These High-Protein Bagels are soft, chewy, and incredibly easy to make with no yeast and no boiling required. Perfect for a healthy breakfast, meal prep, or high-protein snack, these easy air fryer or oven-baked bagels are customizable with everything bagel seasoning or cheese toppings for the ultimate savoury bite.
Why you will love this recipe?
You will love this high-protein bagels recipe because it delivers easy and quick bagels without yeast or complicated steps. They are versatile, customizable with toppings like everything bagel seasoning or cheese, and ideal for a healthy breakfast, high-protein snack, or sandwich base.
Expert Tips for Best Results!
- Use Thick Greek Yogurt Only – For the best texture, use thick, full-fat or high-protein Greek yogurt. Thin or homemade yogurt can make the dough too sticky and affect the bagel texture.
- Slightly Tacky Dough Is Perfect –The dough should feel slightly sticky but manageable. Adding too much flour will make the bagels dense instead of soft and tender.
- Use Bread Flour for Better Chew – Bread flour increases protein content and creates that classic chewy bagel texture. The combination of bread flour and all-purpose flour keeps them balanced.
- Add Protein Boost Toppings – For extra protein, top with shredded mozzarella, cheddar, or even sprinkle seeds like sesame or chia before baking.
- Seal the Edges Properly – If shaping with the rope method, pinch and seal the ends firmly to prevent them from opening while baking or air frying.
How to make High-Protein Bagels?
Step 1: Preheat the Oven or Air Fryer
Preheat your oven to 190°C or set your air fryer to 180°C. Line a baking tray with parchment paper to prevent sticking and ensure even baking.
Step 2: Prepare the Everything Bagel Seasoning
In a small bowl, mix together roasted sesame seeds, roasted black seeds (nigella or black sesame), onion granules, flaky sea salt, and chili flakes until well combined. Set aside to use as a flavourful, savoury topping for your homemade high-protein bagels.
Step 3: Mix the Dry Ingredients
In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the bread flour, all-purpose flour, sugar, salt, and baking powder until well combined. This helps evenly distribute the leavening and ensures a soft, chewy bagel texture.
Step 4: Add Yogurt and Egg
Add the thick Greek yogurt and egg to the dry ingredients and mix until a slightly sticky dough forms. The dough should be tacky but manageable for shaping.
Step 5: Knead the Dough
Transfer the dough onto a lightly floured surface and knead for 3–4 minutes until smooth and cohesive. Kneading develops structure and gives these homemade high-protein bagels their classic chewy bite.
Step 6: Let the Dough Rest
Cover the dough and let it rest for 30 minutes. Resting relaxes the gluten, making the dough easier to shape and improving the overall texture.
Step 7: Shape the Bagels
Divide the dough into 6 equal portions. Shape each piece by either rolling it into a rope and sealing the ends to form a ring or rolling it into a ball and stretching a hole through the centre. Make the centre hole slightly larger than desired, as it will shrink during baking.
Step 8: Apply Egg Wash and Add Toppings
Place the shaped bagels onto the prepared tray. Brush generously with egg wash made by beating one egg with 1 tablespoon of water or milk. Sprinkle with everything bagel seasoning, shredded mozzarella and cheddar, jalapeños, or your preferred toppings.
Step 9: Bake or Air Fry
Bake in the preheated oven for about 21 minutes or air fry for 18–20 minutes until the bagels are puffed, golden brown, and lightly crisp on the outside.
Step 10: Cool Before Slicing
Allow the bagels to cool for 10–15 minutes before slicing to ensure the interior sets properly. Serve warm as a healthy breakfast, high-protein snack, or sandwich base.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I make these in an air fryer?
Yes. Air fry at 180°C for 18–20 minutes until golden brown. They turn beautifully crisp on the outside and soft inside.
Why are my bagels dense?
This can happen if too much flour was added or the dough was overworked. Keep the dough slightly tacky for a softer texture.
Do I need yeast for these bagels?
No. These are no-yeast bagels. Baking powder helps them rise, making this an easy and quick homemade bagel recipe.
Are these bagels the same as traditional bagels?
No, these bagels are slightly different from protein bagels. They are yogurt forward bagels so I highly recommend you add toppings to enhance the flavours and these bagels are best enjoyed fresh in my opinion.
Watch How to Make it!
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Recipe Card
High-Protein Bagels
These easy high-protein bagels are soft, chewy, and perfect for a quick homemade breakfast. Top with everything bagel seasoning or melted cheese for a delicious, bakery-style bagel that’s perfect for meal prep, sandwiches, or a satisfying high-protein snack.
Ingredients
For Bagel Dough:
- 250g bread flour (≈ 2 cups)
- 100g al-purpose flour (≈ ¾ cup + 1 tbsp)
- 1 tbsp sugar (12g)
- 1 tsp salt (6g)
- 14g baking powder (1 tbsp)
- 250g thick Greek yogurt (≈ 1 cup)
- 1 small egg
For Egg Wash:
- 1 egg beaten with 1 tbsp water or milk
For Toppings (Optional):
- Everything bagel seasoning
- Shreds of mozzarella & cheddar with sliced jalapeños
For Everything Bagel Seasoning:
- 1 tbsp roasted sesame seeds (≈ 9g)
- 1 tbsp (≈ 9g) roasted black seeds (nigella or black sesame)
- 1/2 tbsp onion granules (≈ 4g)
- 1 tsp flaky sea salt
- 1 tsp chili flakes
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 190°C (or air fryer to 180°C) and line a baking tray with parchment paper for easy release and even baking.
- In a small bowl, mix together 1 tbsp roasted sesame seeds, 1 tbsp roasted black seeds (nigella or black sesame), ½ tbsp onion granules, 1 tsp flaky sea salt, and 1 tsp chili flakes. Stir well and set aside for a flavourful homemade everything bagel seasoning.
- In a large mixing bowl, whisk together bread flour, all-purpose flour, sugar, salt, and baking powder until evenly combined to ensure soft, chewy high-protein bagels.
- Add the thick Greek yogurt and egg to the dry mixture and stir until a slightly sticky dough forms. The dough should be tacky but manageable.
- Transfer the dough to a lightly floured surface and knead for 3–4 minutes until smooth and cohesive. This develops structure and creates a chewy bagel texture without yeast.
- Cover the dough and let it rest for 20–30 minutes to relax the gluten and make shaping easier.
- Divide the dough into 6 equal portions. Roll each into a rope and seal the ends to form a ring, or shape into a ball and stretch a hole through the centre, making the hole slightly larger as it will shrink while baking.
- Brush each bagel with egg wash (1 egg beaten with 1 tbsp water or milk) and sprinkle generously with the prepared everything bagel seasoning, shredded mozzarella and cheddar, jalapeños, or your favourite toppings.
- Bake for about 21 minutes in the oven or air fry for 18–20 minutes until the bagels are puffed, golden brown, and lightly crisp on the outside.
- Let the bagels cool for 10–15 minutes before slicing to allow the interior to set properly. Serve warm as a high-protein breakfast, snack, or sandwich base.
If you like recipes like these, you should definitely check out my:
1) Easy Homemade Bagels
2) Subway Style Sandwich Bread Recipe
