6 Surprising, Totally Delicious Ways to Top a Bagel (2024)

Yes, you can get fancy with a bagel.

By

Charlyne Mattox

Charlyne Mattox is the food and crafts director at Country Living and former staff food editor at Real Simple.

Updated on October 07, 2022

6 Surprising, Totally Delicious Ways to Top a Bagel (1)

Wake up! Bagels aren't just for breakfast anymore. Try one of these tasty dough boys for lunch or a hearty snack.

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Bagel With Ricotta and Strawberries

6 Surprising, Totally Delicious Ways to Top a Bagel (2)

Thanks to a combination of ricotta, fruit, and honey, this bagel strikes the perfect balance between sweet and savory. To create your own, spread half a toasted whole-grain "flat" bagel with 2 tablespoons of fresh ricotta. Top with ½ cup of sliced strawberries and drizzle with 1 teaspoon of honey or agave nectar.

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Bagel With Cream Cheese, Apple, and Honey

6 Surprising, Totally Delicious Ways to Top a Bagel (3)

When you're craving something sweet, try this winning combination at breakfast or snack time: A cinnamon raisin bagel is toasted and then topped with plain cream cheese, sliced Granny Smith apples, and a drizzle of honey. If you're not a fan of cinnamon raisin bagels, just swap in your favorite variety.

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Bagel With Avocado and Radish

6 Surprising, Totally Delicious Ways to Top a Bagel (4)

If you've grown tired of cream cheese, trade the spread for one full of healthy, good-for-you fats. Top toasted bagels with a creamy mixture of mashed avocados and lemon instead. Slivered radishes provide extra nutrients—like fiber and vitamin C—and a delicious crunch to every bite.

Chicken, Sprouts, and Provolone Sandwich

6 Surprising, Totally Delicious Ways to Top a Bagel (5)

When stuffed with chicken and vegetables, your favorite breakfast food is just as satisfying for lunch or dinner. This oversized sandwich features sliced chicken breast (use a store-bought rotisserie chicken to cut down on prep time), provolone cheese, sprouts, and whole-grain mustard sandwiched between two sesame bagel halves.

Get the recipe.

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Bagel With Prosciutto, Tomato, and Gruyère

6 Surprising, Totally Delicious Ways to Top a Bagel (6)

There's really nothing better than a warm, doughy bagel…except maybe one that's reminiscent of a meat lover's pizza. Simply broil layers of prosciutto, tomato, red onion, and gruyere until the cheese is gooey and the top is golden brown to create a meal that's more suitable for lunch or dinner than breakfast.

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Bagel and Cream Cheese With Tomato and Cucumber

6 Surprising, Totally Delicious Ways to Top a Bagel (7)

This may be the first time you see the kids crack a smile over eating their vegetables. This quick and easy breakfast takes 10 minutes to make and features a quirky smiley face made out of cut up tomato and cucumber slices atop a bagel spread with plain cream cheese.

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6 Surprising, Totally Delicious Ways to Top a Bagel (2024)

FAQs

What is the most popular topping on a bagel? ›

The most popular topping is regular cream cheese, followed by bacon and avocado.

What do New Yorkers eat on their bagels? ›

New York style bagels are usually high in calories, and eating just one can be a satisfying meal. But what are they traditionally filled with? To make a bagel like the Jewish community did in the 1930s, "schmear" your bagel with cream cheese. Then layer your bagel with lox or another form of cured fish.

Are bagels healthier than bread? ›

Unfortunately there's no simple answer to this question. In terms of calories, on average one bagel has more calories than one slice of bread. However, if you choose to have a bagel with more fibre, this may help you feel fuller for longer and potentially reduce your snacking throughout the day.

What makes a bagel better? ›

A good bagel should have a thin, shiny, crackly crust spotted with the kind of microblisters that you can only get from proper boiling followed by a high-temperature bake. It's these little bubbles that add both surface area and crunch.

What is the most popular way to eat a bagel? ›

While bagels are typically associated with breakfast food, you can eat bagels for any meal of the day with any number of savory or sweet toppings. For an optimal bagel-eating experience, be sure to heat and slice your bagel before enjoying your bagel open-faced or as a sandwich.

How do you spice up a morning bagel? ›

Include savory options like smoked salmon, cucumbers, and tomatoes, as well as sweet choices such as nut butters, preserves, and fresh fruits. It's a fun, interactive way to enjoy breakfast together and cater to everyone's tastes.

What does McDonald's put on their bagels? ›

Craving a breakfast sandwich at McDonald's? Our Bacon, Egg and Cheese Bagel features a toasted bagel with butter, thick-cut Applewood smoked bacon, a fluffy folded egg, creamy breakfast sauce and two slices of melty American cheese. There are 590 calories in a Bacon, Egg and Cheese Bagel.

What is America's favorite bagel? ›

The most popular kinds of bagel

Cinnamon raisin is crowned America's favorite bagel, with 27.8% of respondents picking it as a top choice.

What is the best bagel filling in New York? ›

Pastrami is consistently one of the top ten sandwich and bagel fillings in New York across all day parts. Add a British twist with a hint of horseradish.

Do you eat a bagel open or closed? ›

No small thing. Even if you're not near a shop with its own open-face bagel sandwiches, you can and should hold yourself to a higher standard. If you get a bagel sandwich that is closed, the onus is on you: Open it up. Evenly divide the lox, tomato, capers, whatever you've got, between the two bagel halves.

What do New Yorkers call cream cheese on a bagel? ›

İn New York English, “Schmear” seems to just mean “cream cheese on a bagel” but in other Jewish communities, especially Yiddish speaking ones, “schmear” can be other spreads.

How do you make store bought bagels good? ›

When you're ready to enjoy a stored bagel, dampen its exterior with a paper towel or sprinkle with water and bake at 350 degrees for about 10 minutes.

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