Baked Bagels & Lox Sliders

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If you love bagels and lox, wait until you try them slider-style! These Baked Bagels & Lox Sliders layer mini bagels with whipped cream cheese, smoked salmon, red onion, capers, and fresh dill. Everything gets topped with a savory garlic butter mixture and Parmesan before baking until warm and lightly toasted.

Baked Bagels & Lox Slider served on a plate with smoked salmon, cream cheese, red onion, and dill

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They have all the flavors you expect from a classic lox bagel with cream cheese, but baking everything together makes them especially easy to serve to a crowd. Set the whole pan on the table for breakfast or brunch and let everyone grab a slider or two.

They’re fancy enough for a holiday brunch but easy enough to make whenever the craving hits!

❤️ Why You’ll Love This Recipe

Quick and easy: You only need about 10 minutes to assemble the sliders before they go into the oven.
Great for brunch: A whole pan serves six, making these
Bagel and lox sliders perfect for entertaining.
Classic flavors: Smoked salmon, cream cheese, capers, red onion, and dill give you that familiar bagels and lox combination.
Warm and buttery: Garlic and onion butter brushed over the bagels adds plenty of extra flavor to the tops.
Versatile: Serve them for breakfast, brunch, lunch, or even a light dinner.
Easy to customize: Plain or everything mini bagels both work, and there are several simple ways to switch up the toppings.

What are bagels and lox?

Traditionally, bagels and lox combine a sliced bagel with cream cheese and cured or smoked salmon, often topped with red onion, capers, dill, cucumber, tomato, or other fresh toppings.

These baked sliders take inspiration from that classic combination. Mini bagels are layered with cream cheese, smoked salmon, red onion, capers, and dill, then finished with seasoned butter and Parmesan before baking.

The result is essentially a warm, bite-sized version of a smoked salmon bagel that’s easy to share.

Key Ingredients

NOTE: This section highlights ingredients used in the recipe. Find the full printable recipe in the recipe card below.

Mini bagels: Plain and everything bagels are both great choices. Mini bagels make these easy to serve as sliders.

Whipped cream cheese: Its light texture makes it especially easy to spread over the bagels. Regular softened cream cheese works, too.

Smoked salmon: The star of these smoked salmon sliders. Tear the slices into smaller pieces so you can distribute them evenly among all 12 bagels.

Red onion: Slice it very thinly so it softens slightly in the oven without overpowering the other ingredients.

Capers: Their salty, briny flavor is a classic partner for smoked salmon.

Fresh dill: Adds a fresh herb flavor both inside the sliders and as a garnish after baking.

Butter and seasonings: Melted salted butter mixed with garlic powder, onion powder, and dried minced onion gives the bagel tops a savory finish.

Parmesan cheese: A light sprinkle over the tops adds another savory layer as the sliders bake.

Ingredients for Baked Bagels & Lox Sliders including mini bagels, smoked salmon, cream cheese, red onion, capers, dill, butter, and Parmesan

Ingredients & Substitutions

NOTE: This section suggests substitutions. Find the full printable recipe in the recipe card below.

Mini bagels: Use plain or everything mini bagels. Either works well, so choose whichever flavor you prefer.
Whipped cream cheese: An 8-ounce block of softened cream cheese can be used in place of whipped cream cheese. You can also use a savory-flavored cream cheese, such as chive or herb.
Fresh dill: It’s best for this recipe. If you don’t have it, you can leave it off rather than replacing it with dried dill.
Smoked salmon: It’s a key part of classic bagels and lox, so I don’t recommend substituting another meat or fish. Doing so would turn this into a different type of slider.
Red onion: Shallots are a good substitute if you prefer a slightly milder onion flavor.
Capers: If you’re not a fan of capers, simply leave them out.
Salted butter: Unsalted butter can be used instead. Add a small pinch of salt to the butter mixture if desired.
Parmesan cheese: Pecorino Romano can be used for a similar salty, savory finish.
Garlic powder, onion powder, and dried minced onion: Replace all three with 1½ teaspoons Everything Bagel Seasoning for an easy alternative.

Variations

Everything bagel sliders: Use everything mini bagels for even more savory flavor.
Everything seasoning: Skip the garlic powder, onion powder, and dried minced onion in the butter and use 1½ teaspoons Everything Bagel Seasoning instead.
Add lemon: Squeeze a little fresh lemon juice over the sliders after baking. The acidity pairs especially well with the smoked salmon and cream cheese.
Add cucumber: For extra freshness and crunch, serve thin cucumber slices alongside the sliders or tuck them in after baking.
Add tomato: Thinly sliced tomato can also be served alongside the sliders for people who enjoy it with their bagels and lox.
Change the cream cheese: A savory-flavored cream cheese, such as chive or herb cream cheese, would also work well.

