Elevate your culinary creations with the irresistible crunch and savory goodness of Everything Bagel Seasoning! This iconic spice blend, traditionally found adorning classic bagels, has transcended its origins to become a beloved, all-purpose flavor enhancer in kitchens worldwide. Forget the store-bought versions filled with excessive salt; our super simple homemade recipe allows you to craft this addictively delicious seasoning with just six wholesome ingredients, giving you complete control over its flavor profile and sodium content.
Once you experience the ease of making your own Everything Bagel Seasoning, it will undoubtedly become a permanent fixture in your pantry. Its unique texture and robust flavor transform ordinary dishes into extraordinary culinary delights. From seasoning succulent chicken and vibrant roasted vegetables to enhancing your favorite dips and even sprinkling over eggs, this versatile mix truly belongs on everything!
What Exactly is Everything Bagel Seasoning?
Everything Bagel Seasoning is a delectable, textural, and profoundly savory blend of whole spices. Imagine the delightful topping found on an “Everything Bagel,” but separated from the bread itself – that’s precisely what this seasoning is! Its journey to widespread acclaim began when Trader Joe’s introduced their “Everything But the Bagel Seasoning,” making this once niche bagel topping accessible to the masses and sparking a global culinary trend.
Today, this distinctive spice mix has infiltrated kitchens far beyond the breakfast table. Its combination of nutty, garlicky, oniony, and salty notes makes it incredibly adaptable. Our carefully crafted recipe captures all the classic whole spice ingredients you love, but with a significant reduction in salt. This intentional adjustment ensures that you can generously season your dishes without overwhelming them with sodium, allowing you to perfectly tailor the saltiness to your personal preference and dietary needs.
Crafting Your Own: The Essential Ingredients
Creating your own batch of Everything Bagel Seasoning is surprisingly simple and requires just six core ingredients. Each component plays a vital role in building the signature flavor and textural complexity that makes this blend so irresistible:
- White Sesame Seeds: These provide a delicate, slightly nutty flavor and a satisfying visual contrast.
- Black Sesame Seeds: Offering a deeper, richer nutty note and a striking dark hue, they add depth to both taste and appearance.
- Dried Minced Garlic: The backbone of the savory profile, providing a pungent, aromatic kick that defines the “everything” flavor.
- Dried Minced Onion: Delivering a subtle sweetness and a tangy sharpness, these small pieces contribute significantly to the seasoning’s unique aroma and taste.
- Poppy Seeds: Essential for their signature textural crunch and a mild, earthy, and slightly nutty flavor that complements the other seeds.
- Coarse Salt: Crucial for enhancing all the other flavors, our recipe utilizes coarse salt, but in a significantly smaller quantity than commercial blends.
A Crucial Note on Salt Content
Unlike many commercially available Everything Bagel Seasonings, including the popular Trader Joe’s version, our homemade blend is intentionally formulated with much less salt. This allows you greater flexibility and control when seasoning your food. You can be generous with the seasoning without worrying about over-salting your dish. Always taste your food as you go and feel free to add additional salt, if desired, after the seasoning has been applied. This approach gives you the power to create perfectly balanced flavors every time.
Unleash the Flavor: Creative Ways to Use Your Everything Bagel Seasoning
While delicious on bagels, this versatile seasoning shines in countless other applications. Here are some inspiring ideas to help you integrate your homemade blend into everyday meals and special occasions:
Everything Bagel Crispy Baked Chicken Wings
Experience the ultimate game-day snack or weeknight treat. These wings are crusted in the seasoning for an unbelievably crispy and flavorful exterior that will have everyone reaching for more.
Smashed Red Potatoes
Transform humble potatoes into a sensational side dish. Crispy on the outside, fluffy on the inside, and bursting with the savory notes of Everything Bagel Seasoning.
Rainbow Sesame Noodle Salad
Add a unique twist to your noodle salads. The seasoning provides an extra layer of crunch and a powerful savory punch that perfectly complements fresh vegetables and dressings.
Instant Pot Sweet Potato Curry Soup
A surprising but brilliant addition! Sprinkle over creamy soups as a garnish or stir directly into the broth for a deeper, more complex flavor profile.
