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These homemade pizza bagel bites are just as more-ish as they sound! That’s right – one is never enough. Once you know how to make bagel bites, you’ll want to rustle up this bite size pizza snack all the time. These mini pizzas make an easy lunch, quick snack or appetizer. If you love pizza, give these easy DIY pizza bagels a try. They’re everything you already love about pizza, just in a smaller format. I love to top mine with creamy mozzarella, juicy fresh tomatoes and fresh basil leaves for a colorful look and gorgeous flavor.
Mini pizza bagels combine bagels with garlic, Italian seasoning, tomatoes, marinara, and mozzarella. This Italian-inspired recipe offers fresh flavors and a great crunch.
Also try minestrone soup, eggplant parmigiana with vodka sauce or sheet pan Caprese pizza. Sheet pan gnocchi and sausage is also tasty.
Why You’ll Love It
A perfect snack: These crunchy little bites make a perfect snack. They’re also nice as an appetizer because they’re small and therefore not too filling.
Delicious flavors: Garlic, parmesan cheese, marinara, cherry tomatoes, mozzarella, and basil are wonderful Italian flavors you’ll love.
Easy to make: The recipe for these is so simple and you don’t have to make your own dough.
A speedy appetizer: You can make these from scratch in just half an hour, maybe a little less!
Homemade Mini Pizza Bagel Bites Ingredients
A complete list of ingredients and amounts can be found in the recipe card below.
Mini bagels: The basis of these DIY pizza bagels. You can find them at Walmart and other major grocery stores or else you can get mini bagels on Amazon.
Italian seasoning: A pinch of this adds wonderful Italian flavors.
Butter: You need to melt it first.
Marinara sauce: Use a jar or make your own. This is my favorite garlic marinara sauce recipe.
Cheese: I used fresh mozzarella and grated parmesan cheese.
Cherry tomatoes: Adds sweet freshness and a pop of color.
Basil: Fresh basil adds a pop of vibrant green and pairs beautifully with the Italian flavors.
How to Make Bagel Bites
For more detailed instructions with weights and measurements, jump to the printable recipe card.
Toast the bagels: Mix some parmesan and Italian seasoning, along with some garlic, into the butter. Now dip the cut side of each mini bagel into the butter mixture and then arrange on a parchment paper-lined prepared baking sheet and toast them for several minutes.
Add the toppings: Toss the chopped fresh tomatoes with some oil and Italian seasoning. Spoon some marinara sauce on to each bagel half and then add the sliced or shredded mozzarella, marinara and half the tomatoes and basil.
Bake them: Sprinkle some parmesan over the homemade pizza bagel bites and bake them until they’re golden and the cheese is melted.
Garnish and serve: Add the rest of the basil and some red pepper flakes and chopped parsley. Your bite size pizza snack is now ready to serve! So whether you’re looking for a lunch, snack or appetizer recipe, these mini pizza bagels are ideal.
Substitutions and Variations
Other toppings: Just as you can top a regular pizza with anything you want (yes, even pineapple!) you can do the same with this bite size pizza snack. Consider additions like ham, crumbled sausage, regular pepperoni or even turkey pepperoni. Add sliced olives, capers, mushrooms, or anything else you want. Use shredded cheese of any variety as a topping or, for some greenery, baby spinach leaves are good.
Bagels: Instead of plain bagels, you can substitute in whole wheat bagels for a healthier option or use regular sized bagels for a heartier snack.
Vegetarian: You can omit the meat for a vegetarian version.
Vegan: Swap the mozzarella and parmesan for a vegan-friendly cheese alternative if you want.
Gluten-free: Use gluten-free mini bagels instead of regular ones.
Serving Suggestions
As an appetizer: Enjoy them with other appetizers like fried deviled eggs and cheese puff pastry twists.
With brunch: I don’t see why you couldn’t make these as a breakfast item, especially since you can just pop them in the oven or microwave to warm them up. What about using bacon and cheese or sausage and cheese as the topping, just to make them more breakfast-like? They’d certainly make an unusual change from your usual bacon and sheet pan eggs, eggs Benedict or breakfast sliders.
