Everything Bagel Stuffing
Instead of the same old Thanksgiving stuffing every year, why not try something new, like this everything bagel stuffing! It looks like stuffing, and tastes like stuffing, but also tastes like everything bagels with cream cheese! It’s a perfect mash-up of both worlds, and would fit right in on a Friendsgiving, or thanksgiving table, as well as any November brunch! I used everything bagels as the bread for this stuffing obviously but also added some everything spice to kick up the “everything” flavor! Then I mixed cream cheese into the chicken stock because what is an everything bagel without cream cheese?
The inspiration for this recipe
Every year I try to come up with a unique take on stuffing so you all have something different to bring to friendsgiving. This year I was inspired by everything bagels to come up with this mash-up stuffing. I used things that are common in stuffing, like carrot, celery, onion, eggs, and chicken stock, and also things that are common with bagels, like cream cheese and bacon. This was a really fun twist on your classic stuffing and one that I am sure I will make for my friends this year.
Prepping the bagels
Bagels are obviously the bread for this stuffing. Just chop them up and give them a nice toast. I toast them on a sheet pan at a low temperature so they can dry out a bit and be ready to soak up all that chicken stock and veggie goodness.
Prepare the aromatics
Meanwhile, some onion, celery, carrot, jalapeno, and bacon are cooked with a stick of butter. Typical stuffing stuff!
Eggs, cream cheese, and chicken stock form the base of the liquids. Add the veggies to the cream cheese mixture and whisk well. This has the feel of a veggie cream cheese at this point, which was a happy coincidence that added to the depth of the dish.
Baking the everything bagel stuffing
Mix the bread into the liquids and stir well to combine. Pour it into a baking dish. Bake at 350 for 30 minutes.
Serving the everything bagel stuffing
This stuffing is everything you would want in a bagel stuffing! It tastes like bagels and stuffing at the same time which is exactly what I was going for. The cream cheese is so good in a stuffing that I might try and figure out how to use it in stuffing more often! Probably like half the amount if it was a “regular” stuffing so it is more subtle, but in this everything bagel stuffing the last thing we want is cream cheese subtlety.
Having a creamy element in the stuffing was something different than I am normally used to, but it took this to the next level.
Make it this weekend for your Friendsgiving get together!
Twists on the everything bagel stuffing
You could use your favorite bagels to make stuffing. Onion bagel stuffing would be great. So would egg bagel. But I feel like everything is everyone’s favorite. I mean come on. Don’t give me that raisin bagel nonsense. Just kidding- if you do end up making a raisin bagel stuffing please let me know!
I already linked some of my favorite other stuffings I have made at the beginning of this post. The last thing I wanted to mention is the everything spice. I like making it from scratch and even dehydrating the garlic and onion myself. Here is a recipe to make it from half-scratch, but also feel free to buy it! When I made this recipe originally it wasnt that available in stores, but not I feel like it’s everywhere.
Everything Bagel Stuffing
Ingredients
- 6 everything bagels
- 1 stick butter
- 2 large carrots diced
- 4 ribs celery diced
- 1 onion diced
- 3 jalapenos diced
- 5 strips bacon cut into 1/2 inch peices
- 8 ounces cream cheese
- 4 eggs
- 2 cups chicken stock
- 2 tablespoons everything bagel spice
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350
- Cut bagels into cubes and lay out on a baking sheet. Toast in the oven for 10 minutes.
- Meanwhile, mix the onion, carrot, celery, jalapeno, and bacon, in a frying pan with the butter. Cook on high heat for 10 minutes until about halved in volume and the bacon is cooked.
- In a large bowl, whisk together the eggs, stock, and cream cheese until smooth.
- Add in the veggie and bacon mixture and mix well.
- Add in the bread and stir to coat.
- Add in the extra everything spice and mix.
- Pour into a baking dish and bake at 350 for a half hour or until set on the inside. Serve.
Love this! Just shared with my family for possible inclusion on the big day.
Just made this and ate this for Thanksgiving. It ruled. Thankful for the food in his beard and mine.
Can this be made in advance (say the night before) and reheated in the oven?
Yes, it works great that way! You might need to add a little extra moisture.
I have made this three years in a row and my family loves it!
I made this for Christmas dinner. It is quite delicious Thank you
What would you say is the weight and/or volume of the bagels? Here in jersey there can be some pretty huge ones and I don’t want this to be dry because I had too much bread
I would try and keep it under 8 cups of chopped bagels