Description
These Homemade Mini Pizza Bagel Bites are a delicious and easy-to-make snack or appetizer featuring toasted mini bagels topped with marinara, fresh mozzarella, cherry tomatoes, basil, and Parmesan cheese. Perfect for parties or a quick snack, they combine fresh flavors with a crispy, cheesy finish baked to perfection.
Ingredients
Scale
Bagel Base
- 8 mini bagels, split in half
- ¼ cup butter, melted
- 2 teaspoons garlic, minced
- 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning, divided
- ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese, divided
Toppings
- 1 cup marinara sauce
- 8 ounces mozzarella cheese, sliced (about 16 slices)
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
- 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
- 24 fresh basil leaves
Optional Garnishes
- Chopped fresh parsley
- Red pepper flakes
Instructions
- Toast Bagels: Preheat your oven to 425°F (220°C). In a small bowl, mix the melted butter, minced garlic, 1 teaspoon of Italian seasoning, and 1 tablespoon of grated Parmesan cheese. Dip the cut sides of each mini bagel half into this butter mixture, then arrange them cut-side up on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Toast the bagels in the oven for 5 minutes until slightly crisp and golden.
- Prepare Tomatoes: While the bagels are toasting, combine the halved cherry tomatoes with the extra virgin olive oil and the remaining 1 teaspoon of Italian seasoning in a separate bowl. Toss well to coat all the tomatoes evenly with the oil and seasoning.
- Assemble Pizzas: Remove the toasted bagels from the oven. Spread marinara sauce on half of the bagel halves. Next, place one slice of mozzarella cheese on every bagel half. On the bagels without marinara sauce, add a layer of basil leaves and the prepared cherry tomatoes. Finally, sprinkle all the bagels generously with the remaining grated Parmesan cheese.
- Bake Until Melty: Return the assembled mini pizza bagels to the oven and bake for about 10 minutes or until the mozzarella cheese has melted fully and is bubbling, giving the bagels a lovely golden finish.
- Garnish and Serve: After baking, top the bagels with additional fresh basil leaves. Optionally, garnish with chopped fresh parsley and a pinch of red pepper flakes for a touch of heat. Serve the mini pizza bagels warm for the best flavor and texture.
Notes
- Use mini bagels that are split in half evenly for best results.
- Feel free to substitute cherry tomatoes with grape tomatoes or diced fresh tomatoes if preferred.
- Adding red pepper flakes gives a spicy kick, but can be omitted for a milder version.
- These pizza bagels can be prepared ahead up to the assembly step and baked just before serving.
- Leftovers can be stored in the refrigerator and reheated in the oven to maintain crispiness.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Snack
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian-American
