Homemade Pepperoni Pizza Bagel Bites Recipe

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Homemade pepperoni pizza bagel bites make the perfect snack, easy lunch, or dinner when time is short. With a soft and chewy bagel, stretchy melted cheese, and tiny bits of pepperoni in every bite, anyone who has one will come back wanting more.

Whether you need an appetizer for game days or you have a bunch of hungry kids needing some delicious snacks, both kids and adults love them. Using only 4 ingredients these are so simple to make for any age and completely customizable using your favorite pizza toppings.

What are bagel bites you ask? Any child of the 90’s is familiar with this popular frozen food. They’re frozen mini pizza bagels that you could pop into the microwave or toaster oven for a quick after-school snack or during a late night slumber party. 

Working to improve our eating habits, I love when I can take a store-bought snack idea and make a homemade version using simple ingredients. It’s often healthier and cheaper to make your bagel bites. Plus, being able to use better quality ingredients while also providing some great, quick snack options for my kids is a win-win for all of us. My favorite way to improve the health factor is to use my sourdough bagels recipe. 

The great thing about making homemade mini bagel bites is that you can adjust them to accommodate anyone with dietary restrictions. Make gluten-free, dairy-free, or vegan/vegetarian by easily swapping out gluten-free bagels or dairy-free cheese.

Ingredients to Make Homemade Pepperoni Pizza Bagel Bites

 

• 8 Mini Bagels-I used plain bagels in this recipe, but you could also use whole wheat, everything bagels, onion, or any one of your favorite bagel flavors. You can use regular size bagels, but this recipe will only yield about 4 regular size bagels and you may need to add more pepperoni, sauce and shredded cheese.
• ½ cup pizza sauce-store bought or homemade pizza sauce work. In a pinch, I’ve even used spaghetti sauce.
• ½ cup pepperoni slices-I used traditional pepperoni slices from the deli and diced them into small cubes just like the original snack food. You can easily use turkey pepperoni or mini-pepperonis. Make these vegetarian and leave the pepperoni off and add your favorite veggies, such as green peppers or black olives. Add other meats such as bacon crumbles, ground sausage or diced ham to make them extra hearty. 
• 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese-I use mozzarella cheese, but you can use any kind of cheese that you enjoy or use a blend of cheeses for a more complex flavor. My husband likes to sprinkle with grated parmesan cheese and red pepper flakes over the top of the mozzarella cheese.

Step-by-Step Cooking Instructions for Homemade Bagel Bites

• Preheat the oven to 425 degrees with the oven rack in the middle of the oven. 
• Prepare sheet pan. Add a piece of parchment paper or aluminum foil over the baking sheet. Cut the bagels in half and arrange the bagel halves on a baking sheet with the cut side up.

• Add sauce. Spread a few tablespoons of sauce over each bagel half. 
• Add toppings. Add the shredded mozzarella cheese and diced pepperoni pieces. The best way to add the shredded cheese is to hold the mini bagel over the bowl of shredded cheese and lightly press the cheese into the sauce to hold it in place. Place back onto the baking sheet and add the other toppings. 

• Bake. Bake for 10-12 minutes or until the cheese is melted and the edges of the bagels start to turn slightly golden brown. The pepperoni will start to turn crispy and delicious. Use caution eating right out of the oven as the cheese will be very hot. 

Storage and Freezing Instructions for Homemade Bagel Bites

Store leftover bagel bites in an airtight container or ziploc bag and in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. I have to tell you, being able to freeze these homemade pepperoni pizza bagel bites is a game changer. Having a stash of these in the freezer means my family has a better chance of eating higher quality foods, which impacts their health for the better. We will never get it perfect, but all the baby steps forward I can make eventually add up.

To freeze uncooked bagel bites, arrange on baking sheet with all of the toppings as if they’re ready to go into the oven. However, you’ll place into freezer for an hour so that they freeze individually. Place frozen bagel bites in a single layer in a freezer bag, pressing to remove as much air as possible. For best quality use within 3 months.

To freeze cooked bagels bites, bake as normal and allow to cool to room temperature. Once cool, freeze the same way as the uncooked bagel bites.

I found that the cooked ones stayed together in the freezer better. The uncooked bagel bites lost some of their toppings once frozen. For best result, freeze uncooked bagel bites by pressing the toppings lightly into the sauce. 

To reheat cooked or uncooked bagel bites, place on prepared sheet pan and bake 10-15 minutes. The best thing about freezing and baking later, is that you can bake all of them or a just few at a time.

Tips for Bagel Bites

• It’s best to not overfill the bagel bites as they will not cook all the way through and the toppings get messy.
• While it takes a few minutes more, use the oven to reheat. Microwaves will result in a soggy and tough bagel bite.
• Homemade bagel bites freeze so well, be sure to double the recipe so that you can always have a quick, homemade easy snack option available. 

I’d love to hear about your Homemade Pizza Bagel Bites. Please rate the recipe and leave a comment below. Don’t forget to tag #LockremHomestead over on Instagram.