Homemade Everything Bagel Seasoning Recipe: Better Than Trader Joe’s & Easy DIY Spice Blend
Tired of store-bought seasonings that just don’t hit the spot, or worse, break the bank? This homemade everything bagel seasoning recipe is not only superior in flavor but also significantly more cost-effective than popular brands like Trader Joe’s. Crafting your own blend means you get total control over the ingredients, ensuring peak freshness and the perfect balance of savory notes. Get ready to elevate your chicken, eggs, avocado toast, and so much more with this incredibly versatile and easy-to-make spice mix!
Why Make Your Own Everything Bagel Seasoning?
There are countless reasons to ditch the commercial varieties and whip up your own batch of everything bagel seasoning at home. The most compelling arguments often revolve around freshness, cost, and customization.
Unbeatable Freshness and Flavor
When you make your own seasoning, you know exactly how fresh the ingredients are. Store-bought versions can sit on shelves for months, losing their potency and aroma. A freshly mixed blend, however, explodes with vibrant flavors of toasted sesame, pungent garlic, and sweet onion, making a noticeable difference in any dish. The aromatic quality alone makes this DIY project worthwhile.
Significant Cost Savings
Let’s face it, specialty seasonings can be pricey. A small jar of everything bagel seasoning from places like Trader Joe’s, while popular, can add up quickly, especially if you use it often. By purchasing individual spices in bulk, you can create a much larger quantity of seasoning for a fraction of the cost. This makes homemade seasoning not just a delicious choice, but a smart economical one for any home cook looking to manage their pantry budget.
Total Control Over Ingredients
Concerned about additives, anti-caking agents, or excessive sodium? Making your own blend empowers you to control every single ingredient. You can opt for organic spices, adjust the salt level to your preference, or even experiment with different ratios to find your perfect flavor profile. This level of customization is simply not possible with pre-made blends.
Ingredients for the Perfect Everything Bagel Seasoning Blend
The beauty of everything bagel seasoning lies in its simplicity and the harmonious blend of a few key ingredients. Each component plays a vital role in creating that distinctive, irresistible flavor and texture.
- Black & White Sesame Seeds: These are the foundation of the seasoning, providing a nutty flavor and satisfying crunch. The mix of black and white seeds offers not only a visual appeal but also a subtle difference in taste, with black sesame seeds generally having a slightly stronger, nuttier profile. While you can use just one type in a pinch, combining them gives the most authentic “everything bagel” look and feel.
- Poppyseeds: Essential for that classic bagel texture, poppyseeds contribute a delicate crunch and a mild, slightly nutty flavor. While they’re more about texture than a dominant flavor, they complete the traditional blend. If you don’t have them, the seasoning will still be delicious, but it might miss that familiar bagel experience.
- Dried Minced Garlic: This is a non-negotiable ingredient. Dried minced garlic provides an intense, savory depth that fresh garlic cannot replicate in a dry seasoning blend. It’s crucial for the characteristic pungent aroma and flavor. Unfortunately, there’s no suitable substitute for this in dried seasoning; garlic powder would be too fine and concentrated, lacking the texture and distinct flavor profile of minced garlic.
- Dried Minced Onion: Just like the garlic, dried minced onion is absolutely essential. It offers a sweet, savory, and slightly pungent flavor that perfectly complements the garlic and seeds. These larger pieces of dried onion contribute to both the texture and the complex flavor profile. You truly need both the dried minced onion and garlic for the authentic everything bagel taste. Onion powder is not a direct substitute here for the same reasons as garlic powder.
- Sea Salt: A good quality coarse sea salt is vital for bringing all the flavors together. The larger crystals provide bursts of salinity and an additional textural element. While regular table salt can be used, sea salt offers a cleaner taste and better texture. You should definitely have this staple in your pantry!
Simple Steps to Crafting Your Seasoning
Making this seasoning couldn’t be easier. With just a few minutes of effort, you’ll have a gourmet blend ready to transform your meals.
Instructions
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In a medium-sized bowl, combine all the listed ingredients: black and white sesame seeds, dried minced onion, dried minced garlic, poppy seeds, and sea salt. Stir thoroughly until all components are evenly distributed. Once mixed, carefully funnel the blend into an airtight spice jar for optimal storage. We recommend using the spice jars linked above this recipe card for best results.
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For an extra touch of organization, apply a sticker label to your freshly filled jar. You can download our complimentary template for spice jar labels and easily print them on sticker paper, both of which are conveniently linked right above the recipe card. This not only keeps your pantry neat but also helps you quickly identify your homemade blends.
Unlock Flavor: Versatile Ways to Use Everything Bagel Seasoning
The true magic of everything bagel seasoning lies in its incredible versatility. It’s not just for bagels anymore! This savory blend can transform a multitude of dishes, adding a burst of flavor and texture to almost any meal. Here are some of our favorite creative ways to use it:
Breakfast Boosters
- Eggs: Sprinkle generously over scrambled eggs, fried eggs, omelets, or frittatas. It’s a game-changer!
- Avocado Toast: The classic pairing. Mash avocado onto toast, then top with a generous dusting of seasoning for a satisfying crunch and savory punch.
- Yogurt/Cottage Cheese: For a savory breakfast twist, add it to plain Greek yogurt or cottage cheese with a drizzle of olive oil.
