Simple 3 Ingredient Protein Bagels - Air Fryer Recipe (2024)

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You can make protein bagels right at home with just 3 simple main ingredients. These bagels have 10 grams of protein each and are made with cottage cheese, flour, and baking powder. They come together quickly and can be made in the air fryer or oven. Great for breakfast or lunch any day of the week! Customize the toppings or make them gluten-free!

If you liked the 3 ingredient Greek Yogurt Bagels or bagel bties then wait until you try these cottage cheese protein bagels. They are just as quick and easy to make and they come out golden on the outside and light and fluffy on the inside. We swapped the Greek yogurt with protein-rich cottage cheese and the results were amazing! Plus, these homemade bagels have 10 grams of protein per serving! A great way to increase your protein intake.

No baking experience is needed since we are just mixing, forming, and air-frying these bagels. So it is a great beginner recipe. You will be amazed that by combining cottage cheese, flour, and baking powder in a bowl, you can create your own homemade high-protein bagels in no time at all! Plus, they store great, making them ideal for meal prep.

We like to brush the bagels with a little egg to add even more protein and to help the toppings stick to them. Of course, you can also leave them plain but adding a few sprinkles of everything seasoning, sesame seeds, or poppy seeds will enhance the flavor. Which my family loved! My kids especially enjoyed these bagels and devoured them!

I tested these cottage cheese bagels in the oven and the air fryer so pick your preferred cooking method and let’s make some healthy homemade bagels!

Ingredients For Protein Bagels

• Flour – I used unbleached all-purpose flour but you can also use whole wheat flour or gluten-free Cup 4 Cup flour in this recipe.
• Cottage cheese – I like to use Good Culture 4% cottage cheese since it is thick and does not require any extra steps to drain or whip it before combining it with the flour.
• Baking powder – this helps the bagels become fluffy without the use of yeast. It is used to create self-rising flour.
• Salt – optional but will give the bagels a nice flavor.
• Egg – we whisked an egg with a splash of water to brush on the bagels before cooking them. This allowed the toppings to stick better and gave the bagels a nice golden outer layer – optional but recommended
• Toppings – everything seasoning, sesame seeds, poppy seeds, shredded asiago cheese – optional

• Mixing bowls
• Measuring cups
• Rubber spatula
• Air Fryer

How To Make Protein Bagels With Cottage Cheese

Here is a summary with step-by-step photos of how to make these delicious protein bagels.

Make the bagel dough – Mix the flour with baking powder and salt in a medium bowl or the bowl of a stand mixer. Add the cottage cheese.

Mix well to combine. The dough will be crumbly at first and will then become smoother.

Knead the dough – Turn the dough onto a well-floured surface and knead it with well-floured hands for about 2 minutes. Alternatively, you can also use a stand mixer fitted with a dough hook to do this. You want a nice semi-smooth ball of dough.

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Form the bagels – Divide the dough evenly into 4 sections.

Roll each section of dough out into a log that is about 6-7 inches long and ¾ inches thick. Then connect the ends of the dough to seal and form the bagels.

Top – Whisk the egg in a small bowl with a splash of water (egg wash) then brush the egg all over the bagels and add your toppings, if using.

Preheat the air fryer to 300°F and spray the air fryer basket with cooking spray or line it with parchment paper. Cook the bagels for 15-17 minutes until golden.

Once the bagels are done cooking, remove them from the air fryer and let them cool for at least 15 minutes before you slice and serve them. Enjoy! See the below for the oven method.

Make them in the oven

Don’t have an air fryer? You can also make these protein bagels with cottage cheese in the oven. Simply mix the dough and prepare the bagels as directed in this recipe. Preheat the oven to 375°F, place the bagels onto a parchment-lined baking sheet in an even layer, and bake them until golden, about 20-25 minutes. Let them cool for 15 minutes and enjoy!

