Breakfast Bagels

You may have seen these Breakfast Bagels making the rounds online — stuffed, melty, golden, and slightly chaotic in that TikTok made us do it kind of way. So naturally, we had to make our own version, and yep, they’re every bit as hype-worth as they look.

The best part? You can fill them with whatever’s living in your fridge — eggs, cheese, veggies last night’s regrets — and cook them in your air fryer, toaster oven, or even the regular ol’ oven (remember her?).

What stands out

This recipe flips the script — literally. Cooking the bagel soft-side-down means both sides get golden, toasty, and irresistibly crisp. It’s an unexpected twist that just works. That said, no judgement if you go face-up instead — it’s a choose-your-own-adventure situation.

• Bagel: We went with sesame, but cheddar, everything, or whatever’s left in the bread bin will do the trick! Just make sure it’s sturdy enough to hold the goods.
• Mayo: We're team Vegenaise (soy-free for the win), but regular mayo or a swipe of butter totally works. Adds flavour and helps crisp things up.
• Cheddar: Sharp, melty, gooey, spicy — pick your fighter. There are no wrong answers, only ones.
• Egg: The star of the show ⭐. But if you’re not in the mood, skip it and double down on veggies and cheese.
• Veggies: Anything goes — chopped peppers, tomatoes, onions, olives, spinach, even last night’s leftovers if you’re feeling bold.

Kitchen tip

Keep an eye on it and check every few minutes for desired doneness. Mine took about 8 minutes.

Swaps

1. Swap the egg for tofu scramble if you’re plant-based or can’t face cracking one before caffeine.
2. No cheddar? No problem. Try gouda, pepper jack, feta, or a dairy-free meltable slice. Basically, if it melts, it belongs.
3. Use butter, cream cheese, or pesto instead of mayo for a flavour twist — or whatever condiment is calling your name from the back of the fridge.

Serve it with

• Pair it with iced matcha, your third attempt at reheating the same cup of coffee, or a mimosa if you’re living your truth.
• A side of our breakfast sausage may be just what you need.
• Need more savouriness? Air fryer hash browns or this potato mash are the move.

Ingredients

Makes 2 bagel halves

• 1 bagel, cut in half
• 2 teaspoons mayo
• 2 tablespoons cheddar, any grated cheese
• 2 eggs

Equipment

• Air Fryer
• Nakiri Knife
• Cutting Board
• Measuring Cups + Spoons

Method

1. Cut your fresh bagel in half, take a cookie cutter and cut out a bit from the centre of each half so that you are left with a bigger hole in the middle.
2. To each half spread a little bit of mayo on the soft side of the bagel.
3. Next. take an air fryer liner, place it in the basket, and add in a little bit of cheese to the bottom. Place the bagel half (mayo side down). We like to cook one bagel halve at a time.
4. Now, crack an egg in the middle of the bagel hole and add some extra cheese on top. Feel free to add any fillings such as: chopped veg, baby spinach, bell peppers, tomatoes, or anything else.
5. Air fry at 350F (180C) until the egg has set. Keep an eye on it and check every few minutes for desired doneness. Mine took about 8 minutes.
6. Enjoy with hot sauce or anything you like!

Kitchen notes

• Cheese: feel free to use any cheese of choice. Grated Cheddar, Havarti, or Mozzarella are wonderful options.
• Cook Time: keep an eye on it; once the egg has set, it’s ready!
• Veggies: any veggies of choice will work, such as: diced tomatoes, spinach, olives, onions etc.
• Prep: you can prep and measure the ingredients the night before to make tomorrow morning’s breakfast even easier.

Questions

strong Do we have to cook the bagel soft-side down?

Nope, but it helps! Cooking soft-side down gets both sides evenly crisp and golden. That said, if you forget and go face-up, your bagel won’t judge you — and neither will I.

strong What if we don’t like mayo?

No problem. Swap it for butter, cream cheese, hummus, pesto, or nothing at all. The mayo just helps with crispiness and flavour, but it’s not a dealbreaker.

strong Do we need to toast the bagel first?

Nope! It toasts while it cooks. That’s the beauty of this method—crispy outside, melty inside, all in one go.

strong Can we skip the egg?

Totally. You can load these up with just cheese and veggies, or go eggless and add tofu scramble.