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These homemade air fryer bagel bites offer everything you love about pizza bagels - crispy edges, melty cheese, and customizable toppings - but with fresh ingredients and better flavor than frozen versions. Perfect for quick snacks or casual entertaining.
Key Ingredients
- Mini bagels (fresh or frozen)
- Shredded mozzarella cheese
- Pizza sauce
- Desired toppings
- Italian seasoning (optional)
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Preparation Method
Split the mini bagels horizontally and arrange them cut-side up. Spread a thin layer of pizza sauce on each bagel half, being careful not to oversaturate. The key is using just enough sauce to flavor without making the bagels soggy.
Topping Tips
The success of these bagel bites relies on proper layering. Start with sauce, add a generous layer of cheese, arrange toppings evenly, then finish with a light sprinkle of additional cheese to hold everything together during cooking.
Assembly Steps
- Split bagels in half
- Apply thin sauce layer
- Add first cheese layer
- Add chosen toppings
- Finish with cheese
Cooking Instructions
Set air fryer to 380°F. Cook times vary slightly by model:
- 3 minutes for light golden
- 4 minutes for perfect crispiness
- 5 minutes for extra crispy
Let cool 1-2 minutes before serving.
Topping Combinations
- Classic pepperoni and mozzarella
- Italian sausage and mushroom
- Margherita style
- BBQ chicken
- Ham and pineapple
Storage Information
Store cooled bagel bites in an airtight container:
- Refrigerate up to 3 days
- Freeze up to 1 month
- Reheat in air fryer for 2-3 minutes
- Avoid microwaving to maintain crispiness
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Serving Suggestions
Perfect for:
- After-school snacks
- Game day appetizers
- Quick lunch option
- Party finger food
- Easy dinner solution
Recipe Notes
These homemade air fryer bagel bites offer a quick, customizable alternative to frozen versions. The key to success is not overloading toppings and watching cooking time carefully. Keep extra ingredients on hand - these tend to disappear quickly.
Frequently Asked Questions
- → Can I replace mini bagels with regular-sized ones?
- Yep, but you’ll need to cook them a bit longer—about 5 to 8 minutes—and spread 2 to 3 tablespoons of sauce on each half.
- → What kind of cheese should I use?
- Mozzarella is perfect, but you can try cheddar, Swiss, or a mix of Italian cheeses too!
- → Is this recipe dairy-free friendly?
- Totally! Swap in a dairy-free shredded cheese you like.
- → What sauce options can I try?
- You can use pizza sauce, marinara, even something fun like pesto or Alfredo!
- → How do I stop them from getting too dark?
- Keep an eye on them after 3 minutes since every air fryer heats differently.