Description
These Homemade Mini Pizza Bagel Bites are a quick and delicious snack, combining toasted mini bagels topped with savory marinara sauce, fresh mozzarella, basil, and flavorful cherry tomatoes. Perfect for entertaining or a fun family treat, they come together in just 25 minutes and offer a satisfying bite-sized pizza experience.
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
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
- 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
- 24 fresh basil leaves
- 8 ounces mozzarella cheese, sliced (about 16 slices)
Optional Garnishes
- Chopped fresh parsley
- Red pepper flakes
Instructions
- Toast Bagels: Preheat your oven to 425°F (220°C). In a small bowl, combine the melted butter, minced garlic, 1 teaspoon of Italian seasoning, and 1 tablespoon of grated Parmesan cheese. Dip the cut sides of the mini bagels 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 they are lightly golden and fragrant.
- Prepare Tomatoes: While the bagels are toasting, place the halved cherry tomatoes into a bowl. Drizzle with the extra virgin olive oil and sprinkle with the remaining 1 teaspoon of Italian seasoning. Toss gently to coat all the tomatoes evenly.
- Assemble Pizzas: Remove the toasted bagels from the oven. Spread marinara sauce over half of the bagel halves. Layer all bagels with mozzarella slices. For the bagels without marinara, top them with half of the fresh basil leaves and the seasoned cherry tomatoes. Finally, sprinkle all the bagels generously with the remaining Parmesan cheese.
- Bake: Place the assembled bagels back into the oven and bake for an additional 10 minutes, or until the mozzarella cheese has melted completely and is bubbling hot.
- Garnish and Serve: Remove the bagels from the oven. For the bagels topped with basil and tomatoes, add the remaining basil leaves on top. Optionally, garnish with chopped fresh parsley and a sprinkle of red pepper flakes for a little heat. Serve warm and enjoy your delicious mini pizza bagel bites.
Notes
- For a crispier crust, you can toast the bagels a little longer before adding the toppings.
- If fresh basil is not available, substitute with dried basil, but add it earlier in the baking process to bring out its flavor.
- These mini pizza bagels can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 2 days and reheated in the oven for best results.
- Feel free to customize toppings with pepperoni, olives, or other favorite pizza ingredients.
