Air Fryer Bagel Bites – The Big Man’s World ®

Satisfy your cravings with these delicious air fryer bagel bites! Made with just 3 ingredients, they cook in 5 minutes and are so much fun to customize.

Childhood snacks hold a special place in my heart, and while I had a few favorites, nothing comes close to bagel bites. I mean, who could resist the pizza/bagel hybrid?

As an adult, I love to re-create these but with a more wholesome and faster spin. Not only do we use wholesome ingredients, but we whip them up in the air fryer for an even speedy finger food! They’ve become a firm favorite along with air fryer pizza rolls and grilled cheese.

Why this recipe works

• Quick to make. One batch of these bite-sized bagels will take only 4-5 minutes.
• Great for making ahead. You can prep a large batch of these mini treats and keep them in the refrigerator. When the guests arrive, pop them into the air-fryer and serve hot!
• 3-ingredient wonder. Stringy cheese, crispy bagel base, and a flavorful sauce- et voila! That’s all you need. You can even take them up a notch by using air fryer bagels for the base.

Ingredients Needed

As mentioned earlier, you only need four ingredients to make bagel bites in the air fryer. Here is everything it calls for:

• Mini bagels. Look for premade plain mini bagels in your local supermarkets, or you can use my simple 2 ingredient bagel dough and just make them smaller.
• Pizza sauce. Get your favorite brand of pizza sauce or any flavorful tomato sauce (try sugo or pomodoro sauce).
• Mozzarella cheese. I love using fresh mozzarella cheese as it melts so much better than the pre-shredded kind.
• More toppings. I like to add a meaty element like sausage, pepperoni, or bacon bits, but that is completely optional.

How to make air fryer bagel bites

Assemble the bagel bites: Slice the bagels into halves and spread the pizza sauce on each side. Sprinkle mozzarella and any other toppings.

Air fry the mini bagels: Place the bagel bites in the air fryer basket and fry at 180°C/350°F for 4-5 minutes.

Serve: Remove them once the cheese melts, and serve warm!

Can you bake these?

Easily bake these bagel bites instead of air frying them.

To bake, line a large baking sheet with parchment paper and place the prepared bagels on it. Bake for 12-15 minutes at 180C/350F until the cheese is golden and bubbling.

Tips to make the best recipe

• Do not overcrowd– Ensure the bagels are arranged in a single layer for uniform cooking and a crispy base so they cook evenly and completely. If your air fryer isn’t large enough, cook them up in batches.
• Avoid overcooking– No one likes burnt or overly crispy bagels. Check on these bites around the 3-minute mark and cook in 30-second spurts until the cheese is perfectly melted.  
• Preheat your air fryer- Preheat it for 4-5 minutes at 400°F so the bagel bites are ready to cook up as soon as they are assembled.

Flavor and recipe variations

Use a different base sauce. Not a fan of traditional pizza sauce? No problem! Use a pesto, BBQ,  basil, or ranch dressing instead.

Cheesy bagel bites. Make a mini version of 4-cheese pizza using a blend of mozzarella, gorgonzola, parmesan, goat, or cheddar cheese.

Topping ideas. From ground meat, sliced pineapple, bell peppers, and olives to ham, mushroom, and artichoke- make it your own!

Sweet bagel bites. Enjoy dessert-style bagel bites with cream cheese, almond butter, strawberry jam, banana, and Nutella toppings. 

Storage instructions

To store. Keep leftovers in the refrigerator for up to three days.

To freeze. Air fryer bagel bites freeze well. Keep them in the freezer for up to three months.

To reheat. To enjoy them again, reheat in a preheated air fryer for 3-4 minutes until heated through.

More fun recipes to try in the air fryer

Frequently asked questions