Looking for a mini pizza your kids can make themselves while you relive your childhood? Then these Mini Bagel Bites are for you! A slightly crispy bagel crust gets topped with pizza sauce, bubbly cheese, and whatever toppings your crew likes. They take just 8 minutes to cook and 2 minutes to cool – because we’re not trying to recreate the childhood experience of burning the roof of our mouths off.

A kids blue and green lunch box filled with pizza bagel bites, cut fruit and sliced cucumbers. the bento box is sitting on a white marble counter.

My kids have been asking what it was like when I grew up – and honestly? Absolutely zero supervision. No helmets. No internet. The only video game we had was the one with the wagon where you tried not to get dysentery. The “cool” mom back then was the one who put the full amount of sugar into her Kool-Aid. Somehow, every house had the exact same glass branded pitcher. I still don’t understand it.

So when I spotted some mini bagels at the grocery store the other day, I knew exactly what I had to make: one of my favorite foods from growing up – bagel bites. But instead of microwaving them until the cheese reaches approximately the temperature of the sun (I think the roof of my mouth is still scarred from eating a too-hot pizza bite), we’re using the air fryer.

I like to give the mini bagels a quick pre-bake to get the crust a little crispy, then load them up with pizza sauce, cheese, and a few toppings—pepperoni, peppers, olives, whatever your crew likes. But not all on the same bagel bite. That would be far too fancy for this throwback food.

I pulled the bagel bites out of the air fryer, let them cool for a few minutes 😉, and served them to my kids while we played the oldest version of Tetris I could download on my computer.

When they told me they were thirsty, I sent them outside and told them to get a drink from the hose.

#mymomhack: Kids love getting creative with their food, so let them turn these pizza bites into a little art project! Use the toppings to make smiley faces, letters, shapes, veggie rainbows—you name it. The more creative and chaotic, the better.

The Kids Are Hungry, Let’s Get Cooking –>

Ingredients for bagel bites on a cutting board with graphics labeling them in blue against a white background.
Gather the ingredients.
Silver baking sheet on a white counter with cut in half mini bagels on it.
Toast the mini bagels.
Mini bagel with cheese on a baking sheet on a white counter.
Spread on the sauce and sprinkle on cheese.
Mini bagels with sauce, cheese and different toppings on a baking sheet on a white counter.
Add toppings of choice.
Cooked mini bagel bites on a baking sheet.
Bake for 8-10 minutes.
Blue kids plate with bagel bites, cut veggies and fruit and a colorful napkin.
Serve or store for another meal.
A kids blue and green lunch box filled with pizza bagel bites, cut fruit and sliced cucumbers. the bento box is sitting on a white marble counter.

Get the recipe: Throwback 10-Minute Bagel Bites (oven or air fryer)

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Looking for a mini pizza your kids can make themselves while you relive your childhood? Then these Mini Bagel Bites are for you! A slightly crispy bagel crust gets topped with pizza sauce, bubbly cheese, and whatever toppings your crew likes. They take just 8 minutes to cook and 2 minutes to cool – because we're not trying to recreate the childhood experience of burning the roof of our mouths off.
Yield: 12 bagel bites
Cook: 8 minutes
Cool Time (: 2 minutes
Total: 10 minutes
Author: Michele Olivier
Course: Main Course, Snack
Cuisine: American
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Ingredients 

  • 6 mini bagels, sliced in half
  • 1/2 cup pizza or pasta sauce
  • 1 cup cheese, shredded mozzarella or Italian blend
  • 1/2 cup toppings of choice, optional

Instructions 

Oven Directions

  • Preheat oven to 450° F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper for easier cleanup. Place sliced bagels on a baking sheet.
  • Optional – for a crispier crust, place the bagels in the oven for 3 minutes.
  • Spread the toasted bagels with the sauce of your choice, top with cheese and add any toppings you are using.
  • Place the bagel pizzas into the oven and bake for 5 minutes or until golden brown and the cheese is bubbling.
  • Let cool slightly, then serve warm or set aside to cool to room temperature before freezing.

Air Fryer Directions

  • Place cut bagels (cut side down) into your air fryer basket or tray and cook at 375°F for 2-3 minutes.
  • Flip the bagels and top with the sauce, cheese, and any toppings you are using.
  • Cook for an additional 5 minutes or until the cheese is melty and golden brown.
  • Let cool slightly before serving.

Notes

Cook Time: 8 minutes
Cool Time: 2 minutes
Burn the roof of your mouth: 0 minutes
Cooking with Kids: Both toddlers and kids will have a blast making these bagel bites! There are many ways they can help in the kitchen.

Toddlers

  • Can help spoon and spread on the sauce.
  • Toddlers can help wash and dry vegetables.
  • They can help sort and pour ingredients into smaller bowls for serving.
  • Toddlers love to sprinkle on the cheese and add their own toppings.

Kids

  • Kids can preheat the oven.
  • They can spoon and spread on the sauce.
  • Can help cut softer veggies with supervision, such as tomatoes.
  • Kids love to sprinkle on the cheese and add their own toppings.
  • With an adult’s help, kids can place the baking sheet into the hot oven and set the timer.
How to Store and Freeze: You can store cooked bagel bites in the fridge for up to 4 days, or in the freezer for 2 months. Make sure to let them come down to room temperature before storing them in an airtight container or freezer bag.
To reheat, simply pop them into the microwave for 30-second intervals until warm (my microwave takes 90 seconds). Or place them on a baking sheet and warm them in a preheated 350-degree F oven for 8-10 minutes

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Medically reviewed and cowritten by Jamie Johnson, Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN), and Lauren Braaten, Pediatric Occupational Therapist (OT).