Substitutions

• Gluten-Free – instead of regular all-purpose flour, use gluten-free flour like Cup 4 Cup gluten-free flour.
• 2 ingredients bagels – use self-rising flour
• Dairy-free – this protein bagel recipe was created specifically with the use of cottage cheese. You could try using dairy-free cottage cheese although I have not tested this variation.

Recipe Variations

Here are some variations to the recipe that you may want to try!

• Everything bagels – brush the bagels with egg wash and sprinkle them with everything seasoning.
• Sesame seed bagels – brush the bagels with egg wash and sprinkle them with sesame seeds.
• Poppy seed bagels – brush the bagels with egg wash and sprinkle them with poppy seeds.
• Asiago – brush the bagels with eggs wash and top them with shredded asiago cheese.

Expert Tips and Tricks

• Mix the flour with the baking powder and salt before you add the cottage cheese. This makes a self-rising flour that allows the bagels to puff up and become fluffy as they cook. Alternatively, you could also just use self-rising flour and make these 2 ingredient bagels.
• Knead the dough – this step is so important for a nice smooth finish on the bagels. It also allows the dough to form better. You can use your hands or a stand mixer fitted with a dough hook to do this. If the dough seems sticky then add a sprinkle of flour or flour to your hands.
• Use an egg wash – this extra step gets a nice golden color on the bagels and helps any toppings stick to them much better. If you want to skip the egg then you can also spray the bagels with olive oil spray to achieve a similar result.
• Watch the bagels as they cook – since air fryers vary, I recommend checking the bagels at around 10 minutes and then continuing cooking as needed. I tested this recipe in 2 different air fryers and it took 12 minutes in one and 15 minutes in the other air fryer.
• Let them cool – the bagels will continue to cook as they cool so the 15 minutes of cooling time is an essential part of this recipe. Do not skip this step!

Serving Suggestions

Here are some delicious ways to serve these protein bagels.

• Breakfast sandwich– slice the bagels, toast them, then add some cooked scrambled eggs and bacon between a sliced, toasted bagel. Yum!
• As a snack – slice the bagels and spread some cottage cheese or cream cheese on them topped with sliced tomatoes and a sprinkle of salt and pepper. So good!
• Bagel pizzas – slice the bagels, spread some pizza sauce on them, and top with your favorite toppings and shredded cheese. Pop them into the air fryer for a few minutes at 350°F until golden.
• Croutons – chop the bagels into 1-inch pieces, and toss them in a bowl with some olive oil, salt and pepper. Then air fry them at 350°F until golden and crunchy. Add them as a topping on soups and salads.
• Bagel chips – turn cooked bagels into delicious homemade bagel chips!

The use of cottage cheese in this recipe creates those yummy pockets of air that you typically would need yeast to achieve. It results in these incredibly fluffy bagels that you are going to love!

Storage

Leftover bagels should be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. You can also freeze these bagels in a freezer-safe container for up to 3 months. Defrost them overnight in the fridge and reheat them in the air fryer at 330°F, toaster, or microwave until warmed through.

FAQs

Are Protein Bagels Healthy?

This protein bagel recipe is healthy since it is made with wholesome ingredients like cottage cheese, flour, and baking powder. One bagel has 10 grams of protein per serving for only 170 calories per bagel, which is just AMAZING!

How Much Protein Is In A Bagel?

The amount of protein in a bagel can vary by the brand and recipe. These bagels have 10-11 grams of protein for 1 whole bagel. If you add a couple of eggs then you would get around 25 grams of protein for a delicious breakfast sandwich just under 300 calories.

Are These Bagels Gluten Free?

This recipe, as written is not gluten-free. To make these gluten-free protein bagels, swap the all-purpose flour with a gluten-free flour like Cup 4 Cup gluten-free flour.

Check out all of my healthy air fryer recipes here.

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Did you try this protein bagel recipe? If you did, then please leave a rating and comment below. I would love to hear how yours turned out!

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