Our Pizza Bagel Bite Snacks Recipe Are Better Than Frozen Brands

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When a sudden craving for pizza strikes, you won't be able to stop thinking about that bite of cheese-laden, carby base with rich tomato sauce and fun toppings until you get it. And it'll be during the oddest hours when the pizzerias are closed and you're too tired to make your own dough. Whether you want it pronto, don't have a frozen pizza pie on hand, or just want a little snack, recipe developer Julianne De Witt has an excellent alternative. Her homemade pizza bagel bite snacks, reminiscent of a certain freezer aisle staple, contain all the components that make pizza delicious and are super easy to make in under 20 minutes.

Consisting of bagels topped with ingredients you'd find on a pizza, De Witt's recipe makes two different kinds: three-cheese and pepperoni and cheese. "These homemade bagel bites are even better than the frozen ones we all know and love," De Witt says. The snackable format makes them ideal for a quick bite after school or on game day. If you're hosting a gathering that calls for more homemade pizza bagel bite snacks, simply double the recipe so you don't leave anyone out. If you have any leftovers, store them in the fridge (or freezer, even!) until you're ready to pop them in the oven or air fryer to bring them up to temperature again.

For this recipe, get plain mini bagels, pizza sauce, mozzarella, whole pepperoni, fontina, Parmesan, and basil leaves. The greens should cut in a chiffonade, which means "little ribbons" in French. This technique involves stacking the basil leaves, rolling them into a cylindrical shape, and then slicing into long strips. They will be used on top of the three-cheese version of the homemade pizza bagel bite snacks.

Also included in the three-cheese snacks is a cheese that is not as famous as the other two: fontina cheese. It's an Italian cheese that comes from the Aosta Valley in the northwest of the country. The pungent, semi-hard cow's milk cheese is creamy with a rich, buttery, nutty flavor that sweetens as it ages. De Witt says, "It melts nicely, making it a perfect choice for fondue, gratins, casseroles, and yes, pizza."

Preheat the oven to 425 F.

Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil. Cut the bagels horizontally, separating the top and bottom sides. Place them face up on the lined baking sheet.

Spread 1 tablespoon of pizza sauce on each bagel slice.

Divide ½ cup of the mozzarella between 6 of the bagel slices.

Scatter pepperoni over the mozzarella cheese.

To make the topping for the other bagel slices, add the fontina and Parmesan to the remaining ¼ cup of mozzarella and combine.

Sprinkle the cheese mixture over the last 6 bagel slices.

Place the bagels in the oven and cook for 12 minutes or until the cheese is bubbly and lightly golden.

Remove from the oven and garnish the 3-cheese bagel bites with basil. Serve immediately.

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If you have other ingredients on hand that you want to use for this recipe, it's entirely doable. Although De Witt sticks with using plain mini bagels for this snack recipe, she says any flavor would work here. Some brands have options like onion, poppyseed, pumpernickel, sesame, whole wheat, and everything seasoning. Depending on the base flavor, you might want to switch up the toppings, such as by using bolder cheeses or garnishes with more strongly seasoned bagels. 

Sharp cheddar or Swiss cheese melts nicely and adds plenty of flavor to balance out stronger seasonings. You can also swap the pepperoni for cooked sausage crumbles and add toppings like olives, sundried tomatoes, or pickled peppers. If you opt for raw vegetables, be sure to saute them first to prevent them from releasing water onto the bagel when baking. 

And you can use this pizza bagel bite format to create dessert pizza, too. There's a whole world of sweet mini bagels, with subtler options like Hawaiian to sweeter ones like cinnamon raisin, brown sugar, or blueberry. Top it with fruit, chocolate, or caramel to make a stellar treat.

Once you find a snack you love, it's natural to want to find ways to make it regularly without the hassle. Thankfully, these bagels can be assembled and frozen uncooked for up to half a year. It makes sense considering the inspiration for this recipe, Bagel Bites, is a freezer staple for many. Make sure to carefully pack the garnished bagel bites in an airtight container. If you're planning to stack them, place tinfoil or parchment paper between the layers.

When you're ready for a cheesy snack, there's no need to plan ahead or thaw. Simply take them out to bake at 425 F for 15 to 18 minutes. If you're really rushed and aren't too bothered about textural balance, the microwave works, too, but you'll miss out on the nice crusty bagel to support the stretchy melted cheese.