Air Fryer Cheesy Egg-Stuffed Bagel Nests

Air Fryer Cheesy Egg-Stuffed Bagel Nests

This recipe takes a classic bagel and turns it into a crispy, cheesy vessel for a perfectly runny or jammy egg. The best part? The bagel “nest” gets filled with a mix of two cheeses—one that melts to gooey perfection inside, and another that creates a lacy, crispy frico edge around the outside. It’s part bagel, part grilled cheese, part fried egg, and 100% gorgeous.

Ingredients (for 2 Nests)

• 2 bagels (everything bagels work beautifully here, but plain or sesame are great)

• 2 tablespoons softened butter or cream cheese

• 2 large eggs

• ¼ cup shredded low-moisture mozzarella or fontina cheese (for the gooey melt)

• ¼ cup finely shredded Parmesan or sharp cheddar cheese (for the crispy frico “skirt”)

• 2 tablespoons finely chopped fresh chives or green onion tops

• A pinch of red pepper flakes (optional)

• Flaky sea salt and freshly ground black pepper

• Non-stick cooking spray or a small square of parchment paper

Instructions

1. Prep the Bagels: Using a small, sharp knife, cut a circle in the soft inner part of each bagel half, about ¼-inch from the outer crust, creating a “moat.” Don’t cut all the way through. Use your fingers or a spoon to gently press down and remove most of the fluffy inner bread, creating a shallow, sturdy well. You want the walls of the well to be thick enough to hold the egg, leaving the bottom intact.

2. Butter and Build the Base: Spread the softened butter or cream cheese all over the cut sides and inside the wells of the bagel halves. Into each well, sprinkle half of the mozzarella cheese, creating a soft, melty bed for the egg.

3. Add the Egg: Very carefully, crack one egg into a small ramekin or cup. Gently pour the egg into one of the cheese-lined bagel wells. Repeat with the second egg on the other bagel half. The goal is to keep the yolk intact, but if it breaks slightly, it will still be delicious.

4. The Unique & Cheesy Secret: Sprinkle the finely shredded Parmesan cheese in a thin, even layer directly onto the air fryer basket or a sheet of parchment paper cut to fit, creating a small, round “platform” just slightly larger than the bagel. Carefully place the egg-filled bagel half directly on top of the Parmesan cheese platform. This will create an incredible, crispy, golden frico “skirt” that extends out from the bagel.

5. Air Fry to Golden Perfection: Lightly spray the top edges of the bagel with cooking spray.

   • Air fry at 350°F (175°C) for 6-8 minutes for a runny yolk, or 9-11 minutes for a jammy to fully set yolk.

   • The bagel should be deeply golden and crispy, the egg white should be completely set, and the Parmesan around the edge should be melted and browned into a lacy, crisp chip.

6. Finish and Serve: Use a thin spatula to carefully lift the bagel nest, including its attached crispy cheese skirt, from the basket. Immediately sprinkle with the chopped chives, a pinch of red pepper flakes, and flaky sea salt and pepper. The contrast of the crispy bagel, the gooey internal cheese, the runny yolk, and the salty parmesan frico is absolutely stunning.