Viral Breakfast Bagels

4.75 from 4 votes

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You may have seen these Viral Breakfast Bagels making the rounds online — stuffed, melty, golden, and slightly chaotic in that TikTok made me do it kind of way 🥯🔥. So naturally, I had to make my own version, and yep, they’re every bit as hype-worth as they look.

The best part? You can fill them with whatever’s living in your fridge — eggs, cheese, veggies, last night’s regrets — and cook them in your air fryer, toaster oven, or even the regular ol’ oven (remember her?).

A round, baked bread topped with melted cheese and sprinkled with black and white sesame seeds, served on a white speckled plate over a wooden surface.

Why You’ll Love the Viral Breakfast Bagels

This recipe flips the script — literally. Cooking the bagel soft-side-down means both sides get golden, toasty, and irresistibly crisp. It’s an unexpected twist that just works. That said, no judgement if you go face-up instead — it’s a choose-your-own-adventure situation.

Ingredients

  • Bagel: I went with sesame, but cheddar, everything, or whatever’s left in the bread bin will do the trick! Just make sure it’s sturdy enough to hold the goods.
  • Mayo: I’m team Vegenaise (soy-free for the win), but regular mayo or a swipe of butter totally works. Adds flavour and helps crisp things up.
  • Cheddar: Sharp, melty, gooey, spicy — pick your fighter 🧀. There are no wrong answers, only delicious ones.
  • Egg: The star of the show ⭐️. But if you’re not in the mood, skip it and double down on veggies and cheese.
  • Veggies: Anything goes — chopped peppers, tomatoes, onions, olives, spinach, even last night’s leftovers if you’re feeling bold.

Nonna’s Tip 🥯

Keep an eye on it and check every few minutes for desired doneness. Mine took about 8 minutes.

A round, baked bread topped with sesame seeds and melted cheese, garnished with a small green leaf, sits on a white speckled plate on a wooden surface.

Variations and Substitutions for the Viral Breakfast Bagels

  1. Swap the egg for tofu scramble if you’re plant-based or simply can’t face cracking one before caffeine.
  2. No cheddar? No problem. Try gouda, pepper jack, feta, or a dairy-free meltable slice. Basically, if it melts, it belongs.
  3. Use butter, cream cheese, or pesto instead of mayo for a flavour twist — or whatever condiment is calling your name from the back of the fridge.

Best Served With

  • Pair it with iced matcha, your third attempt at reheating the same cup of coffee, or a mimosa if you’re living your truth.
  • A side of my breakfast sausage may be just what you need.
  • Need more savouriness? Air fryer hash browns or this potato mash 🥔💥 are the move.

Similar Recipes

A round, sesame seed-coated bread with a melted cheese center, garnished with fresh green herbs, sits on a white speckled plate atop a wooden surface.

Viral Breakfast Bagels

These viral breakfast bagels are totally worth the hype!
4.75 from 4 votes
Course: Breakfast
Cuisine: American
Makes: 2 bagel halves
Author: The Modern Nonna
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 15 minutes

Ingredients 

  • 1 bagel, cut in half
  • 2 teaspoons mayo
  • 2 tablespoons cheddar, any grated cheese
  • 2 eggs

Instructions 

  • Cut your fresh bagel in half, take a cookie cutter and cut out a bit from the centre of each half so that you are left with a bigger hole in the middle.
  • To each half spread a little bit of mayo on the soft side of the bagel.
  • Next. take an air fryer liner, place it in the basket, and add in a little bit of cheese to the bottom. Place the bagel half (mayo side down). I like to cook one bagel halve at a time.
  • Now, crack an egg in the middle of the bagel hole and add some extra cheese on top. Feel free to add any fillings such as: chopped veg, baby spinach, bell peppers, tomatoes, or anything else.
  • Air fry at 350F (180C) until the egg has set. Keep an eye on it and check every few minutes for desired doneness. Mine took about 8 minutes.
  • Enjoy with hot sauce or anything you like!

Notes

  • Cheese: feel free to use any cheese of choice. Grated Cheddar, Havarti, or Mozzarella are wonderful options.
  • Cook Time: keep an eye on it; once the egg has set, it’s ready!
  • Veggies: any veggies of choice will work, such as: diced tomatoes, spinach, olives, onions etc.
  • Prep: you can prep and measure the ingredients the night before to make tomorrow morning’s breakfast even easier. 
 

Nutrition

Serving: 1 half, Calories: 296kcal, Carbohydrates: 29g, Protein: 15g, Fat: 13g, Saturated Fat: 5g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g, Monounsaturated Fat: 3g, Trans Fat: 0.02g, Cholesterol: 180mg, Sodium: 466mg, Potassium: 126mg, Fiber: 1g, Sugar: 0.2g, Vitamin A: 391IU, Calcium: 140mg, Iron: 2mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Additional Info

Course: Breakfast
Cuisine: American
COOKED IT? SLAYED IT? 💅
Tag @themodernnonna so I can hype you up 👏 and don’t forget to rate ⭐, drop a comment 💬, and show some love right here on the recipe!

Common Questions

Do I have to cook the bagel soft-side down?

Nope, but it helps! Cooking soft-side down gets both sides evenly crisp and golden. That said, if you forget and go face-up, your bagel won’t judge you — and neither will I.

What if I don’t like mayo?

No problem. Swap it for butter, cream cheese, hummus, pesto, or nothing at all. The mayo just helps with crispiness and flavour, but it’s not a dealbreaker.

Do I need to toast the bagel first?

Nope! It toasts while it cooks. That’s the beauty of this method—crispy outside, melty inside, all in one go.

Can I skip the egg?

Totally. You can load these up with just cheese and veggies, or go eggless and add tofu scramble.

Hi! I'm Sneji. Nice to meet you!

I am more commonly known as “The Modern Nonna” on social media where I create easy home cooked meals with a modern twist. I was born and raised in Sofia, Bulgaria and learned how to cook at the best culinary school in the world – my grandma’s kitchen. I lived in Greece on the Island of Crete with my parents for a while and then moved to Toronto, Canada when I was in grade 5. I started to really cook and experiment with food 11 years ago when I was 21 years old. Everything I currently know is a reflection of some part of my life…

Keep up to date with me on social media! Follow @themodernnonna

4.75 from 4 votes (2 ratings without comment)

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4 Comments

  1. 5 stars
    My kids LOVE this recipe…they love dipping the bagel into the runny yolk. I love that I can make it in the air fryer…no mess!

  2. I am looking forward to making this for my grandsons as they love a breakfast sandwich we call “Toad in the Hole” – where we take regular loaf break and cut out an hole, then place butter in a pan, put the bread and the cut out in and grill then flip when golden and crack an egg in the center and cook until medium. They love it! They also love bagels and this looks so delicious and a little change up so I know they will enjoy