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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 you’ll have a great breakfast to enjoy any day of the week.
We have ourselves a breakfast recipe! And a really dang good one too. I’m not really sure why, but I almost never share savory breakfast recipes like this. It’s just plain silly of me because breakfast dishes are delicious.
I do the same thing with appetizers. I think it’s because more times than not, I’m usually cooking for a lot of people. They’re 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-up…breakfast it is!
The details
Let me walk you through the layers of this bagel. There’s crispy parmesan cheese on the bottom (it’s 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). And then that delicious egg in the middle. Finish this off with an avocado herb salad.
My family likes to add hot sauce – to be expected, of course.
Start with the bagel. Try to use a bagel that has a good size hole in the middle. If it’s 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. It’s 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 jalapeño 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 can’t have one without the other.
I use fresh herbs, diced avocado, lemon, and chili flakes. Serve on the side or overtop your bagel.
It’s 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.
It’s delicious. Great for the weekends, but easy enough to make during the week too.
Looking for other savory breakfast ideas? Here are my favorites:
Breakfast Quesadilla with Soft Scrambled Eggs and Avocado Salsa
Za’atar Eggs with Lemony Yogurt and Herbs
Lastly, if you make this 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, don’t 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
Servings: 2 eggs
Calories Per Serving: 837 kcal
Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
Ingredients
- 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
Instructions
- 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.
This looks absolutely delicious!! I will always welcome more savory breakfast recipes! Love new ideas for eggs.
Thanks so much Anna!! Let me know if you give the recipe a try, I hope you love it! xTieghan
Make the pesto recipe that is in Teighan’s HBH Super Simple book. IT IS WORTH IT AND I PUT IT ON MY EGGS EVERY DAY.
This was absolutely delish. 10/10
Hey Whitney,
Awesome! I love to hear that this recipe was enjoyed, thanks a lot for making it! xTieghan
This sounds amazing! I just heard of pesto and egg together the other day and now this is over the top with a bagel and parm, can’t wait to try it. Your directions are spot on, I had no difficulty understanding how to make this. Now off to get a good bagel!
Thanks so much Nancy!! Let me know if you give the recipe a try, I hope you love it! xT
This was awesome & came together super fast + easily!!
Hey Jessica,
Awesome! I love to hear that this recipe was enjoyed, thanks a lot for making it! xTieghan
I think the confusion might be happening because the instructions don’t specifically say “bagel half”, whereas the ingredients say to halve the bagel.
Hey Lindz,
Makes sense, thanks for pointing this out, yes it is 1 bagel half. I hope this helps! xTieghan
Your recipes even the simplest are so original!! <3
Miki x
https://www.littletasteofbeauty.com/
Thanks so much!!
This SOUNDS delicious, but the recipe makes no sense! It’s very unclear… is each half of the bagel one sandwich??? Do you make 2 melted cheese circles, one for each half of the bagel??? You didn’t make this recipe clear… Very poorly written recipe… please rewrite this recipe so it’s clear. Teighan, you can do better than this.. big disappointment. Geri
THE INSTRUCTIONS ARE “VERY CLEAR” … IT SAYS 1 BAGEL IS TO BE USED & THE SERVINGS STATE THE RECIPE SERVES 2.
KEEP ‘EM COMING TEIGHAN …………… LOVE ‘EM ALL !!!
Thanks so much Toni:) xT
No it doesn’t . It says “Servings: 2 bagels”. Bagel is a bagel is a bagel. That made me think that two (whole) bagels will be used, not two halves of one bagel. I took me several readings through the recipe to understand what was going on.
I had the same problem. This recipe is NOT “VERY CLEAR” at all! Teighan’s response to my comment helped but she really should rewrite and clarify the recipe….
Hi there,
Sorry for the confusion:) The serving is 1 bagel half, the recipe will make 2 of those. I hope this makes sense! xTieghan
I think it’s very clear that this recipe is for two servings, using half a bagel for each serving. You can see in the photo that it’s half a bagel with crispy parmesan as a base. So yes, you make two cheese circles. Let’s try to remember that Teighan provides her incredible recipes for free, every day, and I don’t think she deserves to be berated like this. It seems unfair to give a recipe 1 star that you haven’t even tasted. You could perhaps have asked your questions, waited for a reply (which Teighan always gives, diligently), cooked it, and then rated it. I think this sounds and looks amazing!
Asking the questions politely would have been nice, too. If someone gets this upset over a recipe, there’s a problem, and it’s not with the recipe. Kindness goes a long way. Tieghan, this sounds delicious, and so simple. I plan to make it as a breakfast-for-dinner meal after a busy workday. Thanks, as always, for sharing your culinary skills and ideas with us!
Thanks so much for your kind message Julie, I hope you love the recipe! xTieghan
This really ain’t for free, hun.
Wow. People amaze me by how nasty they can get over a recipe. This sounds delicious and I look forward to trying it. Lucy how about not eating it if you are confused rather making such a bold effort to be hurtful. And btw, what did you have to pay for this recipe since you’re claiming it’s not free? It IS FREE to you. And thank goodness she can find ways to earn money doing this so we benefit from her delicious FREE recipes. Lucy, sweetheart, I hope you get some much needed therapy.
Hi Geri,
So sorry you feel this way. I am not sure how else to write the recipe. The ingredients call for 1 bagel, halved. You are going to add one half to the skillet, to the other side of the skillet you are going to sprinkle with cheese. When the cheese melts, flip the bagel onto the cheese. Follow the instructions for the egg in step 2 and then repeat with the remaining bagel half. I hope this helps. Have the BEST day! xTieghan
So you toast the topside of the bagel first, not the cut side? That was why I did not understand the recipe at first.
