These Quick and Easy Air Fryer Bagels are made with just a few simple ingredients (no yeast needed), and are ready to eat in just 30 minutes – cooling time and all!
Friends, I think I may have bought my last grocery store bagel. Seriously. These ridiculously easy homemade bagels are that good. Plus, they’re at least half the calories and way less expensive. A total win and a must-try!
So, just like with the Instant Pot, I am waaaay late to the air fryer party. I resisted only because I have a tiny little kitchen and didn’t really want another appliance crowding up my very limited counter space.
But being a food blogger, I need to keep up with the latest cooking trends. Since it seems like the air fryer is definitely here to stay, I finally broke down and got myself one last week.
Well, I’ve been an air-frying fool ever since, and these bagels were the very first thing I tried!
Now, I’ll admit that I was skeptical at first. I’ve made bagels before, and it was a long process with a mixer, yeast dough, kneading, rising, boiling, baking…Ugh.
So how could it be possible that these bagels – made by hand with flour, Greek yogurt, baking powder, and salt, less than 5 minutes of prep time, and a cooking time of only 10 minutes in an air fryer – could even come close?
Oh, it’s possible. 100% most definitely possible!
Now, listen. I’m not saying that these are exactly like authentic bagels that you would get fresh from a bagel shop. They’re not.
You must appreciate them for what they are: super quick, crazy easy, totally homemade, absolutely delicious bagels. As far as I’m concerned, this is the only bagel recipe I’ll ever need!
I’m not certain who came up with this genius recipe, but whoever you are, thank you!
Ingredients you need:
- All-purpose flour
- Plain Greek yogurt (non-fat or low-fat)
- Baking powder
- Salt
- Egg
- Toppings of your choice (optional)
Here’s a look at how to make Quick and Easy Air Fryer Bagels:
Tips & Tidbits:
- Don’t substitute regular yogurt in this recipe. It must be Greek yogurt. You need that thickness for a proper dough.
- I have tried both non-fat and low-fat plain Greek yogurt in this recipe, and both have made excellent bagels.
- If any liquid has accumulated on top of the yogurt, be sure to drain it off so that your dough isn’t too wet.
- You can use 1 cup of self-rising flour in place of the all-purpose flour, baking powder, and salt.
- If you’re keeping the bagels plain, still brush them with egg wash so they get that lovely glossy golden brown exterior.
- A note regarding everything bagel seasoning if you’re going to use it: many brands contain salt. Check yours and keep that in mind when topping your bagels so that they don’t end up too salty. I found this out the hard way.
- Best when enjoyed immediately!
- Store bagels tightly wrapped or in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 2 to 3 days. At room temperature, they won’t last as long, maybe a day before they start to lose that freshness.
- To best preserve that fresh flavor and texture, I recommend freezing any that you’re not going eat right away rather than storing them in the fridge.
- To freeze: After they have cooled, wrap each bagel with plastic wrap and place them in a freezer bag. For best results, use within 2 to 3 months. When ready to eat, just thaw them out.
- No air fryer? Place the bagels on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and bake in a preheated 375°F oven for 20 to 25 minutes or until golden brown. Bake in the upper portion of the oven so that the bottoms don’t get too dark.
- I will say that, although these are very good, I do like the bagels cooked in the air fryer more. They seem to get a little more puffy and a little more crisp on the outside.
Enjoy your bagels as-is, toasted, topped with butter or cream cheese (or both…that’s me), or however you like them. They also make a yummy Breakfast Bagel Sandwich.
More air fryer recipes are coming soon…I’m just getting started with this thing!
I hope you try this recipe for Quick and Easy Air Fryer Bagels and love them as much as I do. Thanks for visiting today!
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Quick and Easy Air Fryer Bagels
Ingredients
- 1 cup all-purpose flour, plus a little more for dusting your work surface
- 1½ teaspoons baking powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 cup plain non-fat or low-fat Greek yogurt, drain off any liquid
- 1 egg, beaten
- toppings of your choice, such as everything bagel seasoning, dried minced onions, dried minced garlic, sesame seeds, poppy seeds, etc., optional
Instructions
- In a medium to large bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt until well-combined.
- Add the yogurt; stir until well-combined and the dough comes together in a ball. Use your hands to quickly smooth out the ball. Note: When mixing the dough, it will be shaggy at first, but keep stirring, and it will come together quickly. At this point, the dough will feel a bit wet and just slightly tacky when you handle it (which is how it should be), but it shouldn't be super sticky or stick to your hands when you pull them away (if it does, add a little more flour, a sprinkle at a time).
- Transfer the ball of dough to a lightly-floured surface and divide it into 4 equal pieces.
- Roll each piece of dough into a rope about 9 inches long. Make a bagel shape by forming a circle with the rope and pinching the edges together well. Use your fingers to gently reshape/smooth out the dough in that area, if needed.
- Lightly brush the tops and sides of the bagels with the beaten egg (you probably won't need all of the egg). If desired, sprinkle with your favorite bagel toppings. Note: If you are not adding toppings, you still want to brush the bagels with the egg because this gives them that nice glossy and golden brown exterior.
- Preheat your air fryer to 350°F. Once preheated, place the bagels in a single layer in the air fryer basket, making sure to leave some space between the bagels so they don't touch (they will expand as they cook). You need air to circulate around them for them to cook properly. Notes: I have a 6-quart air fryer with a square basket, and all 4 bagels fit perfectly in the basket at one time. If you have a smaller air fryer, you may need to split the cooking into 2 batches.If your air fryer doesn't preheat, just put the bagels in and turn it on to cook at 350°F. You may need to increase the cooking time just a bit.
- Air fry for 10 to 12 minutes or until golden brown (don't flip them). Note: Since all air fryers are different, I would start checking them at about 8 minutes just to make sure they don't get too dark. 10 minutes is usually perfect for me.
- Place the bagels on a wire rack and allow them to cool for at least 10 to 15 minutes before slicing and serving. Best when enjoyed immediately!
Notes
- Don’t substitute regular yogurt in this recipe. It must be Greek yogurt. You need that thickness for a proper dough.
- You can use 1 cup of self-rising flour in place of the all-purpose flour, baking powder, and salt.
- Store bagels tightly wrapped or in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 2 to 3 days. At room temperature, they won’t last as long, maybe a day before they start to lose that freshness.
- To best preserve that fresh flavor and texture, I recommend freezing any that you’re not going eat right away rather than storing them in the fridge.
- To freeze: After they have cooled, wrap each bagel with plastic wrap and place them in a freezer bag. For best results, use within 2 to 3 months. When ready to eat, just thaw them out.
- No air fryer? Place the bagels on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and bake in a preheated 375°F oven for 20 to 25 minutes or until golden brown. Bake in the top portion of the oven so the bottoms don’t get too dark.
Debra
Oh my made these so easy , and very delicious also found an easy way to make the bagels round use a small glass perfectly round for the middle used a an empty spice jar perfect, I definitely will be making these again
Michelle
Thank you, Debra! So happy you enjoyed the bagels and found them easy to make…and thanks for your suggestion on how to make the bagels round (I’ll have to try that!). I appreciate you taking the time to comment and rate the recipe!