High Protein Bagels

These high-protein bagels are about to revolutionize your breakfast routine. With a simple base of just three ingredients - Greek yogurt, flour, and baking powder - you can transform them into whatever flavor your heart desires. Sweet, savory, matcha-infused, chocolate-loaded, or classic everything seasoning, these bagels do it all.

What I love most about this recipe is how meal-prep friendly it is. You can store the uncooked bagels in the fridge for up to a week and just pop them in the air fryer whenever you're feeling like a fresh, warm, high-protein snack. I created multiple variations, and the double chocolate version turned out so delicious I actually forgot to press record on the original ending because I was too busy eating them!

The base dough comes together in minutes, and from there you can get creative with inclusions. The matcha cranberry version is refreshing and beautiful with that vibrant green color, the double chocolate is basically dessert in bagel form, and the everything bagel is a classic savory option. Eating them warm is definitely my favorite way to enjoy them, especially with some salted butter and honey on the sweet versions.

I've experimented with so many variations of these beyond the three shown here - blueberry with lemon zest, cinnamon raisin, jalapeño cheddar, even pumpkin spice. The base is so versatile that once you master it, you can truly make any flavor combination you can imagine. They've become my go-to breakfast when I want something more substantial than just Greek yogurt but don't want to spend a lot of time cooking.

The genius of these bagels lies in the Greek yogurt. This isn't just adding protein - the Greek yogurt actually replaces both eggs and traditional leavening agents while creating a tender, slightly tangy base that tastes remarkably like real bagels. You'll want to use non-fat Greek yogurt for the best protein-to-calorie ratio, though full-fat works too if that's what you have on hand. The protein content in Greek yogurt is what makes these so satiating.

All-purpose flour creates the structure of the bagels. You'll need equal parts Greek yogurt and flour by weight (100g each for the base recipe), which makes it super easy to remember and scale up or down. The combination of yogurt and flour creates what's known as a "2-ingredient dough" that's become popular for good reason - it works! No yeast, no long rise times, no complicated techniques.

Baking powder and salt round out the base with just a teaspoon of each. The baking powder helps create a bit of lift and chewiness that makes these feel more like traditional bagels, while the salt enhances flavor and balances the tanginess of the yogurt. From there, the variations get fun. Matcha powder adds a beautiful green color and earthy flavor without overwhelming the bagel - just 5g is perfect. Dried cranberries add pops of tartness and chewiness in the matcha version. For the double chocolate bagels, chocolate protein powder amps up the protein even more while creating a rich chocolate flavor, and mini chocolate chips make them legitimately feel like dessert for breakfast. And for the everything bagel, well, everything bagel seasoning is all you need to sprinkle on top before air frying - it's the easiest variation.

The process is incredibly straightforward - mix the dry ingredients, add the Greek yogurt, knead until it comes together, then customize with your chosen flavors. The dough should be slightly sticky but workable. If it's too dry, add a tiny bit more yogurt. If it's too sticky, add a bit more flour. You'll get a feel for the right consistency after making these once.

For the chocolate variation, the protein powder absorbs a lot of moisture, so you'll need to add extra Greek yogurt gradually until the dough comes together properly. Every protein powder is different in how much liquid it absorbs, so this is something you adjust by feel rather than exact measurements.

Shaping the bagels is simple - divide the dough in half, roll each piece into a ball, poke a hole through the center with your finger, and gently stretch it into a bagel shape. The hole will close up slightly during cooking, so make it bigger than you think it needs to be.

The air fryer is perfect for these because it creates that crispy exterior while keeping the interior soft and tender. Eight minutes per side at 350°F is the magic formula. They come out golden brown and perfect every time. If you're using an oven instead, the baking time is slightly longer but the results are still great - they just won't be quite as crispy on the outside.