Bites At A Glance
- ✅ Recipe Name: Air Fryer Bagel Bites (Homemade Mini Pizza Bagels)
- 🕒 Ready In: ~5 minutes
- 👪 Serves: 4
- 🍽 Calories: ~141 per serving (with sauce and cheese, before extra toppings)
- 💪 Protein: ~7g per serving
- 🥣 Main Ingredients: Mini bagels, pizza or marinara sauce, shredded mozzarella, optional toppings
- 📖 Dietary Info: Vegetarian without meat toppings; easily made gluten-free or dairy-free with swaps
- ⭐ Why You'll Love It: Crispy mini bagels with melty cheese in about 5 minutes, and everyone can build their own with their favorite toppings.
SUMMARIZE & SAVE THIS CONTENT ON
These bagel bites grew out of two of my most popular air fryer recipes: my air fryer tortilla pizzas and my air fryer pizza rolls. Mini bagels turned out to be the perfect base for pizza night in miniature: crispy on the outside, soft in the middle, and just the right size for sauce, cheese, and a few toppings.
I first shared this recipe in 2022, and a few small things make the biggest difference. I use Trader Joe's mini bagels for their size, shred my own mozzarella so it melts evenly, and keep the sauce to a small spoonful so the toppings don't slide off.
At 380°F, they cook fast, so I always check at the 3-minute mark. The cheese goes from melty to burnt quickly.
When I want a break from red sauce, I swap in my nut-free basil pesto for a pesto pizza version. The perfect after-school or pre-gym snack!
Jump to:
- Air Fryer Bagel Bites At A Glance
- How Long Do Bagel Bites Take in the Air Fryer?
- Ingredients You'll Need
- How to Make Air Fryer Bagel Bites (Step-by-Step)
- Tips for the Best Air Fryer Bagel Bites
- Topping Ideas and Easy Swaps
- How to Store and Reheat Bagel Bites
- Air Fryer Bagel Bites FAQs
- More Cheesy Air Fryer Recipes You'll Love
- 📖 Recipe
- 💬 Comments
How Long Do Bagel Bites Take in the Air Fryer?
Homemade mini bagel bites take 3 to 5 minutes at 380°F. Full-size bagel halves take 5 to 8 minutes at the same temperature. They're done when the cheese is fully melted, and the tops aren't burning.
Every air fryer runs a little differently, so start checking at the 3-minute mark (5 minutes for full-size). The cheese can go from melty to burnt quickly. For even cooking, arrange the bagel halves in a single layer with a little space between them so the hot air can circulate.
Ingredients You'll Need
Homemade bagel bites only take three ingredients: mini bagels, pizza sauce, and shredded mozzarella. Then add whatever toppings you like. You'll find the exact amounts in the recipe card below.
- Mini Bagels: Any kind works, whether plain, everything, sesame, or gluten-free. I like Trader Joe's mini bagels because they're the perfect size.
- Sauce: Use pizza sauce, marinara, vodka sauce, or arrabbiata. For a white pizza, swap in my healthy alfredo sauce. For a pesto version, use nut-free basil pesto.
- Cheese: Mozzarella gives you the classic pizza melt, but cheddar, Swiss, an Italian blend, or dairy-free shreds all work. Shred your own if you can. It melts more smoothly than pre-shredded cheese.
- Toppings: Mini pepperoni, ham and pineapple, mushrooms, peppers, and olives are all great. Any meat should be fully cooked first (like sausage, chicken, or ground beef), since these only spend a few minutes in the air fryer. I love these air fryer chicken sausages.
How to Make Air Fryer Bagel Bites (Step-by-Step)
These come together in just a few minutes. Here's how to make them:
- Step 1: Sauce the bagels. Slice the mini bagels in half and spread about 2 teaspoons of pizza sauce on each half, leaving a little border around the edge.
- Step 2: Add the cheese and toppings. Sprinkle shredded mozzarella evenly over the sauce, then add any toppings you like.
- Step 3: Air fry. Place the bagel halves in the air fryer basket in a single layer. Air fry at 380°F for 3 to 5 minutes, checking at the 3-minute mark.
- Step 4: Cool and serve. Let the bagel bites cool in the basket for 1 to 2 minutes so the cheese sets a little, then enjoy them warm.
Tips for the Best Air Fryer Bagel Bites
A few small details make the difference between perfectly melty bagel bites and a mess in your basket:
- Watch out for watery toppings: Mushrooms, spinach, and pineapple release water as they cook, which can make the bagels soggy. Pat them dry first!
