Deconstructed Bagel bites are a great make ahead after school snack! Whole grain bagels topped with wholesome toppings like cheddar-jack cheese, lean turkey sausage, and a mix of vegetables for a fun and balanced lunch. These copy cat Bagel Bites can be frozen and reheated for any anytime treat.
This post is sponsored by Milk Means More and the United Dairy Industry of Michigan. All thoughts are my own.
One thing I’ve learned about kids since having a crew of my own is that kids like small food. If said kids are boys, then amend that statement to read that kids like small food in mass quantity. Serving a fancy-pants sandwich with all sorts of fixings would make Bacon Slayer salivate with anticipation. The same deluxe sammie would likely elicit a (usually polite) “No, thank you” response from 3 of the 4 Sons.
Now, just for kicks, let’s say I serve a plate full of miniature sandwiches made from the exact same ingredients as the big sammie to those discerning Sons in question. All of a sudden, I’ve got their attention. If I happen to merely arrange the ingredients and let those persnickety boys assemble their own mini sandwiches? Well then, I’ll have a table full of wee men that are enthusiastically creating their own lunches.
Bottom Line: enthusiasm for food is directly correlated to the presentation.
Besides, what’s not to love about big flavors in little packages? Take these Deconstructed Bagel Bites, for instance. Set out whole grain bagels with a variety of nutritious toppings like lean turkey sausage crumbles, a colorful mix of vegetables, a touch of seasoned tomato paste, and a generous amount of cheddar-jack cheese. Let the kids (or adults) build pizza-style open faced sandwiches with their desired ingredients. Heat the crusted creations until the cheese is melted and extra gooey, and then serve them to raucous cheers from the crowd.
OK, so maybe the crowd won’t necessarily be raucous or audibly cheering. Still rest assured that while stuffing their smiling faces with their own warm and gooey mini pizzas, the cheers of the crowd will be deafening in their own heads. I mean, who doesn’t get excited about tiny pizza sandwiches for lunch?
That kind of enthusiasm can be experienced at snack time too, because Deconstructed Bagel Bites may also be (ahem!) constructed ahead of time and then frozen. The frozen bagel bites may be taken straight from the freezer, placed directly on a baking sheet, and then popped in a hot oven for a quick after school snack. No need for packaged bagel pizzas with questionable ingredients when a fresher, healthier alternative is so easy to assemble and store in bulk.
Small food. Big flavors. Loads of nutrition. Happy kids. Happy mom. Amen.
Have fun making your own bagel bites!
♥♥♥
Kirsten Kubert
Yields 4
Whole grain bagels topped with wholesome toppings like cheddar-jack cheese, lean turkey sausage, and a mix of vegetables for a fun and balanced lunch. Bagel Bites may also be assembled ahead and frozen for a quick after school snack.
15 minPrep Time
5 minCook Time
20 minTotal Time
Save RecipeIngredients
- 4 miniature whole grain bagels
- 2 Tbs. (2 oz.) tomato paste
- 1/8 tsp. Italian seasoning blend
- ½ C. (2 oz.) finely shredded cheddar-jack cheese
- ¼ C. (1 oz.) cooked lean turkey sausage, crumbled
- ¼ C. (part of 1 small) diced sweet bell pepper
- 1 Tbs. (part of 1 small) peeled and diced red onion
Instructions
- The individual components of the Bagel Bites may either be packaged individually for chilled transport in lunch boxes and assembly at meal time, or prepared ahead of time and frozen to reheat later.
- Regardless of preparation choice, Bagel Bites are assembled by splitting each of the whole grain bagels in half crosswise, and placing them (cut sides up) onto a work surface. Spread a thin layer of tomato paste onto each cut side of the bagels.
- Dust a pinch of Italian seasoning over the tomato paste. Sprinkle the cheddar-jack cheese evenly over each of the bagel. Arrange the turkey sausage, red onion on top of the cheese. Lightly pat the toppings on the bagel to slightly adhere them to the bagel halves.
- At this point the Bagel Bites may either be immediately heated to serve, or frozen in a single layer on a parchment lined baking sheet. Once frozen, seal the halves in a single layer (cut side up) in a freezer storage bag. Return the frozen bagels to the freezer.
- To heat fresh Bagel Bites, bake on a baking sheet in a 350 degree F oven for 3 to 5 minutes, or until cheese is melted and edges of the bagel begin to crisp. Alternately, bagels may be heated in a microwave for 30 to 60 seconds on high power.
- To heat frozen Bagel Bites, place desired number of bagels onto a baking sheet and bake at 350 degrees F for 20 to 25 minutes or until thawed, cheese is melted and edges of the bagel begin to crisp.
♥♥♥
Comments