Cheesy Mini Bagels with Apple, Onion & Bacon

Cheese. Apples. Caramelized onions. BACON. All piled high on a mini bagel. Honestly, could there be a more perfect bite-sized appetizer? These Cheesy Mini Bagels with Apple, Onion & Bacon are everything you want in a holiday party snack—sweet, salty, cheesy, and totally addictive.

Plus, they’re ridiculously easy to throw together so you can spend less time in the kitchen and more time on important holiday activities…like napping, online shopping, or sneaking cocktails before dinner. 😉

Mini food is just the best, right? These little bagels are adorable, perfect for parties, and also 100% customizable. You can serve them open-faced like fancy little canapés or pop a bagel top on and turn them into mini sliders (which, let’s be honest, is equally fun). However you decide to eat them, one thing’s for sure—you’re going to want more than one.

The flavor combo here is magic: sharp cheddar-style cheese, tart apple slices, sweet caramelized onions, and salty bacon all working together in perfect harmony. Sweet, savory, cheesy, salty… basically flavor fireworks in every bite.

And if you’re a fan of cheesy appetizers (and who isn’t?), you definitely need to check out my Baked Brie with Cranberry Chutney for another holiday crowd-pleaser.

Why This Recipe Works

• Fast & Easy – minimal ingredients, quick assembly, and ready in no time.
• Mini = Fun – bite-sized snacks are always the first to disappear at parties.
• Flavor Balance – tart apples + sweet onions + smoky bacon + cheese = perfection.
• Make-Ahead Friendly (kind of) – caramelize the onions in advance, then assemble right before serving.

My Take on Cheesy Mini Bagels with Apple, Onion & Bacon

Honestly, I could eat an entire tray of these by myself. The cheese makes them creamy and indulgent, the apples add that tart crunch, and then you get the sweetness from the onions and the salty kick from the bacon. It’s basically the perfect appetizer.

And don’t stop at parties—make a couple of these for lunch or even dinner. Slap two halves together and you’ve got yourself a mini bagel sandwich. Trust me, you’ll thank me later.

Make it a Meal

Want to turn these little bites into a full spread? Pair them with a simple salad or one of these easy sides and you’re golden:

Easy Side Dishes

• Air Fryer Mac and Cheese – because double cheese is always a good idea.
• Roasted Brussels Sprouts – for a veggie balance.
• Strawberry Spinach Salad with Strawberry Vinaigrette – light, fresh, and festive.

Ingredients

The full list of ingredients and amounts can be found in the recipe card at the bottom of the post.

You can get mini bagels at almost any grocery store. If you can't find them, regular sized bagels will work too. Just cut them in half or in quarters and make bagel bites pieces.

I recommend using a tart apple like Granny Smith as the tart complements the sweet and savory flavors well. However, you can use any apple you prefer if you don't like tart apples.

I used a Kaukauna® Port Wine Cheese Ball (see below) as the cheese spread for these mini bagel bites. However, any of their cheese balls can be substituted depending on preference.

About Kaukauna® Brand 

I partnered with Kaukauna® brand in the creation of this recipe, specifically using the Port Wine Cheese Ball.

The Kaukauna®  brand is 100 years old this year, and to celebrate they have created an new recipe with no artificial anything - no artificial colors, preservatives or other ingredients. But the taste is still the same - still delicious! All products are created and produced in in Wisconsin.

Kaukauna® was started in 1918 by an Eastern European beer distributor in his hunt for the perfect spreadable cold-pack cheese. Once he figured it out, it became extremely popular, being served at picnics, sporting events, cocktail parties, etc. It's also great used in omelettes, soups and pasta!

Step By Step Instructions

Before you make the bagels, you need to caramelize the onions. This is the most time consuming part of the recipe, but still only takes 20 minutes and is SUPER easy.

How to Caramelize Onions

Step1: Add the onions and butter in a saucepan. Heat over medium low and stir periodically until onions are caramelized, about 20 minutes.

Step2: Slice and toast the mini bagels until they are lightly browned. Spread the cheese on each bagel half.

Add several slices of apple and place about 1-2 tbsp. of caramelized onions on top. Top with the crumbled bacon and serve.

This makes about 15 bites, but the recipe can be doubled or halved as needed. You can also make these sliders by adding the tops on to make a sandwich.

**Consider drizzling with honey for an added sweet treat. It complements the bacon well.

Expert Tips

• Slice the apples thin so they don’t overpower the other flavors.
• Make the caramelized onions ahead of time and store them in the fridge for up to 3 days—this makes assembly super fast.
• Don’t skip toasting the bagels! It gives them structure so they don’t get soggy under the toppings.
• Feeling fancy? Swap the cheese ball for brie, goat cheese, or sharp cheddar slices.

Common Questions

Whether you’re hosting a holiday party, bringing a dish to a potluck, or just need an excuse to eat bacon and cheese on bagels (which is always a good idea), these Cheesy Mini Bagels with Apple, Onion & Bacon are guaranteed to be a hit.

Did you make these mini bagel appetizers? Rate the recipe and leave a comment below to let me know how it turned out!

Recipe

Cheesy Mini Bagels with Apple, Onion & Bacon

These Mini Bagels are topped with cheddar cheese, tart sliced apples, sweet caramelized onions, and everyone's favorite....BACON!

5 from 6 votes

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Course: Appetizer

Cuisine: American

Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 20 minutes minutes

Total Time: 30 minutes minutes

Servings: 15 servings

Calories: 128kcal

Author: Danielle Wolter

Ingredients

• ▢ 1 Kaukauna® cheese ball (any kind will work great)
• ▢ 1 package mini bagels
• ▢ 1 apple, thinly sliced
• ▢ 2 medium onions, sliced thin
• ▢ 2 tablespoon unsalted butter
• ▢ 12 oz. bacon, cooked and crumbled

Instructions

• Add the onions and butter in a saucepan. Heat over medium low and stir periodically until onions are caramelized, about 20 minutes.
• Slice and toast the mini bagels until they are lightly browned. Spread the cheese on each bagel half. Add several slices of apple and place about 1-2 tbsp. of caramelized onions on top. Top with the crumbled bacon and serve.

Expert Tips:

1. Makes about 15 bites. Recipe can be doubled or halved as needed. 
2. You can also make these sliders by adding the tops on to make a sandwich.
3. Consider drizzling with honey for an added sweet treat. It complement the bacon well.
4. Once you've opened the package, the cheeseball will keep for about 10 days. 
5. I don't recommend making the bagel bites ahead of time as they will become soggy. The caramelized onions can be made ahead of time for quick assembly. Once made, store them in the fridge for up to 3 days. Warm them in the microwave before serving.

Nutrition

Serving: 0.5bagel | Calories: 128kcal | Carbohydrates: 4g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 10g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Cholesterol: 19mg | Sodium: 166mg | Potassium: 82mg | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 65IU | Vitamin C: 1.7mg | Calcium: 5mg | Iron: 0.2mg

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