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Easy Bagel Grilled Cheese Recipe

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Bagel Grilled Cheese | This easy bagel sandwich recipe combines chewy, crunchy bagels with flavourful melted cheese for the ultimate twist on the classic grilled cheese sandwich.

A bagel grilled cheese cut in half and stacked on a white plate.

This is the best way to eat a bagel; you’ll never want a regular toasted bagel after trying this recipe!

I made an everything bagel grilled cheese, but you can use any type of bagel you want. Plain sesame bagels are simple and delicious, and onion and cheese bagels are packed with flavour. You could even experiment with a sweet bagel, filled with goat cheese and Kerrygold’s sweet, nutty cheese.

Bagel grilled cheese is a delicious twist on the classic sandwich, combining a chewy yet crispy bagel with melted cheese. It’s just as easy to make as a regular grilled cheese, making it an easy weeknight dinner option, or quick lunch idea.

This recipe only requires 1-2 minutes of prep time, and 5-6 minutes of cook time.

What kind of cheese is best for grilled cheese?

To make the best bagel sandwich, use 2-3 types of cheese. I like to start with a cheese that will provide that stretchy, chewy texture, like mozzarella.

Then, add another cheese that will provide flavour. I like that tangy flavour that makes your cheeks hurt a little bit. Aged cheddar provides a flavourful, tangy taste. My favorite aged cheese is Kerrygold.

You can even add a third cheese if you’d like. It could be another aged cheese, or a soft spreadable cheese like goat cheese, to add a creamy texture to your grilled cheese sandwich.

A bagel grilled cheese on a white plate on a wooden board.

How to make a grilled cheese bagel

Slice a bagel in half. I like to use a flavoured bagel, like an everything bagel, but you can use any kind that you like.

Butter the outside of the bagel and place it butter side down on a sheet of plastic wrap so the butter doesn’t stick. Layer the cheese onto one half of the bagel, and close it like a sandwich with the other half.

Transfer the bagel sandwich to your hot pan and cook for 2-3 minutes, until the bottom is golden brown and crispy. Slide a spatula under the bagel and flip it over. Hold the top with your hand, if needed.

Fry for another 2-3 minutes until the top is golden brown and crispy. If the top half of the bagel has seeds or other toppings, they may burn, so you might need to stop cooking it sooner.

How to assemble a grilled cheese in the pan

Sometimes trying to pick up a sandwich that is completely covered in slippery butter, and trying to keep all the cheese inside, isn’t the easiest task.

When I worked in restaurants, I learned a trick for making grilled sandwiches. Instead of assembling the sandwich on your cutting board, and then transferring it to your pan, it’s easier to assemble it in the pan.

Butter two slices of bread and place one slice, butter side down, in your hot pan. Layer the cheese on top of the bread. Then top it with the other slice of buttered bread, the butter side facing upwards.

This is the easiest way to make grilled cheese! No buttery fingers, and no cheese falling out of the sandwich.

Ingredients

More about the ingredients in this recipe. The exact measurements are below.

A bagel, cheese, and butter on a white marble counter with black text.
  • A bagel – You can use a plain or flavoured bagel. I used an everything style bagel, but a sesame, onion, or cheese bagel would be great too.
  • Cheese- I used two types of cheese for extra flavour. Mozzarella for that stretchy texture, and Kerrygold aged cheese for a sweet, nutty taste.
  • Butter- To get the outside of the bagel crispy and golden.

Substitutions

  • You can use just about any hard cheese, and I recommend using more than one kind for extra flavour. Soft cheese could be paired with a harder cheese like mozzarella, cheddar, or gouda.
  • Instead of butter, mayo can be spread on the outside of the bagel to fry it. Or, you can use a drizzle of oil in the frying pan.

Instructions

  • Slice your cheese into thin strips. You could shred the cheese instead, but I find that way to be a bit messy.

Heat a frying pan or skillet over medium heat.

Half of a bagel being spread with butter.

Slice the bagel in half, and spread the outside with butter. Place the bagel halves butter sides down onto a piece of plastic wrap.

A bagel cut in half and topped with cheese on plastic wrap.

Layer the cheese onto the inside of the bottom half of the bagel, making sure not to cover the bagel hole. Close the bagel with the top half, butter side facing upwards.

A bagel grilled cheese in a cast iron pan.

Place the bagel sandwich into the frying pan, and fry for 2-3 minutes, until the bottom is golden and crispy. Carefully flip the bagel.

A bagel grilled cheese in a cast iron pan.

