Manhattan Breakfast Bagel Sandwich

Name: Manhattan Breakfast Bagel Sandwich
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 5 min
Total time: 15 min
Ingredients: 2 plain bagels ((sliced)); 2 grade AA eggs; 1 tbsp avocado oil; 2 slices American Cheese; 1 tomato ((sliced)); 1/4 vidalia onion ((thinly sliced)); salt and pepper to taste

by Alyona Demyanchuk Published June 1, 2020 - Updated August 27, 2025

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Time: 15 minutes
Yield:
2 Bagel Sandwiches

Need some Bagel Breakfast Sandwich inspiration? The Manhattan Breakfast Bagel Sandwich is an egg and cheese breakfast sandwich topped with tomatoes and sliced onions, served over a chewy New York-style bagel. These bagel sandwiches are delicious!

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We make our own NYC Sourdough bagels, and if you’re looking for a healthy alternative, try out our Fresh Milled Flour Bagels using whole grains. Bagels make great sandwiches for lunch or breakfast! We also love these Asiago Cheese Bagel Sandwiches with ham and Swiss cheese!

Manhattan Bagel Breakfast Sandwich Recipe

My sister once lived in New York City and raved about the Manhattan breakfast bagel sandwiches made from egg whites, speckled with black pepper, and topped with fresh tomatoes and onions. That made me recommence the sandwiches in New York back when we lived in Buffalo, NY.

As a busy mom, I was inspired to recreate the Manhattan Bagel Breakfast Sandwich at home. The difference really between a typical bagel breakfast sandwich is that you’d use fresh tomatoes and onions for the sandwich toppings.

Trust me, it makes an egg and cheese bagel much better. Plus, you’re getting extra veggies in using simple produce that you may already have. These bagel sandwiches are light, juicy, and have a nice crunch from the sweet onions.

Ideally, an incredible bagel breakfast sandwich (if we still think about them years later). The flavors just go together and are a twist from the classic sausage or bacon, egg, and cheese sandwiches.

Best Bagels To Use:

Chewy homemade sourdough bagels are the best when it comes to flavor and quality. Ideally, any New York-style bagels or bakery bagels will work. In fact, you can buy chewy bagels at Panera Bread or some coffee shops. However, the Lenders brand was the bagels I used for this blog post back in 2020. Most grocery stores have better bagels in the refrigerator or freezer section, and you can also buy healthier bagels from Azure Standard.

Make Ahead Bagel Breakfast Sandwiches:

Eggs are great for bagel sandwiches, as you can always meal prep them before assembling. To make them for the freezer, slice the bagels and top them with a cooked egg and cheese. Wrap them in foil and freeze up to 3 months. I like to place all the wrapped sandwiches in a freezer bag to prevent them from getting freezer burn. Make sure that all ingredients are cooled before assembling.

How to Reheat a Bagel Sandwich: Thaw the bagels overnight in the fridge. Preheat the oven to 350°F. Place the bagels wrapped in foil on a large baking sheet and heat in the oven for 20-25 minutes or until the sandwich is heated through and the cheese is melted. Add the sliced tomatoes and onions before serving.

How To Prep Eggs for Bagel Sandwiches:

I used to use an English muffin pan method to make evenly round egg patties like Dunkin’ Donuts. However, with a large family, sheetpan eggs seem to be the best way to go. To make eggs for sandwiches, blend two dozen eggs in a blender with one pack of cream cheese, salt, and black pepper to taste. Meanwhile, line an 18×13 sheet pan with parchment paper and pour the eggs in. Bake in a preheated 425°F oven for 15 minutes or until set. This amount makes enough for two dozen bagels, or you can individually fry as many eggs as you need.

If you decide to use a muffin tin, be sure to add a splash of water and a generous amount of black pepper for moist and flavorful egg patties. I also find that if you poke the yolk and make it flatter, the eggs cook more evenly and are done faster.

Have you tried the Manhattan Breakfast Bagel Sandwich? I’d love to know! Leave a comment below and share your experience!

Mise en Place

Equipment:

Frying pan and Spatula
Toaster
Cutting board
Serrated or sharp knife

Ingredients:

New York-style bagels- any chewy bagel from the bakery or homemade will work. I like to make bagels healthier using whole wheat flour and a homemade everything seasoning that I also make using equal amounts of minced dried onion, minced dried garlic, poppy seeds, and white sesame seeds.
American cheese – if you aren’t into processed cheese, you can make my homemade Velveeta cheese or use any slice of cheese, such as Colby or cheddar.
Vidalia onions- for a more pleasant taste, use a sweeter onion like the Vidalia or purple onion. Although I really like any onions, the sweeter varieties lend a milder sandwich.
Eggs- should be cooked in a skillet until the whites are completely solid. I prefer medium eggs (cooked for 1 minute) or hard eggs (cooked for 2 minutes) for making bagel sandwiches. If you are making freezer breakfast sandwiches, refer to the instructions on how to prep eggs for breakfast sandwiches (above) to make a large batch.

How to Make a Bagel Breakfast Sandwich:

In five easy steps!

Preheat a non-stick frying pan (perfect for eggs) over medium heat. Add a dab of lard, butter, or cooking oil.
Into the pan crack in a couple of eggs, break the yolk, and season with salt and pepper to taste. Cook the eggs for 1-2 minutes, flipping them over once. The eggs are done when the whites are fully cooked.
Turn off the pan and top the eggs with a slice of American cheese. Allow it to melt.
Meanwhile, slice the bagels and toast them.
Assemble the bagel sandwiches by adding a cooked egg with cheese, a slice of tomato, and sliced onions. Serve bagel sandwiches warm.

Variations:

Perhaps tomatoes and onions aren’t appealing for your breakfast sandwich. I’ll include some tasty alternatives to make a bagel egg sandwich at home.

Sausage, Egg, and Cheese: We make our own Jimmy Dean sausage in bulk and form patties, then bake it if we need to for a sandwich. Once these patties are cooked, put them into a bagel with a cooked egg and a slice of cheese.
Bacon Egg and Cheese: I like to buy uncured bacon that has no added nitrates. I prefer to make oven-baked bacon and then assemble it into sandwiches.
B.E.L.T Bagel: is a Tim Horton’s specialty, which is a bagel with maple-flavored bacon, egg, lettuce, and tomato on an everything bagel.
Egg and cheddar cheese with avocado: To make cheddar eggs, place a slice of cheddar cheese into a hot skillet when it starts to melt and bubbles. Add two beaten eggs, a dash of milk, and black pepper to taste. Scramble them until moist and fluffy, then place them into a plain bagel topped with sliced avocados.

Pro-Tip: Toasting bagels creates a fabulous texture with a crunchy exterior and a soft, warm interior that is perfect for sandwiches.

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More Breakfast Breads To Make at Home:

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