How To Make Everything Bagel Seasoning

How to make everything bagel seasoning at home with just 6 ingredients and a few minutes. Use this seasoning as a tasty and nutritious topper for tons of bread recipes, other baked goods, and meals!

Recently I’ve been on a complete homemade spice/seasoning blend kick, and I love it. Not only are these spice mixes nearly always more cost-efficient than store-bought alternatives, but they’re also fresh, often taste better, and take just a few minutes to create – just like this everything bagel seasoning. 

What is everything bagel seasoning?

Everything bagel seasoning (also called ‘everything but the bagel’ seasoning and sometimes everything bagel spice – though there are no spices in it) is the very popular seasoning used to make everything bagels (and now to top tons of other dishes too). 

While there are several store-bought options available of the seasoning (namely Trader Joe’s), if you don’t live near a store – or even on the same continent (like me), then being able to make this tasty ‘topper’ at home is brilliant. Plus, let’s not even mention how much it can cost to get it online from, say, Amazon (eek!).

All you need is just 6 ingredients and a couple of minutes of your time. Don’t be fooled into thinking that this seasoning is just for bagels either: sprinkle some over breakfast toasts, eggs, soups, salads, and more (in fact, I’ve included a whole list below).

What is in this bagel seasoning?

This seasoning is made up of just 6 ingredients – one of those being salt! So let’s get right down to the nitty-gritty. 

• Sesame seeds – This seasoning uses a combination of black and white sesame seeds (more for visual appeal than flavor, I’d say, as it makes a slight but not MASSIVE difference). If you’re unable to find one, then feel free to use the other only. You can use toasted sesame seeds, but only if you don’t plan to bake the seeds (otherwise, they’ll likely burn). 
• Poppy Seeds – Will add a wonderful crunch alongside the sesame seeds.
• Dried garlic  – Use either flaked or dried minced garlic and avoid granulated or garlic salt (the mix will be far too salty otherwise!). There needs to be a bit of ‘bite’ to it rather than powder as it just won’t work the same. 
• Dried onion – Same as above, use either onion flakes or dried minced onion. Avoid granulated or onion salt/powder.
• Flaked Sea Salt – The light sea salt flakes are wonderful for making a seasoning that is salty but not overbearing. If you really can’t find flaky salt, you can use coarse sea salt though it definitely won’t be as good (in my opinion). Avoid regular salt at all costs, though!

How To Make It

In a small bowl, combine all of the ingredients and mix. Taste and adjust the seasonings if necessary, such as adding more salt, etc. 

If you’d like to toast it: Toast over medium heat for 3-5 minutes until lightly fragrant and just turning golden.

Decant into an airtight small container like a spice jar and keep in a cool, dry location. 

How To Store

As this seasoning mix is made with a combination of long-life cupboard essentials, the seasoning lasts as long as the ingredient with the shortest use by date.

Make sure to store in an airtight container like a glass jar (to keep out any moisture). It should last for at least six months.

What To Put Everything Bagel Seasoning On?

As I stated above, this everything bagel seasoning mix isn’t just for bagels. Here are some of my other favorite ways to use this flavourful sprinkle.

• Homemade Bagels & Breads – this has to be top of the list – homemade bagels. However, you can use this to sprinkle over all sorts of bread (like this Multigrain Bread or Whole Wheat Bread), pretzels, buns and bagels, and flatbread creations. You could even use it for pizza crusts!
• As a toast topper – avocado toast, mushrooms on toast, a little cream cheese, etc.
• Salads – I swap between this and my omega seed mix for extra flavor and a handy nutrient topper. I.e., for this Kale Strawberry Salad, High-Protein Salmon Avocado Salad Bowl, or Simple quinoa, walnut, and avocado salad.
• Sushi – sprinkle over sushi rolls or into sushi bowls.
• Roasted veggies – a great way to add texture and extra flavor to tons of side dishes, including baked potatoes.
• Over eggs – I know I mentioned eggs above, but I feel like they need their own category. Sprinkle over scrambled eggs (or this vegan tofu scramble), omelets, these onigiri rice balls, Simple Soy-Marinated Ramen Eggs, and other egg dishes. 
• As a soup topper – in place of croutons – add a little crunch (even better if you lightly toast them for extra crunch). I.e., for this Thai Inspired Pea Soup, Creamy Butternut Squash & Carrot Soup, Coconut Curry Pumpkin Soup.
• Crackers – bake into or over crackers. You could add it to these seed crackers even.
• Over dips – like hummus, Simple Spinach Yogurt Dip (Borani), or this red pepper muhammara dip.
• Wraps & Sandwiches – like my falafel wraps, Mediterranean Vegetable Vegan Lettuce Wrapsor grilled cheese with tomatoes.
• Over pasta & bakes – like this Vegetarian One-Pot Pasta bake, Homemade Pappardelle Floral Pasta & Basil Pesto, or Fresh Home-made Spinach Green Pasta Salad (you could even add nutritional yeast for extra cheesy flavor).
• Over sauteed veg – like this garlic spinach. 

Let me know in the comments what your favorite ways to use this everything bagel seasoning are!

Recipe Notes

• This is one of those recipes that isn’t super versatile towards substitutions. I.e., swapping garlic flakes for granulated. It’s best to keep to what is suggested for the best results. 
• You can use toasted or untoasted sesame seeds. Stick to untoasted, though, if you plan to bake them (i.e., for everything bagels); otherwise, they may burn while baking. 
• Feel free to slightly customize this to your liking with additional dried herbs/spices (i.e., rosemary would be amazing with the garlic)
• Adjust the amount of salt in the seasoning if you’d like. Start with 1/2 of what I suggest and increase as needed. 
• When using this seasoning over homemade bagels or bread, brush them lightly with water (or an egg wash if you’re not vegan) first; otherwise, the seasoning won’t adhere.

More Seasonings & Spices

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• Simple Homemade Italian Seasoning
• Simple Golden Spice (Golden Milk Powder)
• Easy Falafel Spice Mix (Middle-Eastern Spice Blend)
• How to Make Chili Flakes (Oven + Dehydrator)
• How to Make Ginger Powder (Two Methods)
• DIY Turmeric powder at home
• DIY: How to make Vanilla Powder

If you try this everything bagel seasoning recipe, then let me know your thoughts in the comments. I’d also really appreciate a star recipe rating and would love to see your recreations – just tag @AlphaFoodie.