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Crispy Parmesan and Pesto Egg in a Bagel. A fun twist on the bagel sandwich, that might just be even more delicious. Crispy parmesan cheese, basil pesto, seeded bagels, and perfectly cooked sunny side up eggs. Serve yours up with avocado and herbs and youโll have a great breakfast to enjoy any day of the week.


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We have ourselves a breakfast recipe! And a really dang good one too. Iโm not really sure why, but I almost never share savory breakfast recipes like this. Itโs just plain silly of me because breakfast dishes are delicious.
I do the same thing with appetizers. I think itโs because more times than not, Iโm usually cooking for a lot of people. Theyโre expecting dinner, not really a breakfast-for-dinner situation (though that is really delicious). So I most often make dinner recipes, which I, of course, then share here.
But today we have a nice switch-upโฆbreakfast it is!

The details
Let me walk you through the layers of this bagel. Thereโs crispy parmesan cheese on the bottom (itโs like a delicious cheese cracker). Then a layer of basil pesto (I usually make mine spicy). Next comes the toasted bagel (I love to use sesame seed bagels).ย And then that delicious egg in the middle. Finish this off with an avocado herb salad.
My family likes to add hot sauce โ to be expected, of course.
Start with the bagel. Try to use a bagel that has a good size hole in the middle. If itโs on the small side, just use your fingers to widen the hole a bit.

Now the cheese, sprinkle it onto a hot skillet. As the cheese hardens it becomes like a thin and crispy cracker. It is DELICIOUS! In fancy terms, this is called Frico. Itโs often used in salads, which is also great.
Next, dollop some basil pesto over the cheese, then add the bagel. For the pesto, I like to use homemade. My mix is simply basil, arugula, toasted nuts, parmesan, and olive oil. Oh, and I like to add a jalapeรฑo too. Then blend everything together in the food processor.
After you add the pesto, top with the bagel, then crack the egg into the bagel hole and let cook.

The herby avocado salad
I wanted to include some avocado in this dish. I just think avocados, eggs, and toast go hand-in-hand. You canโt have one without the other.
I use fresh herbs, diced avocado, lemon, and chili flakes. Serve on the side or overtop your bagel.
Itโs the perfect breakfast bagel and, shockingly, a really quick and easy way to cook your eggs. The crispy cheese on the bottom adds a whole new layer of texture and flavor. The pesto adds brightness and gives you that perfectly runny yolk and toasted bagel combination.
Itโs delicious. Great for the weekends, but easy enough to make during the week too.

Looking for other savory breakfast ideas? Here are my favorites:ย
Breakfast Quesadilla with Soft Scrambled Eggs and Avocado Salsa
Zaโatar Eggs with Lemony Yogurt and Herbs
Lastly, if you make thisย Crispy Parmesan and Pesto Egg in a Bagel be sure to leave a comment and/or give this recipe a rating! Above all, I love to hear from you guys and always do my best to respond to each and every comment. And of course, if you do make this recipe, donโt forget to tag me on Instagram! Looking through the photos of recipes you all have made is my favorite!
Crispy Parmesan and Pesto Egg in a Bagel

Ingredientsย
- 1 bagel, halved
- extra virgin olive oil, for drizzling
- 1/3 cup grated parmesan cheese
- 3 tablespoons basil pesto
- 2 eggs
- kosher salt and black pepper
- 2 cups arugula
- 1 avocado, diced
- 1/4 cup fresh dill
- juice from 1/2 a lemon
- 1 tablespoon toasted sesame seeds
- chili flakes
Instructionsย
- 1. Make sure the bagel's hole is 3/4 inch wide. Use your fingers to pull the hole bigger, if needed. 2. Heat the olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add the the top bagel half, cut side facing up, to one side of the skillet. To the other side, sprinkle 1/2 of the cheese in a circle the size of your bagel. Spoon 1/2 the pesto over the cheese. When the cheese melts, about 1 minute, flip the bagel, cut side facing down, onto the cheese. Crack 1 egg into the bagel hole. Season with salt and pepper. Cover and cook, until the whites are set, but the yolk is still runny, 6 to 8 minutes, or to your preference. Repeat with the remaining bagel half. 3. In a bowl toss together the avocado, arugula, dill, lemon, sesame, chili flakes, and salt. Serve with the bagel.
Nutrition
Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
Did you make this recipe? Please rate & comment below.


























So so so so good!!! My only issue was trying to crisp the cheese without it sticking to the pan! Any advice for getting the cheese to crisp without it sticking? Thank you so much for another amazing recipe!!!!
Hey Jessica,
Your feedback means a lotโthanks for trying this recipe! I’m happy it delivered!
Sorry to hear the cheese was sticking, I would be sure to spray your pan first next time. I hope this helps!
The flavor is the bomb, but I suggest cooking the egg separately to avoid a big mess. I also added bacon and it was delicious.
Hey Katelyn,
Happy Friday! Thanks a lot for trying this recipe and your comment, so glad to hear it was enjoyed! Sorry to hear about the egg! xT
I’m one of those slightly unhinged humans that can’t do runny yolks. Any suggestions on cooking the egg through without overcooking the rest? LOVE your recipes!
Haha yeah you could definitely cook the egg as long as you’d like! xT
This is so yummy. Just made it for the second time.
Hey Raquel,
Happy Wednesday!๐ I appreciate you making this recipe and sharing your comment, so glad to hear it was a winner!
I will make this sometime with my homemade bagels, AND my homemade pesto! My husband’s fave is “Everything” or “Rye” , and mine is “Sesame”. Even though the holes are huge when I begin the process, they do contract quite a bit during the process. Nonetheless, it may even make my husband a “breakfast for dinner’ fan, of I add a bit of bacon or ham on the side.๐
Hey Holly,
Perfect!! Thanks so much for making this recipe, I love to hear that it turned out well for you! xT
This is so easy and so delicious! Used a GF bagel, TJโs Parmesan cheese alternative, and their vegan kale cashew kale pesto. Outstanding!
Hey Debbie,
Happy Sunday!! Thanks so much for giving this recipe a try and your comment, so glad to hear it was enjoyed! xT
This was delicious! I think it was better than anything Iโve had at a restaurant recently. One thing to point out is that it is important to get the top side of the bagel hot before flipping it onto the cheese so that the egg will cook properly. I learned that the hard way but otherwise tasted delicious!
Hey Tanya,
Happy Friday!!โ๏ธโ๏ธ I appreciate you making this recipe and sharing your review, so glad to hear it turned out well for you! xT
Love your recipesโค๏ธ I made this recipe today and used whole wheat sesame bagelโฆso good. Unfortunately, in didnโt have avocados, so I sautรฉed some mushrooms and added them to the arugula with some Parmesan. A good compromise.
Hey Karen,
Happy Friday!!โ๏ธโ๏ธ I appreciate you making this recipe and sharing your review, so glad to hear it turned out well for you! xT
Any substitute suggestions for the pesto?
Hi Brandi,
I would just skip it:) Please let me know if you have any other questions, I hope you love this recipe! xx