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Easy homemade pizza bagel bombs! Even the name makes you smile. These are like the hot pockets of your college years but packed with protein, delicious gooey cheese, and none of the preservatives! Homemade pizza bombs are the perfect hand-held snack or lunch for kids or kids at heart. Easy homemade pizza bagel bombs are simple for meal prepping and freezer friendly. They are the perfect grab-and-go meal when lunch is eaten on the run!
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Welcome Back to School! AKA Welcome Back Packed Lunches
Here we are again! Charging out the door at 6am, scrambling to grab car keys, lesson plans, and wolfing down a packed lunch is the new normal for teachers all over Washington until next summer. I don’t know about you, but I don’t function well when hangry. Life becomes depressing, everything is the worst, and problem solving is difficult. Lunch is both a game changer and a life saver. Without lunch, the rest of the work day becomes an insane struggle. Normally a packed lunch consists of leftovers. But what happens when you ate up your leftovers or you forgot to pack lunch the night before? NOOOOO!!!!!
Bring On The Meal Prepped Lunches!
Easy homemade pizza bagel bites are what I make to save future me from the depressing depths of being hangry. And future me is very grateful and excited to find these in the freezer especially when there’s nothing else edible in the fridge! Whenever I get the chance to meal prep our lunches, I prefer to make several batches of pizza bombs!
Greek yogurt serves as the binder which means these mini hot pockets are packed with protein! I love adding a small amount of sourdough discard. While there isn’t enough sourdough to work as a rising agent, it brings a lovely tangy flavor to the bread. If you want to try a breakfast version, check out my recipe for homemade bagel bombs! The dough recipe is essentially the same. Fill these bagel bombs with cream cheese for a fun breakfast treat!
Grown Up versions of Hot Pockets
Gonna be honest, I love hot pockets! They really hit the spot in a fun nostalgic way! Growing up, we only got them as very special treats. As teachers, my husband and I love them because they are a great last minute lunch option. Unfortunately, they are filled with preservatives so not exactly what you want to eat all the time. ๐ My homemade pizza bagel bombs freeze really well. I usually make 2-3 batches at one time, wrap them individually in plastic wrap, and then put them in a freezer bag. Once you have these in the freezer, they last for a couple months. To reheat, just microwave them for about 45 seconds to 1 minute.
How to Make Easy Homemade Pizza Bagel Bombs
Step 1: Make it!
Mix the flour, baking powder, baking soda, spices, and salt. Add in the plain Greek yogurt and sourdough starter. Combine into a dough.
Step 2: Knead and Shape It!
Turn the dough out onto the counter and knead roughly 15-20 times. Divide into 8 equal pieces a shape into 4-5 inch circles.
Step 3: Make the Pizza!
Spoon 1 tablespoon of pizza sauce into the center of the dough. Top with roughly 1 tablespoon of mozzarella cheese. Top it off with a pepperoni slice. Gently pinch the edges closed making sure the pepperoni covers the sauce. This avoids leakage. Place the balls seam side down on the baking tray.
Step 4: Top Me Up!
This is the fun part! Coat with an egg wash, and top your bagel bombs with anything you want. I prefer sprinkling them with Parmesan cheese.
Step 5: Bake It!
Pop the pizza bagel bombs in the oven and bake for 20-25 minutes until golden brown. Once done, cool on a wire rack for at least 10 minutes before eating. This gives the insides time to finish cooking. ๐
Step 6: Meal Plan to the Rescue!
Wrap each bomb in plastic wrap and save in a freezer bag. To serve, unwrap the plastic wrap and microwave for 45 seconds-1 minute.
My Back to School Gift to You!
I hope you enjoy these pizza bagel bombs. If I have learned anything from teaching full time, you need protein to keep going! I hope you make these and take some time out of your crazy day to sit, enjoy good food, and revel in the little things that make a day special. ๐ If you like the recipe, share it with friends and join the Mini Chef Recipe Box Newsletter! In the newsletter you will find exclusive meal plans, recipe challenges, and PNW foodie adventures once a month! I would love for you to join me and be a new foodie friend!
Happy eating!
~Anna
Easy Homemade Pizza Bagel Bombs
Ingredients
Bagel Dough
- 2 cups bread flour plus 2 tbsp for kneading
- 1/4 tsp baking powder
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp garlic
- 1 tsp sugar
- 1/4 tsp smoked paprika
- 1 1/2 cup plain Greek yogurt
- 1 tbsp sourdough discard
Filling
- 1 cup mozzarella
- 1/4 cup pizza or spaghetti sauce
- 8 pepperoni slices
- Parmesan cheese
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400โ. Place parchment or silpat on a baking sheet.
- In a medium bowl, mix the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and spices. Add the yogurt and sourdough discard with a spoon until the dough forms. Dust a workspace with 2 tablespoons of flour. Turn the dough onto the floured surface and knead it until the flour is uniformly combined. It takes about 15-20 folds. Don't over-knead or else the bagels will be tough. Divide into 8 equal sized balls.
- Shape the dough balls into 4-5 inch rounds. Spoon 1 tablespoon of pizza sauce into the center of the dough. Top with roughly 1 tablespoon of mozzarella cheese. Top it off with a pepperoni slice. Gently pinch the edges closed making sure the pepperoni covers the sauce. This avoids leakage. Place the balls seam side down on the baking tray. Top with egg wash and sprinkle with Parmesan cheese.
- Bake for 25 minutes until golden brown. Let it cool at least 10 minutes before digging in!
Freezer Storage and Reheating
- Wrap each individual pizza bagel bite in plastic wrap to avoid freezer burn. Store in a gallon ziploc bag. When ready to reheat, microwave or pop in the toaster oven for 45 seconds-1 minute. Enjoy!
