Name: Air Fryer Pizza Bagels
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 25 min
Ingredients: 2 cups all-purpose flour; 1 tablespoon baking powder; 1 teaspoon salt; 2 cups non-fat Greek yogurt; 1 egg (beaten); Sesame seeds; 1 cup tomato sauce; 1 cup mozzarella cheese (shredded); Pepperoni or other toppings of choice

These air fryer pizza bagels start with a 4-ingredient Greek yogurt dough and are ready in under 30 minutes. They come out soft and fresh, and you can customize both the bagel and the toppings however you like. Proof that cooking doesn’t have to be complicated to be delicious.

These Air Fryer Pizza Bagels are part of a new series I’m doing on Instagram: 30 minute meals.

While I already have plenty of 30 minute meals on my blog (and a whole roundup here), I love any excuse to make more easy, quick recipes.

Because as you well know, food should be simple. And cooking does not need to be complicated or time consuming in order to be nutritious and delicious.

And before you’re like “uhh… a pizza bagel isn’t a recipe,” know that we are making the bagels. That’s part of what makes this recipe so fun!

Is there anything wrong with a regular bagel? Absolutely not. And, as someone who lived in NYC for almost 15 years (I still miss it so much 😭), I can tell you that these bagels are nothing like those.

But I also find that, even when you freeze them, it’s really hard to keep regular bagels fresh. And I also love making my own versions of things. I couldn’t believe how easy these bagels were to make in the air fryer!

Plus, even though they aren’t the same as a regular New York bagel, they’re still delicious. They come out so pillowy soft and fresh. I’ll definitely be making these more often!

You can customize these pizza bagels in so many ways, too.

Make your bagel how you like it. I added sesame seeds because I love a sesame bagel (my husband thinks this is the most random preference of mine). You could also add everything but the bagel seasoning, some cheddar or parmesan cheese, or just keep the bagel plain.

Then, when you make the pizza bagel, the toppings are up to you too. I chose to add pepperoni, but you can add any veg or even some hot honey (yum!).

Finally, I opted to make a quick Caesar salad while my bagels were cooking.

Because these are homemade bagels, they’re a lot smaller than a regular bagel shop bagel and of course, not as filling.

Veggies help add some volume and fiber to the meal to make it more filling. And ain’t nothing wrong with an easy Caesar salad.

For mine, I chopped up romaine, added shaved parmesan, and store-bought Caesar dressing. Easy and delicious.

Why You’ll Love These Air Fryer Pizza Bagels

This easy, air fryer meal is not only simple, but so delicious.

Using an air fryer instead of your oven means that the recipe is quick and has little prep work. These make a great make-ahead meal to meal prep.

These pizza bagels are also so versatile and customizable. You can add pepperoni for a protein boost, add different veggies on top, or just keep them as is.

They make an easy, delicious meal that adults and kids both will love.

How to Make Air Fryer Pizza Bagels

Mix ingredients in bowl

To make these Air Fryer Pizza Bagels, in a large bowl, add the flour, baking powder, and salt. Mix well.

Add the Greek yogurt and mix well using a spatula, until a cohesive dough forms.

Knead and form the dough

Remove the dough from the bowl and add to a floured surface. Knead the dough for a few minutes and then form it into a bowl. Cut the dough into 8 pieces.

Roll into a bagel shape

Roll each piece into a line, and then pinch the ends together to form a bagel shape. Brush the tops of the bagels with the egg and top with sesame seeds.

Place in the air fryer

Place in the air fryer on 350 F for 10 minutes. Let the bagels cool for a few minutes and then gently slice them in half.

Add toppings

Top each half off the bagels with a tablespoon of tomato sauce, and pepperoni (cut these in half if not using mini pepperoni).

Add cheese

Add a tablespoon of mozzarella cheese on top.

Air fry again

Place pizza bagels back in the air fryer on 350 F for 4-5 minutes.

Serve

Add other toppings of your choice (like basil) and serve these Air Fryer Pizza Bagels.

If You Love These Air Fryer Pizza Bagels, Try These

Ingredients You’ll Need

All-purpose flour: This recipe uses all-purpose flour to make the bagels. I haven’t tested it with a different flour.
Baking powder: A little baking powder helps the dough rise.
Greek yogurt: These easy bagels are made with just a base of flour and Greek yogurt. I recommend using non-fat plain Greek yogurt.
Egg: A little egg wash on top of the bagels helps them to brown.
Tomato sauce: Use any store-bought tomato sauce that you like. I love a tomato basil sauce.
Cheese: I recommend using shredded mozzarella cheese or a pizza blend.
Pepperoni: Use your favorite pepperoni on top! If it’s larger, you may want to cut it into smaller pieces.

Air Fryer Pizza Bagel Tips & Variations

Cooking tips: Make sure there’s enough room in your air fryer for them to cook. You may have to cook the bagels in 2-3 batches so that the air fryer isn’t overcrowded. If so, I found it helpful to keep the bagels on a parchment-lined baking sheet before adding them to the air fryer and then again when letting them cool. Also, make sure to give the bagels ample time to cool before cutting into them. For the sake of keeping this recipe quick, I recommend giving them at least 5 minutes. But honestly, if you don’t, they just won’t be as easily able to be sliced – the texture and flavor won’t be affected at all. The longer you let the bagels cool, the easier it’ll be to slice them.
Bagel shape: It’s okay if these bagels aren’t perfect circles with round holes in the middle! Bagel shop bagels don’t always come out as perfect circles either – that’s part of the beauty of them.
Air fryer: This is my favorite inexpensive air fryer. I’ve had a similar version for nearly 6 years and use it almost daily. It works great and holds up well!
Customization: Make different bagel flavors with everything but the bagel seasoning or cheese on top of your bagel. You can add any pizza toppings to the pizza bagels too. Make sure to add the toppings under the cheese so that they don’t fly away in the air fryer. If you’re using pepperoni like I did, opt for mini pepperoni or cut them in half so that they fit on the bagels.
Make ahead/storage: Make these Air Fryer Pizza Bagels up to a week in advance. You can slice them, store them in the freezer and defrost toast them when you’re ready to eat. They’ll last up to 1 month. Then, make them into pizza bagels right before eating. As pizza bagels, they can stay in the fridge in an airtight container for up to 3 days. Before eating, heat them up again (without making them soggy) either in the oven on broil on in the air fryer for a few minutes.

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes. Self-rising flour can work well for homemade Greek yogurt bagels because it already contains leavening and salt. If using self-rising flour, you can omit the baking powder and salt called for in the dough.

Yes! If you don’t have an air fryer, you can bake the homemade bagels in the oven instead. They may take a little longer to cook and won’t get quite the same crisp exterior, but you can still top them with pizza sauce, mozzarella, and your favorite toppings and return them to the oven until the cheese is melted.

If your bagels are doughy in the center, they may need a few more minutes of cooking time. Air fryers can vary, so check that the outside is golden and the center is fully cooked before slicing. It’s also important to let the bagels cool for a few minutes before slicing them.

Course: Dinner, Lunch

Cuisine: American