These Cheese Stuffed Bagels are outrageously delicious and so simple to make!

Sure, bagels are great. But cheesy loaded bagels are (objectively) even better 😛 Follow me…

overhead close up shot of 4 cooked bagels on baking tray with one showing cheese filling

Cheese Stuffed Bagels

To turn these bagels cheesy, we’re actually going to be adding the cheese inside the bagels. So from the outside it looks like a regular bagel, but it’s secretly oozing with cheese in the centre.

What Cheese to use?

Hands down the best cheese to use for this recipe is Cheesestring. It fits PERFECTLY in the centre of the bagel and has the perfect gooey, stringy texture when it melts.

What Bagel to use?

I recommend just regular bagels, because we’re going to brush them with garlic butter. But you can use other varieties if you’d prefer (sesame seeded, everything bagels etc).

Process shots: slice bagel 2/3 way up (photo 1), slice around centre (photos 2&3), firmly press to the sides (photo 4), slot in the cheese (photo 5), add top back on (photo 6).

6 step by step photos showing how to stuff bagels with cheese

Cheesy Garlic Bagels

Just to take these up a notch, and to ensure they don’t dry out in the oven, we’re going to be slathering them in garlic butter.

For this all you need is melted butter, garlic and parsley. Just ensure your garlic is very finely diced and then mashed into a paste-like texture with the blade of your knife. This will prevent it from burning.

Do I have to add the garlic butter?

In short – no. But it does add gorgeous flavour. If you don’t fancy the garlic butter I’d still recommend brushing in a little butter though, just to prevent the bagels from drying out in the oven.

Process shots: In a small pot add melted butter, garlic & parsley (photo 1), mix (photo 2), brush bagels (photo 3), bake in the oven (photo 4).

4 step by step photos showing how to make cheesy garlic bagels

close up shot of hand lifting lid of bagel with cheese pull

Serving Cheesy Bagels

These are perfect as they are for Lunch. They make an awesome substitute for Garlic Bread where you’d usually serve that (Lasagne, Spaghetti Bolognese etc). They’re also great for dunking in Tomato Soup!

Looking for another stuffed bagel recipe? Check out my Breakfast Quiche Stuffed Bagels and Bacon Cream Cheese Stuffed Bagels!

Alrighty, let’s tuck into the full recipe for these cheese stuffed bagels shall we?!

close up shot of halved cheese stuffed bagels on baking tray showing filling

How to make Cheese Stuffed Bagels (Full Recipe & Video)

close up shot of hand lifting lid of bagel with cheese pull
5 from 2 votes

Easy Cheesy Bagels

These Cheese Stuffed Bagels are outrageously delicious and so simple to make!
Prep: 10 minutes
Cook: 15 minutes
Total: 25 minutes
Servings: 4 bagels
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Equipment

  • Large Baking Tray
  • Sharp Knife & Chopping Board
  • Small Pot & Brush

Ingredients 

  • 4 Bagels
  • 8 Cheesestrings (see notes)
  • 2oz / 60g Butter, melted
  • 2 cloves of Garlic, very finely diced then mashed with the blade of your knife
  • 1 tbsp very finely diced Fresh Parsley

Instructions 

  • Slice the bagels about 2/3 of the way up and place the top slice to one side. Run a knife around the centre of the bottom slice, making sure you don't go all the way through (see video for guidance). Carefully but firmly use your thumbs to push the centre of the bagel to the outside, making way for the cheese.
  • Bend two cheese strings into the centre of the bagel, then pop the top slice back on. Repeat and place on a large baking tray.
  • In a small pot combine melted butter with garlic and parsley. Use a brush to brush the garlic butter on top, around the sides and in the middle of the bagels.
  • Bake in the oven at 180C/350F for 10-15mins, or until the bagels are deep golden and crispy, with the cheese in the middle completely melted (you can lift the top slice slightly to check).

Video

Notes

a) Cheesestrings - These fit PERFECTLY in the centre of the bagels. They've also got the perfect gooey texture too. I have tried this recipe with just stuffing in mozzarella, but it doesn't work quite as well, so definitely use cheesestrings if you can (possibly called 'string cheese' or 'stringy cheese' depending on where you are in the world).
b) Garlic Butter - If you don't want to add this you don't have to, but I'd still brush the bagels in a little butter otherwise they can dry out in the oven. Important to make sure you garlic has a paste-like texture; if it's just finely diced the little pieces can burn quite easily.
c) Serving - Perfect as they are for lunch. They make an awesome substitute for garlic bread where you'd usually serve that. They're also great for dunking in Tomato Soup!
d) Calories - Per bagel.

Nutrition

Calories: 469kcal | Carbohydrates: 49.35g | Protein: 19.11g | Fat: 21.95g | Saturated Fat: 12.545g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1.66g | Monounsaturated Fat: 5.896g | Trans Fat: 0.465g | Cholesterol: 62mg | Sodium: 773mg | Potassium: 207mg | Fiber: 4.1g | Sugar: 6.44g | Vitamin A: 705IU | Vitamin C: 1.7mg | Calcium: 229mg | Iron: 2.97mg

Looking for more?

You’ll find plenty more delicious comfort food like this in my Debut Cookbook ‘Comfy’


Looking for more cheesy garlicky goodness? Check out my Easy Cheesy Garlic Bread!

Recipes using Bagels


If you loved this Cheese Bagel recipe then be sure to Pin it for later! Already made it or got a question? Give me a shout in the comments and pick up your free ecookbook along the way!

Chris Collins, food blogger at Don't Go Bacon My Heart in white jumper eating a slice of garlic flatbread
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2 Comments

  1. Jane says:

    5 stars
    Kids loved these. Thanks.

    1. Chris Collins says:

      Thanks Jane! 🙂