Homemade Toasted Everything Bagel Seasoning

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This homemade everything bagel seasoning is the absolute best—promise! The secret is toasting the seeds and spices in a warm skillet until they fill your kitchen with that unmistakable everything-bagel aroma.

Updated by Kathryne Taylor on June 6, 2025

Are you an everything bagel person, too? They’ve always been my absolute favorite. Growing up, Sunday mornings meant a trip to the bagel shop with our parents. I’d practically bounce up and down begging for an everything bagel, while my brothers went for cinnamon raisin. Not my thing!

As a grown-up, I’ve reluctantly accepted that white flour doesn’t love me back. So when bagels appear, I gravitate toward plain whole-grain ones—even though what I truly crave is that everything-bagel crunch.

Imagine my delight when I figured out how to mix up my own everything bagel spice blend at home. Now I can transform any bagel into an everything bagel! I can even turn humble toast into something that tastes just like one. And as you’ll see below, this blend works its magic on far more than bagels.

Everything bagel blend comes together from a handful of humble ingredients—sesame seeds, poppy seeds, dried minced garlic and onion, kosher salt, and a pinch of red pepper flakes (skip the flakes if heat isn’t your thing). You’ll spot every one of them in the spice aisle of your local grocery store.

Here’s the trick to the most incredible everything bagel seasoning: toast it in a skillet. Think about it—everything bagels bake in the oven with their seeds and spices exposed, so that toasty flavor is essential. Done this way, the blend turns savory, nutty, and deeply aromatic, just like a fresh everything bagel.

Freshly toasted everything bagel seasoning tastes worlds better than store-bought blends—even the beloved Trader Joe’s “Everything But the Bagel,” which can taste borderline rancid by the time it reaches your pantry. Let’s make a batch together.

Creative Ways to Use Everything Bagel Seasoning

Think way beyond bagels! This seasoning blend brings big flavor to all kinds of snacks and sides. It clings best to creamy or slightly wet surfaces—think avocado, cucumber, cream cheese, and dreamy sauces. Just remember the blend already contains salt, so dial back the salt on whatever you pair it with.

Here are a few of my favorite ways to use it:

Watch How to Make Toasted Everything Bagel Seasoning

Craving more homemade spice blends? Try my recipes for za’atar, dukkah, and easy vegan Parmesan. You’ll find loads more homemade sauces, spreads, and condiments right here.

I’d love to hear how you use your everything bagel blend—drop a note in the comments! I always adore hearing from you.

Homemade Toasted Everything Bagel Seasoning

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The trick to the best everything bagel seasoning? Toast the seeds and spices in a skillet! That’s what gives it the soul of a freshly toasted everything bagel. Recipe yields just over ⅓ cup (6 tablespoons).

Ingredients

Instructions

Notes

Recipe adapted from my cookbook, Love Real Food.

Change it up: I love tossing 2 tablespoons of raw sunflower seeds or pepitas (green pumpkin seeds) into the skillet for an extra jolt of seedy flavor and crunch. Hemp seeds would be lovely, too.

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