Easy Homemade Pizza Bagels

This Easy Homemade Pizza Bagels recipe takes the nostalgic childhood staple and graduates it into adult status. A quick lunch, dinner, snack, or appetizer dish that combines your favorite pizza toppings onto fun individual bagel halves. Jump to Recipe

Mini Bagels

Full size bagels work fine for homemade pizza bagels but seeing as this recipe is based on the store-bought Bagel Bites, I opt for the mini version. Mini bagels also work best if you’re serving this as an appetizer or to a group. And if you’re customizing your toppings you can make more with different varieties. I love how the bagels provide a sturdy support for the pizza toppings and toast up nicely in the oven. I haven’t had an issue finding mini bagels at my local stores. They’re typically always plain bagels, but I think plain works best for this recipe anyway.

If you’d prefer to use full size bagels or can’t find the mini bagels at your store, not a problem. Garlic or sesame bagels are great options along with plain. Everything bagels could also work. I don’t recommend using any sweet flavors for this homemade pizza bagel recipe though.

Homemade Marinara Sauce

I use my homemade marinara recipe for these pizza bagels. If you’ve made other pizza recipes on C&C, then you’ve most likely had this marinara. I love its rich depth with a little spicy heat. To make it you will need: olive oil, shallot, garlic, red pepper flakes, dry red wine, tomato sauce, tomato paste, basil, oregano, parsley, salt, pepper, and a bay leaf. It only takes about 30 minutes. You can store leftovers in the refrigerator for up to five days to use on other recipes (or more homemade pizza bagels). You can also freeze whatever isn’t used for up to six months. However, if you’re pinched for time, store-bought marinara works too. I like this one from Carbone which you can order on Amazon.

Fresh Mozzarella and Fresh Parmesan

For every recipe on C&C I use fresh mozzarella and fresh Parmesan from my store’s cheese section and shred it myself. This homemade pizza bagel recipe is no different. It might take a little longer, but the taste is so much better. Ever since I started buying fresh, I’ve never gone back to the bag or pre-packaged versions. But of course, use whatever works best for you. While mozzarella is a must for this recipe, you can choose whether or not you want to sprinkle on the Parmesan at the end. I recommend it, but it’s not a total game changer.

Pepperoni

In order to match back to the pepperonis used on the store-bought Pizza Bagel Bites, I buy a pepperoni stick and cut it into rounds then slice into small pieces. I’ll use the rest of the pepperoni stick for other recipes like my homemade Homemade Italian Pasta Salad. Or snacking! You can also purchase mini pepperonis or use regular pepperonis and slice them.

Substitutions/Variations

Just like with regular pizza the sky is the limit when it comes to what toppings you decide to include or omit on homemade pizza bagels. Leave off the pepperoni to keep this recipe vegetarian. Or make it a meat lovers with sausage, sliced prosciutto, ham, or salami. Toss on banana peppers, roasted red peppers, or pineapple. Fresh basil is a favorite of mine. Or change the sauce altogether and instead of marinara try the spicy vodka sauce from my Gigi Hadid Pasta. I’d just be careful about your topping to bagel ratio. You don’t want the bagel to become soggy due to being too top heavy.

No bagels on hand but want to make your own individual mini pizzas? Try using English Muffins or my Homemade Pizza Pita recipe.

Homemade Pizza Bagel Instructions:

Preheat oven to 375 degrees to cook pizza bagels. Add halved mini bagels to a baking sheet sprayed with nonstick spray. Toast for 5-8 minutes. Remove and allow to cool slightly.

Marinara sauce:

Assemble Bagels

Bake pizza bagels for about 20 minutes or under the cheese is melted and the bagel crispy. Adjust time based on preferences.

Top with some fresh Parmesan and/or red pepper flakes and serve!

Storage and Reheat Instructions:

Store homemade pizza bagels in an airtight container or wrapped in aluminum foil in the refrigerator for up to three days. To reheat, simply preheat oven back to 375 degrees and cook pizza bagels for about 10 minutes or until baked, bubbly, and heated through. You can also reheat in the toaster oven or air fryer. I wouldn’t recommend using the microwave, because as you know if you’ve tried to cook Bagel Bites in there, they will become soggy.

Serve with…

If you’re making these homemade pizza bagels as appetizers for a game day or movie night, serve them along some other appetizers like these Potato Skins, Air Fryer Chicken Wings, or Easy Reuben Egg Rolls.

If you liked this recipe you might also enjoy…

Homemade Stromboli, Meatball Pizza , Homemade Pita Pizza, or Mini Bagels with Lox

Easy Homemade Pizza Bagels

This Easy Homemade Pizza Bagels recipe takes the nostalgic childhood staple and graduates it into adult status. A quick lunch, dinner, snack, or appetizer dish that combines your favorite pizza toppings onto fun individual bagel halves.

5 from 1 vote

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Cook Time 50 minutes mins

Course Appetizer, Main Course

Cuisine American

Servings 8

Calories 549 kcal

Ingredients

  

• 1 tablespoon olive oil extra virgin
• 1 shallot minced
• ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes add more if you like it spicy
• 4-5 garlic cloves minced
• ¼ cup dry red wine
• 32 oz tomato sauce
• ¼ cup tomato paste
• ½ teaspoon dried basil
• 1 teaspoon dried oregano
• ½ teaspoon dried parsley
• ½ teaspoon salt
• ½ tsp fresh ground pepper
• 1 bay leaf
• 1 bag mini bagels approx 10 bagels/20 halves
• 8 oz fresh mozzarella shredded
• 1 pepperoni stick casing removed, cut into rounds, then sliced into small pieces
• 2 tablespoon fresh Parmesan shredded (optional)

Instructions

 

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
• Add bagel halves to a baking sheet sprayed with nonstick.
• Toast in oven for 5-8 minutes. Remove and set aside.
• If making homemade marinara: Heat olive oil in a medium sized saucepan over medium heat. (If using store-bought skip to step 11.)
• Add shallot and sauté for a few minutes. Turn heat down to medium low.
• Add garlic and sauté for one more.
• Stir in red pepper flakes and cook one more.
• Pour in red wine and reduce by half.
• Add tomato sauce, paste, and seasoning.
• Stir well, bring to boil, cover and simmer on low for 30 minutes stirring occasionally.
• Add marinara sauce to toasted mini bagels.
• Top with mozzarella.
• Top with pepperoni.
• Bake for about 20 minutes or until cheese is melted and bagels are toasted to desired crispiness.
• Top with Parmesan and red pepper flakes. Serve.

Notes

• Just like with regular pizza the sky is the limit when it comes to what toppings you decide to include or omit on homemade pizza bagels. Leave off the pepperoni to keep this recipe vegetarian. Or make it a meat lovers with sausage, sliced prosciutto, ham, or salami. Toss on banana peppers, roasted red peppers, or pineapple. Fresh basil is a favorite of mine. Or change the sauce altogether and instead of marinara try the spicy vodka sauce from my Gigi Hadid Pasta. I’d just be careful about your topping to bagel ratio. You don’t want the bagel to become soggy due to being too top heavy.
• No bagels on hand but want to make your own individual mini pizzas? Try using English Muffins or my Homemade Pizza Pita recipe.
• If you'd prefer not to use a whole pepperoni stick you can use mini pepperonis or slice regular pepperonis into smaller pieces.
• As with all my recipes, I use fresh mozzarella and fresh Parmesan then shred myself.

Keyword bagel bites, homemade pizza bagels, Pizza bagels