Name: Easy Pepperoni Pizza Bagels Recipe
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 20 min
Yield: 4
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 4 bagels; 1 cup pasta sauce (225 gm); 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese (83 gm); 32 pepperoni slices

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Everyone's favorite food is pizza. Well, almost everyone - so of course these little mini pepperoni pizza bagels are a perfect addition to your menu. I love how fast it is to make these! Kids can help you make them and they are ideal for customizing and tucking into lunch boxes. Grab supplies and have fun making your own unique and tasty little bagel pizzas!

Mini Pizza Bagels Recipe

Stop buying Bagel Bites! Instead, make your own. These are easy to make, taste much better, and are definitely going to be popular with the kids. Adding your own custom toppings makes them better, plus you can make these in bulk and freeze them for easy meals. Just like the store-bought varieties!

These are the perfect guilt-free recipe for making lunch or pizza night even better. No matter what toppings you like, this is a great choice to make for serving your family or just a super easy snack for yourself.

What is the Best Bagel for These?

You can use any bagel you have on hand that is savory. Definitely avoid the cinnamon or pumpkin-flavored bagels! I like making my own with this homemade everything bagels recipe. Just leave off everything seasoning when baking. Of course, I like the extra flavor from that, but you might prefer plain. Some other options below make excellent choices for the base of your pizza.

Whole wheat bagels
Gluten-free bagels
Plain bagels
Asiago bagels
Jalapeno bagels
Everything bagels
Onion bagels
Egg bagels
Poppyseed bagels
Pumpernickle bagels
Garlic bagels
Cheddar bagels

What Kind of Sauce is Best For Mini Pizza?

Use whatever your favorite pizza or pasta sauce is for this recipe. I always keep some of this all-purpose pasta sauce on hand. It is great for use with this recipe or on pasta, so a perfect choice. You can also use basic tomato sauce with a bit of Italian seasoning and garlic for flavor. Below are some other sauce ideas that work well with different flavors of toppings.

Alfredo sauce
Vodka sauce
Marinara sauce
Garlic butter or garlic olive oil
Barbecue sauce
Ranch dressing
Pesto

What Toppings Can Go on Bagel Pizzas?

There is probably great debate about some items being put onto pizzas, but in my opinion, there is no wrong ingredient if you like the way it tastes. Whether you are on the pro pineapple side or against fruit on pizzas, there are sure to be some great ideas below to add flavor to your pizzas.

Pepperoni, turkey pepperoni, ham, Canadian bacon, ground beef, Italian sauce, chicken, or smoked salmon
Mozzarella, parmesan, asiago, fontina, provolone, cheddar, monterey jack, pepper jack, or feta
Bell pepper, onion, mushrooms, tomatoes, spinach, kale, olives, jalapeno, artichoke, or asparagus
Pineapple

Do I Need to Toast the Bagels Before I Add Toppings?

You do not have to toast the bagels before topping them to bake. However, if you prefer a crispier crust, you can definitely pop them into the toaster or oven until just browned. I find when making these ahead of time to reheat, it is best to toast the bagel so it doesn't get soggy when stored in the refrigerator before baking.

Can I Make These Ahead of Time and Freeze Them?

Yes! One of the best things about making bagel pizzas is that you can make them ahead of time and just freeze them for later. You can cook them, then cool, and freeze already cooked. If doing this, you will want to let them cool completely before wrapping and placing them into the freezer. They usually can reheat in the microwave for 1 to 3 minutes (depending on bagel size) before serving. Of course, they are also easy to reheat in an air fryer or oven.

If you want to make them unbaked for the freezer, I highly recommend wrapping them individually with plastic wrap before placing them in a freezer storage container or large freezer bag. Since the toppings are loose, they will fall off if not wrapped well.

These are good in the freezer for up to 3 months before use. When freezing, make sure you are labeling each one with the toppings so it is easy to grab the one you prefer. Also, add a date so it is simple to see if they need to be used sooner or later.

Ingredients

Bagels
Pizza sauce
Pepperoni slices
Shredded cheese

Handy Kitchen Tools

How to Make Mini Pizza Bagels

Preheat the oven to 375°F/ 190°C and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

Slice the bagels in half (if not already), and if desired toast for 5 minutes until just browned.

Lay the bagel halves on the prepared baking sheet (if not already), and spread a spoon of pasta sauce over the top of each bagel.

Next, add enough cheese to cover the top of the sauce.

Add toppings, being careful not to put too many items on top or they won't cook well. 3 to 4 pepperoni slices are usually plenty.

Place into the oven and bake for 10 to 12 minutes until the cheese is melted and just starting to brown.

Top with a sprinkle of parmesan or fresh chopped parsley if desired before serving.

More Homemade Pizza Recipes

If you love pizza, then you are sure to want more recipes to try. Below you will find some of our best ideas for making pizza delicious and easy at home. Whether you want a unique spin on pizza or a classic recipe, we have you covered. Bookmark, pin, or print the recipes and add them to your menu soon!

📖 Recipe

Yield: 4