I don't know how I got out of bed on Saturday mornings before my school opened a bagel shop (s/o to TGM Bagel). They pretty much serve a bagel any way you want it—there are enough schmear, fish, and garnish combinations to last you throughout the semester. But having it your way isn't exactly the best for your wallet. That's why I set out to find the best bagel sandwich recipes that are guaranteed to satisfy like the ones from the deli do.
1. Ham, Egg, and Cheese
What's life without a go-to ham, egg, and cheese bagel? It's the best way to start the morning, deliciously covering all food groups. There are so many ways to make this sandwich your own – this bagel sandwich recipe enhances the classic by topping the bagel with mayo/mustard and spinach.
#SpoonTip: Ham is a cheaper alternative to bacon, and you don't have to cook it before piling it on your bagel.
2. Smoked Salmon Grilled Cheese
Definitely not your typical bagel with lox and cream cheese, but it's sure to satisfy the same craving. Smoked salmon with cream cheese AND gruyere, topped with red onion, capers, and dill. This sandwich offers a new taste with each bite.
3. Spinach and Artichoke Bagel
I tried a spinach and artichoke bagel at a local coffee shop, and I've been wanting a round two ever since. This bagel's sure to be both cheesy and creamy. Why should chips be the only way to eat spinach and artichoke dip?
4. Peanut Butter and Banana
This is a childhood classic, but it doesn't have to be as simple as it used to be. Slather that peanut butter and layer some sliced banana, but you don't have to stop there – try drizzling on some honey or sprinkling on some chia seeds. For added crunch, add a handful of granola!
5. Nutella (or another hazelnut spread)
Your body might not thank you, but your heart will. I feel like Nutella was this huge thing when it came out, but lately it's started collecting dust in our pantries. If you're still not over chocolate hazelnut spread, go for it on a bagel, and top it with strawberries, raspberries, or bananas. Or even with some peanut butter to trick yourself into thinking you're eating a Reese's.
6. Pear, Apple, Cheddar, & Caramelized Onion Grilled Cheese Bagel
What an actual mouthful. This bagel sandwich recipe guarantees a melt-in-your-mouth experience. I know this is quite the strange combination, especially with a runny sunny-side-up egg and fig jam thrown into the mix, but wow, it's worth a try.
7. Egg in a Hole Avocado, Bacon, Egg, and Cheese
This packed sandwich will silence your hangover and hold you over until a late lunch. This bagel sandwich recipe is by Red Gerard's sister. If you don't know who that is, he's the youngest snowboard Olympic gold medalist in history, winning the slopestyle at the 2018 Games at only 17 years old. In my opinion, this sandwich also deserves the gold.
8. Avocado and Dill
The perfect vegetarian bagel, this sandwich is rich, creamy, and packed with flavor. It's a super easy bagel sandwich recipe to follow, all you need to do is spread some dill cream cheese over a toasted bagel and top with sliced avocado seasoned with black pepper and salt.
9. Elena Ruz
This sandwich is ingrained into Cuban tradition. Perfectly sweet, all you need is turkey, cream cheese, and strawberry jam. It's worth heating this sandwich up in a panini press to get the cream cheese and jam all melty and delicious.
10. Blueberry Grilled Cheese with Mascarpone and Brie
This is a dessert bagel, but my sweet tooth knows no clock. The slightly tart blueberries complement the rich mascarpone and sweet Brie. After heating it up, the cheese should be super runny and the blueberries burst in your mouth.
11. Very Veggie
This bagel sandwich is the perfect reset after a rough night. It's fresh and crunchy with sprouts, raw onions, cucumber slices, and tomatoes. The herbs and spices cream cheese adds a tanginess that fits perfectly with the rest of the sandwich.
12. Supreme Breakfast with Spicy Cream Cheese
Nothing wakes me up like some spice in the morning. This bagel is super filling – it's a cheese bagel with spicy cream cheese, topped with a fried egg, bacon, cheddar, jalapeños, tomato, and avocado. The spicy cream cheese pretty much is cream cheese mixed with hot sauce and few key spices.
13. Eggs, Guacamole, and Sriracha
I'm keep things spicy with this bagel sandwich recipe. A sunny-side-up egg, Sriracha ketchup, guacamole, and bacon make for the best toasted bagel. The only way I love my eggs is with ketchup or covered in cheese, so this recipe works perfectly for me.
14. French Toast Bagel
Bacon, egg, and cheese bagel meets French toast, and guess what? They get along great. It's sweet and savory, and you can mix things up by adding either hot sauce or maple syrup.
15. Pizza Bagel
I'm a big fan of cold pizza for breakfast, but I think pizza bagels are the least bit more acceptable for morning eats. And you can top it with whatever you're feeling, it's the perfect wake-me-up.
#SpoonTip: You can make pizza bagels using ingredients from your dining hall.
With all these bagel sandwich recipes, it's hard to find a reason for why you'd visit a deli again. But if you do, you might as well go to the one that serves the best bagel in that whole state. After a long night, all you need is something to get you out of bed, and these bagels are sure to do the trick.