Hey there,
Correct, you are going to toast the top side of the bagel first:)
I’m with Geri. When you say ‘flip the bagel so it’s toasted side down’ you don’t actually mean flip? Because if it’s toasting and you flip it, then the toasted side will be up. Is the mistake that you said ‘flip’ or that you said ‘cut side down’?
Hi Denise,
So you are going to start with toasting the bagel top side down, when you flip, the cut side will be down on top of the cheese and pesto. I hope this makes sense! xTieghan
The recipe is completely clear and also easy enough to critically think through without guidance. Maybe just ask what you want to know without the barrage of insults? I hope your day improves. Yeesh.
Great one Tieghan! Savory breakfasts RULE!
Thanks Aline! Let me know if you give the recipe a try, I hope you love it!
Do you really have to be so mean? A lot of us had no problem understanding what she wrote. Your reading comprehension must be poor. We are really disappointed in you. You can do better.
If you read all comments,it’s obvious that LOTS of people found the recipe confusing and had questions… Lori, I’ve been cooking all my life and reading hundreds of recipes and there is nothing wrong with my comprehension.. It’s frustrating though to read a recipe over and over again and see conflicting directions… just write a clear recipe!
Are you ok? Do you need some anger management therapy? Medication? It’s a recipe honey. Calm yourself. I’m somewhere between entertained by your intense desire to make a big deal about this and embarrassed for you.
This looks great! I think the ingredient list is meant to say 2 bagels.
The cheese is the bottom of the “sandwich” so you only use half a bagel per sandwich it looks like.
Yes, that is correct Nicole!!
Thanks Kiara! Nope, just 1 bagel, this recipe will make 2 servings, each half is a serving. I hope this helps!! xTieghan
Can’t wait to make this one. Love all the flavors.
I wish you would share more breakfast recipes.
I hope you love the recipe Joyce!!
If you read all comments,it’s obvious that LOTS of people found the recipe confusing and had questions… Lori, I’ve been cooking all my life and reading hundreds of recipes and there is nothing wrong with my comprehension.. It’s frustrating though to read a recipe over and over again and see conflicting directions… just write a clear recipe!
Are you ok? I’m concerned for your mental health and the safety of those around you. It looks like since you’re repetitively giving it one star with your replies you obviously are making an effort to be hurtful. Geez Louise this is craziness. Tieghan you’re a saint to not block ppl like this. I hope you have that option at least.
Me too. “Add the bagel to one side of the skillet. To the other side sprinkle….” Does this mean add the whole bagel or one half of the bagel or half? And “to the other side” meaning the other side of the skillet? Or to the other side/half of the bagel?
Hi Jennifer,
You are using 1 bagel half, placing one side down, sprinkle the other side of the skillet with cheese, once the cheese melts, flip the bagel onto the cheese. xTieghan
OMG. I just made this. Phenomenal! Best breakfast to hit my mouth in a LONG time. Cannot wait to make it for my SO this weekend. Thank you, thank you!!
Hi Bridget,
Thanks so much for making this recipe, I am thrilled to hear it was enjoyed. Thanks for sharing your comment! xTieghan
Brilliant! I never would have put this combination together on my own. I saw it as soon as I woke up this morning and made it right away. Sooooo GOOD!! Can’t wait to make it for the whole family this weekend.
Hi Angela,
Thanks so much for making this recipe, I am thrilled to hear it was enjoyed. Thanks for sharing your comment! xTieghan
are you toasting both sides of bagel?
I’m also confused about the bagel toasting process
I’m a little confused too. Recipe says it serves two, so is each serving a half bagel? And when you toast, you are toasting a half at a time?
Hi Lola,
Yes, 1 serving is 1 half of the bagel. If you have enough room in your skillet you can do two at a time. For reference, please refer to the photos above. Let me know if you have any other questions! xTieghan
Hi Janna,
Just follow the instructions in step 2, place one side of the bagel down, sprinkle the other with cheese and then flip once the cheese melts. I hope this helps! xTieghan
Hi Martha,
Yes, you will do that in step 2. Please let me know if you give the recipe a try, I hope you love it! xTieghan
What a creative idea, modern “spit in the eye”, bagel style, and that parmesan crisp idea? Genius. cannot wait to try!
Thanks so much Lisa! I hope you love this recipe!! xTieghan
It’s almost like she took this recipe and put it on a bagel, just with less chance of the egg cooking evenly and sub-par instructions! http://www.foodfinessa.com/2019/04/01/simple-pesto-egg-in-a-hole/
What is the purpose of being so rude? You could ask politely for her to clarify.
Hey Clare have you given the recipe a try? The egg cooked up pretty perfectly for me and tasted pretty damn delicious too. Maybe give it a try before leaving a comment! Hope you have a great end to your week! xT
Have you given competent recipe writing a try before replying to a comment of someone who lines your pockets? Hope people start to see through your incompetence and recipe stealing along with you having a great week! xJ
Holy sh!t. It’s certainly not the authors’ fault you lack any common sense or manners. She didn’t rip off someone else’s recipe – it’s a trend right now… pesto eggs. I made this today and it was PERFECTION! How embarrassing to not have anything but nonsense sloshing around in a lot of peoples heads that they can’t make an egg-in-a-hole with a bagel… then to go onto the recipe that was shared for free and berate the author. Go to McDonalds where y’all belong.
Hey Amy,
Awesome!! Love to hear this recipe was a winner, thanks for making it. Have the best week:) xT
Just checking on you Clare to see if you could use some help finding a therapist. I see there are others on here in the same boat. I didn’t know there was so much venom in online recipe reading. Wow. I’m here to help you and Geraldine and Lucy and any of you battling such deep issues over a recipe. Hope you feel better soon. Xoxo.
YUM! I can’t wait to make this this weekend!!
I hope you love the recipe Steph!! xTieghan