How to Store Homemade Pizza Bagel Bites
Store: Keep leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator and eat within 3 to 4 days.
Freeze: You can also freeze them once they’re completely cooled.
Thaw: Defrost overnight in the fridge or reheat from frozen.
Reheat: Give them 15 to 20 minutes at 375 degrees F in an oven or toaster oven or 2 minutes in the microwave from frozen.
Top Tips
Chop your toppings: Since these are small, it’s best to chop all your toppings so the pizza bites are easier to eat.
Keep an eye on them: Once the mozzarella is melted, these are ready to serve. They can turn from perfectly cooked to burned in a matter of seconds!
Let them cool first: Don’t serve them straight from the oven. They will be very hot! Let them sit for 5 to 10 minutes first.
Homemade Mini Pizza Bagel Bites FAQs
Sure, if you want to make these bigger instead of a 2 or 3-bite appetizer.
The sky’s the limit really. Once you know how to make bagel bites, you’ll want to enjoy them as a lunch, snack or appetizer. They’re great to feed a crowd since you can assemble them in advance then just cook them when your guests arrive. You can also enjoy them cold the next day, so take them to work or even on a hike.
Homemade Mini Bagel Pizza Bites Recipe
Homemade Mini Pizza Bagel Bites
Ingredients
- 8 mini bagels
- ¼ Cup butter, melted
- 2 Cloves garlic, minced
- 2 Teaspoons Italian seasoning
- ¼ Cup parmesan, grated, divided
- 1 Cup marinara sauce
- 1 Cup cherry tomatoes, halved
- 1 Tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
- 24 Leaves basil, fresh
- 8 Ounces mozzarella log, cut into 16 slices
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F.
- Melt the butter. Combine with garlic, 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning, and 1 tablespoon parmesan.
- Dip each bagel cut side down into the butter and place onto a parchment paper lined baking sheet
- Place into the oven to lightly toast for 5 minutes.
- Meanwhile, cut the tomatoes into halves and add to a small mixing bowl. Toss with olive oil and 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning.
- Add a spoonful of marinara to the top of 8 bagels. Place a slice of mozzarella over each bagel, then top the bagels without marinara with ½ the basil and tomatoes. Sprinkle parmesan cheese over the bagels.
- Place back into the oven and bake for 10 minutes
- Top the mini pizzas with the remaining basil and garnish with chopped parsley and red pepper flakes. Let them cool for 5 to 10 minutes before serving.
Notes
Keep an eye on them: Once the mozzarella is melted, these are ready to serve. They can turn from perfectly cooked to burned in a matter of seconds!
Let them cool first: Don’t serve them straight from the oven. They will be very hot! Let them sit for 5 to 10 minutes first.
Nutrition
Discover how to make easy mini bagel pizzas and you will be able to rustle up a homemade pizza bagel for any occasion or for an after school snack. They’re warm, crunchy and bursting with fresh Italian flavours – now doesn’t that sound like a perfect lunch, snack or appetizer?
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Bella Bucchiotti
Bella Bucchiotti is a Canadian-based syndicated food, travel, and lifestyle writer, photographer, and creator at xoxoBella. She founded xoxoBella in 2015, where she shares her love for food, dogs, sustainability, fitness, crafts, outdoor adventures, travel, and philanthropy to encourage others to run the extra mile, try new recipes, visit unfamiliar places, and stand for a cause. Bella creates stress-free and family-friendly recipes for weeknight dinners and festive feasts.
I love this recipe, it’s so easy and it was so fantastic! My kids loved it too!
This is one of my go-to recipes of yours. Thank you!!
Absolutely loved this recipe! The combination of flavors was exquisite, and it was so simple to prepare.
My kids ask me to make this for snack. They loved this recipe as much as I did!
Easily the best the pizza bagels I’ve ever had!
I’m happy you liked them!
why have i never tried these before? they look so easy