Sheet Pan Salmon Stir Fry
Elevate your weeknight salmon with this seasoning. It creates a flavorful crust and adds fantastic texture to both the fish and accompanying vegetables.
More Versatile Ways to Infuse Everything Bagel Flavor
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Roasted Veggies: Sprinkle a generous amount on your favorite roasted vegetables before or after cooking. It’s fantastic on roasted Brussels sprouts, roasted red potatoes, root vegetables, asparagus, and broccoli, adding an incredible crispy texture and savory depth.
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Dips & Spreads: Stir a tablespoon (or more!) of this seasoning into cream cheese, hummus, sour cream-based dips, or even our roasted garlic caramelized onion dip for an instant flavor upgrade. It adds both taste and visual appeal – truly #drooling worthy.
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Eggs of All Kinds: Whether you’re enjoying hard-boiled eggs, scrambled eggs, fried eggs, or an omelet, a pinch of Everything Bagel Seasoning is the perfect finishing touch. It brings an irresistible savory crunch that transforms a simple breakfast.
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Meats & Seafood: Use this blend as a dry rub for various cuts of meat and seafood. It forms a delicious crust on chicken breast, pork, beef, and especially delicate salmon fillets, imparting a gourmet flavor with minimal effort.
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Homemade Bread & Pretzels: Before baking your homemade soft pretzels, bread, or savory rolls, sprinkle a liberal amount of Everything Bagel Seasoning on top. The seeds toast beautifully, creating an aromatic and flavorful crust. A GENIUS move for any baker!
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Soups & Stews: While it might sound unconventional, adding a tablespoon of this seasoning to flavor soups and stews is a game-changer. The dried minced garlic and onion will rehydrate and melt into the broth, adding incredible depth and savory notes. Try it in:
- Chicken Noodle Soup
- Hamburger Soup
- Beef Stew
- Creamy tomato soup or lentil soup
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Avocado Toast: The ultimate topping for avocado toast. It adds texture, saltiness, and that quintessential savory flavor that perfectly complements creamy avocado.
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Salad Dressing & Marinades: Whisk a teaspoon or two into your homemade vinaigrettes or marinades for chicken or vegetables to infuse them with an Everything Bagel twist.
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Popcorn & Snacks: Sprinkle over freshly popped popcorn, roasted nuts, or homemade snack mixes for an irresistible savory crunch.
Mastering the Application: How Much Seasoning to Use
One of the greatest advantages of our homemade Everything Bagel Seasoning is its reduced salt content, which offers unparalleled flexibility in usage. Since it’s less salty than store-bought varieties, you can be much more generous with your application without concerns of over-salting your dish. This empowers you to truly load up on flavor and texture!
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For 1 lb. of Meat (Chicken, Pork, Fish): Begin with 1 tablespoon for a noticeable flavor, but feel free to increase it to up to 2 tablespoons for an even more robust crust and intense taste, especially on chicken wings or salmon.
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For Soups, Dips, or Spreads: Start with 1 tablespoon. Stir it in thoroughly and allow the flavors to meld. Taste and adjust as needed, adding more if you desire a stronger garlic/onion presence or additional crunch.
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For Roasted Vegetables: Sprinkle liberally over your vegetables before roasting, aiming for a consistent coating. A good rule of thumb is about 1 to 1.5 tablespoons per pound of vegetables.
Remember, the beauty of having less salt in the blend means you can always add more salt to taste *after* you’ve seasoned your dish, ensuring perfect customization every time.
Proper Storage for Maximum Freshness
To preserve the vibrant flavors and aromatic qualities of your homemade Everything Bagel Seasoning, proper storage is key. When stored correctly, your freshly made blend can last for up to 3 months, ensuring you always have this incredible seasoning on hand.
Store this seasoning in an airtight glass jar or a similar glass container. Ensure the lid seals tightly to prevent air and moisture from compromising the ingredients. Keep the container in a cool, dark place, away from direct sunlight and heat, such as a pantry or a spice cabinet. This will help maintain the potency of the dried garlic and onion and keep the seeds fresh and crunchy for optimal shelf life.
Glass
Spice Jars
Organize your homemade spice blends beautifully with this set of high-quality empty glass spice jars!