- Keep your toppings in place: The air fryer fan can blow mini pepperoni around. Press them into the sauce or tuck them under a little cheese.
- Thaw frozen bagels first: If your mini bagels live in the freezer, let them thaw before topping. Otherwise, the middle stays cold while the cheese melts.
Topping Ideas and Easy Swaps
The best part about homemade bagel bites is that everyone can build their own. Here are some of my favorite combos, plus easy swaps for different diets.
Favorite Topping Combos
- Classic Pepperoni: Mini pepperoni and mozzarella.
- Hawaiian: Ham and pineapple.
- Supreme: Cooked sausage, peppers, onions, mushrooms, and olives.
- Sweet and Spicy: Pepperoni and hot cherry peppers, with a drizzle of hot honey after they come out of the air fryer.
- White Pizza: Alfredo sauce, spinach, and shredded chicken.
- Pesto Pizza: Pesto, mozzarella, and cherry tomatoes.
Easy Swaps
- More Protein: Add shredded chicken, chopped deli turkey, or cooked ground beef.
- Make them Gluten-Free: Use your favorite gluten-free mini bagels.
- Make them Dairy-Free: Swap in dairy-free shredded cheese.
- Full-Size Bagels: Use 2 to 3 tablespoons of sauce per half and air fry for 5 to 8 minutes.
How to Store and Reheat Bagel Bites
Bagel bites are best fresh, but leftovers keep well. Here's how to store them:
- Fridge: Let them cool completely, then store in an airtight container for 3 to 5 days.
- Freezer: Wrap each bagel bite individually and store in a freezer-safe container for 2 to 3 months.
- Reheat: Air fry at 300°F for 2 to 3 minutes until the cheese is melted again.
Air Fryer Bagel Bites FAQs
Yes! Frozen Bagel Bites take longer than homemade because they cook from frozen. Arrange them in a single layer and cook until the cheese is fully melted and the bagels are heated through.
Bagel Bites are the frozen mini pizza bagels sold in grocery stores. Homemade bagel bites are the same idea, made fresh with mini bagels, sauce, cheese, and your favorite toppings.
Usually it's too much sauce or watery toppings like mushrooms, spinach, or pineapple. Use a thin layer of sauce and pat wet toppings dry. If your bagels were frozen, thaw them first so they heat through evenly.
Yes, for any meat. Sausage, chicken, and ground beef should be fully cooked first, since bagel bites only spend 3 to 5 minutes in the air fryer. Pepperoni, ham, and deli turkey are already cooked, so you can add them straight on.
Each serving (1 mini bagel, or 2 bites) has about 141 calories and 7 grams of protein. For more protein, top them with shredded chicken or chopped deli turkey.m
More Cheesy Air Fryer Recipes You'll Love
If you loved these mini bagel bites, try these air fryer recipes next:
Did you make this recipe?
If you make this recipe, be sure to comment and rate it down below. Also, don't forget to tag me @healthfulblondie on Instagram and use the hashtag #healthfulblondie so I can see your delicious creation and share it with my followers!
📖 Recipe
Air Fryer Bagel Bites
Ingredients
- 4 plain mini bagels, cut in half
- ⅓ cup pizza sauce or marinara
- ½ cup shredded mozzarella, plus more if desired
- Optional toppings: mini pepperoni, ham, pineapple, cooked sausage, peppers, mushrooms, olives
Instructions
- Prep the bagels: Slice the mini bagels in half and lay them cut side up.
- Add the sauce: Spread about 2 teaspoons of sauce on each half, leaving a small border around the edge.
- Top: Sprinkle the mozzarella evenly over the sauce, then add any toppings. Press light toppings like mini pepperoni into the cheese so they stay in place.
- Arrange: Place the bagel halves in the air fryer basket in a single layer with a little space between them.
- Air fry: Cook at 380°F for 3 to 5 minutes, checking at the 3-minute mark. They're done when the cheese is fully melted.
- Cool and serve: Let them cool in the basket for 1 to 2 minutes, then enjoy warm.
Notes
Nutrition
Recipe tested and developed by Tati Chermayeff, creator of Healthful Blondie. A former Division I rower, Ironman triathlete, and recipe developer based in Austin, TX, Tati creates high-protein, air fryer, and healthy recipes that actually taste like the real thing.
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