Fry the bagel for another 2-3 minutes, until golden and crispy.

Slice the bagel in half, or enjoy it whole.

A bagel grilled cheese cut in half and stacked on a white plate.

Tips for making a bagel sandwich

  • If it’s too hard to transfer the buttered bagel sandwich to the pan, assemble it in the pan instead of on a cutting board. Add the bottom half of the bagel to the pan, top it with cheese, and then add the top half on top.
  • Use 2-3 types of cheese for ultimate flavour and texture.

What to serve with grilled cheese

If you want to elevate your bagel sandwich, add a handful of spinach, some caramelized onion, or pesto to the inside, along with the cheese.

Grilled cheese and soup is a classic lunch or dinner option! Try my easy Carrot and Lentil Soup, or my Lima Bean Soup.

If you’re a fan of cheese recipes, you’ll love Tomato Cheese Toast!

Storage

Grilled sandwiches are best eaten immediately, but if you need to store them for later, keep them in the fridge for up to a day. To reheat, warm in a pan over medium heat. Or, reheat in a 350°F/180°C oven until warm.

A bagel grilled cheese on a white plate on a wooden board.

FAQ’s

Can a bagel sandwich be toasted?

Yes, a bagel sandwich can be toasted. Toasting a bagel is a great way to improve the taste and texture. Butter the outsides of the bagel, stuff it with cheese, and grill it until golden brown on both sides.

A bagel grilled cheese cut in half and stacked on a white plate.

Bagel Grilled Cheese

5 from 3 votes
Author: Erika Piper
This easy bagel sandwich recipe combines chewy, crunchy bagels with flavourful melted cheese for the ultimate twist on the classic grilled cheese sandwich.
Prep Time 2 minutes
Cook Time 6 minutes
Total Time 8 minutes
Servings 1

Equipment

  • 1 cutting board
  • 1 frying pan or skillet

Ingredients
  

  • 1 bagel I used an everything bagel.
  • 60 grams cheese Thinly sliced. I used mozzarella and aged cheddar.
  • 20 grams butter or margarine

Instructions
 

  • Heat a frying pan or skillet over medium-low heat.
  • Slice the bagel in half and butter the outside of each half. Place the halves butter side down, on a sheet of plastic wrap.
  • Layer the cheese on the bottom half of the bagel. Top with the top half of the bagel, so that you have a sandwich with the outside buttered.
  • Transfer the bagel sandwich to the hot pan, and fry for 2-3 minutes, until golden brown and crispy. Flip, and fry for another 2-3 minutes until golden brown and crispy.

Video

Notes

If it’s too hard to transfer the bagel sandwich to the pan, just assemble the sandwich in the pan. Place the bottom half of the bagel in the pan, then add the cheese, and then the top half.
Use 2-3 types of cheese for the ultimate flavour and texture.
Use a flavoured bagel like everything style, sesame, or onion.

Nutrition

Calories: 600kcalCarbohydrates: 58gProtein: 25gFat: 38gFiber: 2g
Tried this recipe?Mention @theveggieyaya or tag #theveggieyaya!

Disclosure: This blog post may contain affiliate links, which means I get a commission if you purchase through my link, at no extra cost to you.

A bagel grilled cheese cut in half and stacked on a white plate with black text.

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A bagel grilled cheese cut in half and stacked on a white plate with black text.

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Picture of Erika Piper, the veggie yaya blogger

Erika Piper

Hey there, I’m Erika. I’ve been meat-free for over a decade.
I’m here to provide delicious and affordable plant-based recipes for anyone interested.
Whether you’re a seasoned plant-based eater or just curious about trying it out, I’m here to support you with my easy and accessible recipes.

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One Comment

  1. 5 stars
    Your recipe for grilled cheese bagel (a spin on grilled cheese sandwich) sounds amazing it got me thinking one day while I was heating some blueberry bagels that I bought from Kroger,in a frying pan that grilled cheese sandwich is okay using just regular loaf of bread, but most bread are a bit thinner than usual bread and filling like cheese and meats and veggies goes right through the bread, so why not use bagels? They are always thicker and still will remain thicker even after you toast the inside and most bagels are very large diameter size about the size of a hamburger bun that grilling it would be wonderful and it could hold cheese without losing the filling when you flip it over and I’m sure many of you out there would like to eat a grilled cheese sandwich with all the cheese intact in between the two slices of bread rather have half of the cheese spilling out all over the place.

5 from 3 votes (2 ratings without comment)

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