Why Make Your Own? The Benefits of Homemade Everything Bagel Seasoning
While convenient, store-bought Everything Bagel Seasoning often comes with hidden drawbacks. Opting for a homemade version offers several compelling advantages:
- Cost-Effectiveness: Buying individual spices in bulk and blending them yourself is often significantly cheaper than purchasing pre-made seasoning blends over time.
- Control Over Ingredients: You dictate what goes into your blend. This is particularly beneficial for managing sodium intake, avoiding unwanted additives, anti-caking agents, or preservatives often found in commercial products.
- Freshness & Potency: Spices lose their potency over time. By making small, fresh batches at home, you ensure your seasoning is always at its peak flavor and aroma.
- Customization: Love more garlic? Prefer less onion? Making it yourself allows you to adjust the ratios of each ingredient to perfectly match your taste preferences.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I toast the sesame or poppy seeds?
Absolutely! Toasting the sesame and poppy seeds lightly in a dry pan over medium-low heat for a few minutes (until fragrant) can enhance their nutty flavor even further. Just be careful not to burn them. Allow them to cool completely before mixing into the seasoning.
What kind of salt should I use?
Coarse salt, such as coarse sea salt or kosher salt, is ideal for Everything Bagel Seasoning as it provides that characteristic textural crunch. Fine salt will dissolve too quickly and won’t give the same mouthfeel.
Is this seasoning gluten-free and vegan?
Yes, all the listed ingredients are naturally gluten-free and vegan, making this a fantastic, inclusive seasoning for many diets.
How long does homemade Everything Bagel Seasoning last?
When stored in an airtight container in a cool, dark place, it will maintain its peak flavor and freshness for up to 3 months. After that, while still safe to use, its potency might begin to diminish.
More of our Favorite Homemade…
Spice Blends & Seasonings
If you love the idea of crafting your own custom spice mixes, you’re in for a treat! Explore our collection of homemade seasonings to elevate every meal:
- Homemade Chili Seasoning
- Taco Seasoning
- Fajita Seasoning
- Discover All Spice Blends
Easy Homemade Everything Bagel Seasoning Recipe
This incredibly versatile Everything Bagel Seasoning is a must-have all-purpose blend for your kitchen! Made with just 6 simple, wholesome ingredients, it’s far less salty than store-bought versions, allowing you to season generously. Prepare to get addicted to its delightful crunch and savory flavor!
Prep Time: 10 mins
Cook Time: 0 mins
Total Time: 10 mins
Print Recipe
Ingredients
- 3 tablespoons white sesame seeds
- 2 tablespoons black sesame seeds
- 1 tablespoon dried minced garlic
- 1 tablespoon dried minced onion
- 1/2 tablespoon poppy seeds
- 2 teaspoons coarse salt
Instructions
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Gather all your ingredients and ensure they are fresh and dry.
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Carefully measure out the white sesame seeds, black sesame seeds, dried minced garlic, dried minced onion, poppy seeds, and coarse salt.
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Place all measured ingredients into a medium-sized bowl or a large glass jar.
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Using a spoon or by securely sealing the jar and shaking vigorously, mix all the ingredients thoroughly until they are well combined and evenly distributed.
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Transfer the finished Everything Bagel Seasoning to an airtight container or a glass jar. Store it in a cool, dark pantry or cabinet to maintain freshness for up to 3 months.
Tips & Notes
- Salt Disclaimer: Our homemade blend contains significantly less salt than typical store-bought Everything Bagel Seasonings. This design choice allows you to use more seasoning for maximum flavor and texture without over-salting your dish. Adjust salt to your taste after application.
- Yields: This recipe makes approximately 1/2 cup of seasoning.
- Nutrition Information: The provided nutrition details are an approximation for 1 tablespoon of the seasoning.
- For Enhanced Flavor: Lightly toast the white and black sesame seeds in a dry skillet over low heat for 2-3 minutes until fragrant before mixing. Let them cool completely.
Nutrition Information (per 1 tablespoon serving)
Carbohydrates: 2 g,
Protein: 1 g,
Fat: 3 g,
Fiber: 1 g,
Sugar: 1 g
Nutrition information is an estimated value and should be used as an approximation. It may vary based on ingredient brands and preparation methods.
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