Don’t throw out those stale bagels you forgot to freeze—give them new life with this quick and easy recipe!
Bagel chips are so popular that you can find various brands of them for sale at your local grocery store—not to mention at many bagel shops, bakeries, and sandwich shops. However, none are as good as making them at home with day-old bagels. After all, everything tastes better when it is homemade. With only 15 minutes of prep time and another 20 for cooking, you will have warm, flavorful crisps ready for dipping or smearing with your favorite spreads and toppings.
How many times have you forgotten to transfer those fresh-from-the-bagel-shop bagels into a zippered bag or other airtight container? I’ve learned the hard way that bagels don’t stay fresh in those paper bags more than a day. That’s why I slice them and stick them in freezer bags right away. If I don’t, they’ll turn into rocks. However, with a good knife or slicer, you can turn those stale bagels into delicious, crispy, crunchy chips. Of course, you can make them out of fresh bagels, too. It’s just nice to know you have a use for bagels that have gone beyond their peak of freshness.
You can make bagel chips with any type of bagel. Just know that those with cheese or raisins may take a few extra minutes in the oven to reach the desired crispness. The trick to perfect bagel chips is to slice the bagels to the same thickness. If some are thinner than others, they will likely burn before the thicker ones are done baking. And those thicker ones will take much longer in the oven.
Choose your knife carefully, as a regular knife won’t get the easy slices you want. A serrated bread knife works best, as its teeth slice through the bagel with little pressure. Simply saw the knife back and forth, avoiding pressing down on the bagel as it will smush together. Make sure your knife is sharp, because a dull knife won’t work. If you have a good-quality slicer, you can use that, as well.
Customize The Flavors Of Your Bagel Chips
Another nice reason to make bagel chips at home is that you can customize their flavor with a variety of seasonings. Aside from the onion and garlic powders mentioned here, you can add Italian seasoning and even a sprinkle of Parmesan cheese for serving with pasta or for dipping into marinara sauce. Spice things up a bit with some cayenne or crushed red pepper flakes.
If you want to bring some sweet flavors to your bagel chips, especially when using strawberry, blueberry, pumpkin, or cinnamon raisin bagels, sprinkle on some nutmeg, cinnamon, or pumpkin pie spice. You can also use an apple pie spice blend for a warming fall flavor. My favorite combination is pumpkin bagel chips with pumpkin cream cheese. Yummy!
How do I store leftovers?
Let bagel chips cool completely, then store in an airtight container or zippered bag at room temperature for up to 4 weeks. Ensure the chips are thoroughly cooked and fully dried in the oven before storing. Soft chips won’t keep long and may spoil. Moisture causes mold—discard any chips if mold appears. Although freezing for longer storage isn’t ideal, as the chips may lose some of their crispness upon thawing, you can place them in a freezer bag and remove as much air as possible. I recommend using them within 6 months.
Serving suggestions
Bagel chips are a great addition to a charcuterie board or served with slices of your favorite cheese. They are ideal for dunking into Velveeta Cheese Dip, Cream Cheese And Salsa Dip, or Easy Spinach Artichoke Dip. Enjoy some spicy chips with Chicken Wing Dip, Slow-Cooker Taco Dip, or Refried Bean Dip. Top them with The Best Tuna Salad Recipe and a cherry tomato slice. If you’ve made sweet bagel chips, try them with your favorite nut butter, Cheesecake Dip, or Delicious Pumpkin Dip.
Bagel Chips
Ingredients
- 2 plain bagels
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 3/4 teaspoon salt or to taste
- Garlic powder to taste
- Onion powder to taste
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350°F. Slice the bagels into thin, 1/8-inch rounds and arrange them in a single layer on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
- Brush or drizzle olive oil over the bagel slices, then sprinkle with salt, garlic powder, and onion powder.
- Bake for 15-20 minutes, stirring every 5 minutes, until the chips are golden and crisp. Allow them to cool completely before serving.
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