Food Recipe Collections & Favorites 6 Surprising, Totally Delicious Ways to Top a Bagel Yes, you can get fancy with a bagel. By Charlyne Mattox Charlyne Mattox Charlyne Mattox is the food and crafts director at Country Living and former staff food editor at Real Simple. She has over 20 years of experience in the media industry. Charlyne is also the author of the recipe book, Cooking with Seeds, published in 2015. Highlights: * Over 20 years of experience in the media industry * Former associate food editor, Martha Stewart Living - 9 years * Former staff food editor, Real Simple - 4 years * Current food and crafts director, Country Living - nearly 8 years * Author of Cooking with Seeds, published 2015 Real Simple's Editorial Guidelines Updated on October 7, 2022 Share Tweet Pin Email Trending Videos Photo: James Wojcik Wake up! Bagels aren't just for breakfast anymore. Try one of these tasty dough boys for lunch or a hearty snack. 01 of 06 Bagel With Ricotta and Strawberries Sang An Thanks to a combination of ricotta, fruit, and honey, this bagel strikes the perfect balance between sweet and savory. To create your own, spread half a toasted whole-grain "flat" bagel with 2 tablespoons of fresh ricotta. Top with ½ cup of sliced strawberries and drizzle with 1 teaspoon of honey or agave nectar. 02 of 06 Bagel With Cream Cheese, Apple, and Honey James Wojcik When you're craving something sweet, try this winning combination at breakfast or snack time: A cinnamon raisin bagel is toasted and then topped with plain cream cheese, sliced Granny Smith apples, and a drizzle of honey. If you're not a fan of cinnamon raisin bagels, just swap in your favorite variety. 03 of 06 Bagel With Avocado and Radish James Wojcik If you've grown tired of cream cheese, trade the spread for one full of healthy, good-for-you fats. Top toasted bagels with a creamy mixture of mashed avocados and lemon instead. Slivered radishes provide extra nutrients—like fiber and vitamin C—and a delicious crunch to every bite. 04 of 06 Chicken, Sprouts, and Provolone Sandwich Danny Kim When stuffed with chicken and vegetables, your favorite breakfast food is just as satisfying for lunch or dinner. This oversized sandwich features sliced chicken breast (use a store-bought rotisserie chicken to cut down on prep time), provolone cheese, sprouts, and whole-grain mustard sandwiched between two sesame bagel halves. Get the recipe. 05 of 06 Bagel With Prosciutto, Tomato, and Gruyère James Wojcik There's really nothing better than a warm, doughy bagel…except maybe one that's reminiscent of a meat lover's pizza. Simply broil layers of prosciutto, tomato, red onion, and gruyere until the cheese is gooey and the top is golden brown to create a meal that's more suitable for lunch or dinner than breakfast. 06 of 06 Bagel and Cream Cheese With Tomato and Cucumber Alexandra Grablewski This may be the first time you see the kids crack a smile over eating their vegetables. This quick and easy breakfast takes 10 minutes to make and features a quirky smiley face made out of cut up tomato and cucumber slices atop a bagel spread with plain cream cheese. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit