Breakfast Bagel

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With layers of scrambled eggs, melty cheese, fresh tomato, creamy avocado, and peppery arugula, this Breakfast Bagel is a perfect, veggie-packed way to start your day. Although it starts as a cheddar cheese bagel breakfast sandwich, the veggies and mayo take it over the top. This will become your absolute favorite breakfast sandwich, and you'll be thinking about these flavors all day long!

With layers of scrambled eggs, melty cheese, fresh tomato, creamy avocado, and peppery arugula, this Breakfast Bagel is a perfect way to start your day. | aheadofthyme.com

Breakfast is my favorite meal of the day, and there's something so satisfying about biting into a toasted bagel for breakfast. This is especially true when you add warm scrambled eggs topped with molten cheese and layers of wonderful vegetables. This version is really the ultimate breakfast sandwich, but it doesn't have to stop there! It's filling enough to enjoy as a nice lunch or a simple dinner, and the avocado and arugula make it fancy enough to serve at your next brunch. It's truly the perfect way to start your day!

Why You'll Love This Breakfast Bagel

Easy to make. If you can toast a bagel and scramble some eggs, you can make these bagel breakfast sandwiches! The other ingredients are layered on after you add the eggs and just require a little slicing. Breakfast will be ready in just moments!
Lots of veggies. This egg and cheese sandwich has tomato, avocado, and arugula, which add three different textures and flavors. The avocado has a fresh, creamy flavor, the tomato is bright and firm, and the peppery arugula has a wonderful bite. They're such a good combination (and a great way to sneak in some extra veg).
So much flavor. Every element of this simple ELT (egg lettuce tomato) sandwich has flavor, from the everything bagel and mayo to the cheesy eggs and veggies. This is one of my all-time favorite breakfast recipes, and it definitely will not disappoint!
Take it on the go. Enjoy it as part of your sit down breakfast or brunch, or take it on the go if you are in a hurry! You can easily wrap it up in plastic wrap and take it "to go" to eat in the car or at work.

Ingredient Notes

To make this delicious breakfast bagel, you will need the following ingredients (full measurements in recipe card below):

everything bagel - these Homemade Everything Bagels are topped with poppy seeds, black and white sesame seeds, onion flakes, and salt for lots of flavor. You can also substitute with any kind of bagel that you like!
mayonnaise - a little mayo adds a tangy creaminess that brings everything together.
vegetable oil - heat a little oil to cook the eggs.
eggs - whisk and scramble your eggs. You can also cook a fried egg instead for this bagel.
salt and pepper - season the egg well to bring out the flavor.
cheese - use a sharp cheddar cheese to melt over the egg. Feel free to add a slice of American cheese if needed, but sharp cheeses have more flavor.
tomato - add a slice or two of freshly sliced tomato.
avocado - cut the avocado into thin slices. Sprinkle a little salt for extra flavor
arugula - add arugula on top to keep it from melting from the heat of the cooked egg.

You will also need measuring cups and spoons and a skillet to cook the eggs in.

How to Make the Best Breakfast Bagel

Slice. Cut the bagel in half (2 slices) and place in your toaster. Spread mayo on the top slice. Set aside.
Cook eggs. Heat a non-stick frying pan with oil over medium heat. Add the eggs and scramble. Try not to break up the eggs too much, instead scramble the eggs and cook them into sheets, then fold them up for easy serving.

Assemble. Place the cooked, scrambled eggs onto the bottom slice of your toasted bagel. Shake some salt and pepper on top to taste.
Add cheese. Add the slice of cheese on top of the eggs.

Add veggies. Add sliced tomato, sliced avocado on top of the cheese. Top with arugula.

Serve. Place the top of the bagel over the arugula. Slice down the middle (if desired) and enjoy.

