Bagel Pizzas!! 4 ways – Cheese, Pepperoni, Fried Egg and Mac’n’Cheese

Satisfy those carbo cravings with pizza bagels!

It’ll be hard to share…I promise.

As a kid, I was a huge fan of pizza bagels. Then my recent cravings for pizza and bagels have resulted in combining the two and recalling some of the best moments in my childhood…indulging on pizza bagels for lunch, after school, pretty much anytime of day…

Ingredients:

• 2 or more bagels from your favorite bagel shop (I got mine from The Bagel Shop by me, known for their rainbow bagels and the Cragel)
• Trader Joe’s Pizza Sauce (enough to generously sauce 6 bagels).
• 1/2 pound Mozzarella Ball
• Pepperoni slices
• Egg (as many as you like to top on the pizzas)
• Basil
• Ground black pepper

For Mac and Cheese:

• 1 cup macaroni pasta
• 1/4 pound sharp cheddar cheese
• 2 tablespoon Parmesan cheese
• 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
• 2 tablespoon flour
• 1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoon whole milk
• Pinch of salt
• Ground black pepper

Directions:

For Mac and Cheese:

• Boil water and cook macaroni pasta according to instructions on box. While cooking the pasta, start on the cheese sauce. Once the pasta is done, drain almost completely and keep on the side. Don’t drain out all the water, otherwise the pasta will stick together.
• In a pot, on medium-low heat, whisk together butter and flour and allow for it to cook for a couple of minutes to make a roux. Don’t let it sit, otherwise, it will burn.
• Once it thickens a bit, whisk in the milk and continue to stir constantly.
• Add cheeses into the mixture and stir over low heat until the cheese is melted and the sauce is thick.
• Add salt and pepper to taste.
• Set on the side.
• Drain the pasta completely and stir in the cheese sauce.

For Pizza Bagels:

• Preheat oven to 400F degrees.
• Slice bagels in half.
• Shred the mozzarella in a bowl and set on side.
• Use about 3 tablespoons of pizza sauce for each bagel (put more or less as desired, but I do love a well-sauced pizza).
• Add shredded mozzarella on top and add pepperonis on top of desired bagels.
• Place bagels on jelly roll pan and place in oven for 8-10 minutes. Keep an eye on the cheese, once melted, turn on the broiler to low. Once the bagels are in the oven, fry a sunny-side up egg.
• Place the tray of bagels on the top rack in the oven. Keep an eye on the cheese and allow the cheese to bubble and then take out the bagels from the oven.
• While the bagels are in the oven, if the mac and cheese has cooled, heat up the mac and cheese on low.
• Top off the bagels with some fresh ground pepper.
• Decorate one with fresh basil leaves, one with the fried egg and last one with mac and cheese.
• Adjust the recipe as necessary for desired amount of pizza bagels and add your favorite toppings on top!

Enjoy!!