- Breakfast Burritos/Bowls: Elevate your morning wraps or grain bowls with a sprinkle.
Lunchtime Upgrades
- Salads: Sprinkle on top of any green salad for added texture and flavor, or mix into your homemade salad dressing.
- Sandwiches & Wraps: Add a dash to your favorite deli sandwich or turkey wrap for an unexpected flavor kick.
- Soups: A sprinkle over creamy tomato soup or a hearty lentil soup adds a gourmet touch.
- Hummus: Stir into homemade or store-bought hummus, or use it as a garnish for an instant upgrade.
Dinner Transformations
- Roasted Vegetables: Toss broccoli, asparagus, carrots, or potatoes with olive oil and seasoning before roasting for a delicious side dish.
- Chicken & Fish: Use it as a dry rub for chicken breasts, thighs, or salmon fillets before baking, grilling, or pan-searing. It creates a fantastic crust.
- Pasta: Mix into pasta salads or sprinkle over mac and cheese for an extra layer of flavor.
- Pizza & Flatbreads: Before baking, sprinkle over homemade pizza or flatbreads. It’s especially good on white pizzas.
- Baked Potatoes/Sweet Potatoes: Top a baked potato with sour cream and seasoning, or sprinkle over roasted sweet potato fries.
Snack Sensations
- Popcorn: Toss freshly popped popcorn with a little melted butter or olive oil, then sprinkle generously with seasoning.
- Dips & Spreads: Mix into cream cheese for a homemade everything bagel cream cheese spread, or sprinkle over a layered dip.
- Nut Mixes: Roast mixed nuts with a little oil and seasoning for a savory snack.
Unexpected Delights
- Homemade Bread: Knead it into bread dough before baking, or sprinkle on top of focaccia or dinner rolls.
- Scones & Crackers: Add it to savory scone recipes or homemade crackers for a unique flavor profile.
As you can see, the possibilities are virtually endless. Keep a jar of this homemade everything bagel seasoning handy, and you’ll find yourself reaching for it constantly to add that unique savory, nutty, and garlicky goodness to almost anything!
Ways to use it
Looking for more ways to incorporate your new favorite seasoning into delicious meals? Explore these related recipes:
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Optimal Storage for Lasting Freshness
Proper storage is key to maintaining the potency and freshness of your homemade everything bagel seasoning. To ensure your blend stays aromatic and flavorful for as long as possible, follow these simple guidelines:
- Airtight Containers: Always store your seasoning in an airtight container. This prevents moisture and air from degrading the spices, preserving their essential oils and vibrant flavors. Glass spice jars with tight-fitting lids are ideal.
- Cool, Dark Place: Keep your spice jars in a cool, dark pantry or cupboard, away from direct sunlight and heat sources like your stove. Heat and light are enemies of spices, causing them to lose flavor quickly.
- Shelf Life: When stored correctly, homemade everything bagel seasoning can last for up to 6 months, sometimes even longer, though its peak flavor will be most prominent in the first 3 months. Give it a sniff – if the aroma is faint, it’s probably time to make a fresh batch!
- Download your free spice jar labels to keep your pantry perfectly organized. Once downloaded, simply purchase some sticker printer paper to print them at home.
- Ensure you have the right containers! You can purchase high-quality spice jars here.
- **Get my full list of essential kitchen tools and organizers here** for a perfectly functional and tidy kitchen.
Get Your Free Spice Jar Labels
Get your pantry organized for cheap – all you need is sticky printer paper! When you sign up, you’ll also receive our free flavourful dinners email series so you can put your spice blends to work!
Everything Bagel Seasoning {Better than TJ’s}
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Ingredients
- 2 tbsp mixed black and white sesame seeds
- 1 tbsp dried minced onion
- 1 tbsp dried minced garlic
- 1 tbsp poppy seeds
- 1 tsp sea salt
Frequently Asked Questions About Everything Bagel Seasoning
While it can be challenging to find Trader Joe’s specific “Everything But The Bagel” seasoning in Canadian retail stores, you can indeed purchase it online, for instance, here on Amazon.ca. However, be prepared for a significantly higher price due to import costs and reseller markups. This is precisely why making your own homemade version is such a fantastic alternative, offering the same great flavor at a fraction of the price without any hassle!
The appeal of everything bagel seasoning lies in its unique combination of savory, salty, and aromatic flavors with a satisfying crunch. It’s designed to taste just like a perfectly topped everything bagel, but in a versatile, sprinkle-able form. This blend adds a gourmet touch to everyday foods, transforming even plain chicken or a simple avocado into something exciting and flavorful. It provides texture, umami, and a punch of garlic and onion that makes boring meals delicious and creative.
Yes, absolutely! Making your own seasoning allows you to control the quality and quantity of each ingredient. You can use high-quality organic spices and adjust the amount of sea salt to suit your dietary needs. Unlike some commercial blends that might contain anti-caking agents or excessive sodium, your homemade version is pure, fresh, and free from unwanted additives, making it a healthier choice.
When stored properly in an airtight container in a cool, dark pantry, your homemade everything bagel seasoning can maintain its peak freshness and flavor for up to 3-6 months. While it won’t spoil quickly after that, the flavors might gradually become less potent. For the best culinary experience, we recommend enjoying it within this timeframe. Always ensure your spice jar is tightly sealed after each use to prolong its shelf life.