Recipe Variations

Make an open-faced sandwich. Add a little bit of everything on each bagel half for an even bigger sandwich you might want to eat with a fork and knife. It's the perfect breakfast when you need something really substantial!
Change the bagels. It's important to use fresh bagels, but you can easily use a plain bagel or cheesy bagel instead of an everything bagel. You can even use any sandwich bread that you like! This recipe is really good with Ciabatta Rolls or Sourdough Bread too.
Give it some bite. If you want a really savory sandwich, add some sliced red onions.
Add more protein. Stick a slice of crispy bacon (to make a B.E.L.T. bagel), a turkey sausage patty, deli ham, or toasted Canadian bacon on the mayo for extra protein and a savory flavor. You can also scramble egg whites instead of regular eggs for a protein-packed breakfast.
Add other veggies. Add any vegetables that your heart desires in between those two slices of bread. Mushrooms? Green peppers? You got it. Go for it!
Change the egg. Instead of scrambled eggs, you can easily add a fried egg instead. If you like a runny egg, cook a fresh-cracked egg until the egg is just slightly firm, or you can pop the egg yolk and cook it medium or hard.

How to Serve

This Breakfast Bagel is delicious served on its own for breakfast, lunch, or dinner! We like to serve it for breakfast and pair it with some delicious breakfast sides for a super filling start to the day. Some of our favorites include:

For more recipes, see our 50 Best Breakfast Ideas.

Recipe Tips and Tricks

Don't stir too much. To get the scrambled eggs to rest neatly on the bagel, you want larger pieces of scrambled eggs. Be careful not to break the eggs up too much. You can also scramble the eggs and cook them into sheets, then fold them up for easy serving.
Season everything. Add a pinch of salt to the eggs, tomato slices, and avocado to make every bite shine.
Layer strategically. There's a reason why the vegetables are layered on these breakfast bagels as they are. The tomato can take a little warmth from the hot eggs, which is why they are added first. Then, add the tender avocado and the arugula last. The arugula will wilt quickly, so adding it at the end keeps it crisp and fresh.

Storing and Freezing Instructions

How to Store

The bagel breakfast sandwiches are best served fresh as the vegetables will soften and wilt over time. If you want to prep these sandwiches in advance, wrap the untoasted bagels with the cheesy eggs in foil and store the vegetables separately. When you're ready to eat, toast the entire bagel sandwich and add the veggies right before serving.

How to Reheat

Although you can microwave the sandwich (without the veggies), these sandwiches taste much better toasted in the toaster oven or air fryer. This will crisp up the bagel and reheat the eggs and cheese. Add the vegetables after toasting and serve right away.

How to Freeze

For longer storage, wrap the untoasted bagels with the mayo, cooked eggs, and cheese in foil and freeze for 1-2 months. Thaw overnight before reheating following the instructions above.

FAQ

What do you put on a bagel for breakfast?

There are so many ways to top a bagel for a great breakfast! Keep it classic with fried eggs, cheddar cheese slices, and bacon or sausage or add a layer of cream cheese, lox, and capers. I love to take the cheesy egg theme to the next level by adding a little mayo, tomato, avocado, and arugula. The vegetables give it a light, fresh flavor, and the eggs will keep you full for a while. It's such a good combination!

What is the best sauce to add to a bagel sandwich?

Sauces can take an ordinary bagel sandwich to the net level, and there are so many options! Keep it simple with mayonnaise, or add a punch of flavor with hollandaise sauce, hot sauce, sriracha, pesto, guacamole, aioli, and more. Get creative with it!

How do you freeze breakfast bagel sandwiches?

If you want to make this delicious recipe before you need it, there are a few things to keep in mind. First, the vegetables should be stored separately, or they'll become soft and wet when you reheat the sandwiches. Add the mayo to an untoasted everything bagel, then add the cooked eggs and cheese. Let the sandwiches cool completely before you wrap them with plastic wrap or foil then freeze for 1-2 months. When you need one, place it in the fridge to thaw overnight. The next morning, toast the whole bagel sandwich in the toaster oven and add the fresh vegetables right before serving.

More Sandwich Recipes

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