Halved Baked Bagels & Lox Sliders stacked on a plate showing the smoked salmon and cream cheese filling

Tips for Best Results

Make sure regular block cream cheese is softened before spreading it over the mini bagels.
Slice the red onion very thinly so you don’t get large, overpowering pieces.
Divide the smoked salmon evenly between all 12 bagels before adding the remaining toppings.
Drain the capers well so they don’t add unnecessary liquid.
Don’t skip the fresh dill after baking. It adds a fresh finish that balances the warm, buttery bagels.
For a brighter flavor, serve the sliders with lemon wedges or add a small squeeze of lemon just before serving.
These are best served fresh and warm from the oven.

FAQs

Can I use regular-size bagels?

Mini bagels are ideal because they’re already portioned for sliders and fit nicely in the baking dish. If you use full-size bagels, you’ll need to adjust how they’re arranged and portioned.

Can I use regular cream cheese instead of whipped cream cheese?

Yes. An 8-ounce block of cream cheese can be used in place of whipped cream cheese. Let it soften first so spreads easily without pulling at the bagels.

What kind of bagels should I use?

Plain or everything mini bagels both work well. Everything bagels add more savory flavor, while plain bagels let the smoked salmon and toppings stand out.

Can I use Everything Bagel Seasoning?

Absolutely. Skip the garlic powder, onion powder, and dried minced onion and use 1½ teaspoons Everything Bagel Seasoning in the melted butter.

Can I add lemon?

Yes! A little fresh lemon juice is fantastic with smoked salmon. Squeeze it lightly over the sliders after baking or serve lemon wedges on the side.

Are these only for breakfast?

Not at all. These baked lox sliders work for breakfast, brunch, lunch, or a light dinner. Pair them with hash browns for breakfast or a salad for lunch or dinner.

Can I make Baked Bagels & Lox Sliders ahead of time?

You can prep the individual ingredients ahead of time, but the sliders will have the best texture when assembled and baked shortly before serving.

Storage

Although Baked Bagels & Lox Sliders are best served fresh, leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

Because the filling includes cream cheese and smoked salmon, don’t leave leftovers sitting at room temperature for extended periods.

Quick Steps

NOTE: This section includes a step-by-step guide. Find the full printable recipe in the recipe card below.

Prepare the pan. Preheat the oven to 350°F and grease a 13×9-inch baking pan with non-stick cooking spray.
Arrange the bagels. Separate the tops and bottoms and arrange the bottom halves in the baking dish.
Add cream cheese. Generously spread whipped cream cheese over the bottom of each bagel.
Layer the toppings. Divide the smoked salmon between the bagels, followed by red onion, capers, and fresh dill.
Close the sliders. Place the bagel tops over the filling.
Add seasoned butter. Combine melted butter, garlic powder, onion powder, and dried minced onion. Brush over the bagels and pour any remaining mixture over the dish.
Finish and bake. Sprinkle with Parmesan and bake for 15 minutes.
Serve. Add more fresh dill and serve warm.

Sliced mini bagel bottoms arranged in a 13x9-inch baking dish

Mini bagel bottoms spread generously with whipped cream cheese in a baking dish

Make Ahead

You can do some prep ahead of time to speed up assembly. Slice the red onion, chop the dill, drain the capers, and prepare the bagels in advance.

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For the best texture, assemble and bake the sliders shortly before serving. This keeps the bagels from absorbing too much moisture from the cream cheese and other fillings.

Air fryer method

Assemble the bagel sliders as directed, including the seasoned butter and Parmesan topping.

Preheat the air fryer to 325°F. Arrange the sliders in the air fryer basket in a single layer, leaving a little room around them for air circulation. You may need to cook in batches if using this method.

Air fry for 5-7 minutes, or until the bagels are lightly toasted and the cream cheese and salmon are warmed through. Check them around the 5-minute mark since air fryers can vary.

Top with additional fresh dill after cooking and serve warm.

Tip: If the bagel tops start browning too quickly, reduce the temperature slightly. Since the smoked salmon is already ready to eat, you’re really just warming the filling and toasting the bagels rather than trying to cook the salmon.

What to serve with Baked Bagels & Lox Sliders

These sliders are easy to build into a full breakfast or brunch. Serve them with hash browns, breakfast potatoes, scrambled eggs, or fresh fruit.

For a lighter lunch or dinner, pair them with a simple side salad. The richness of the cream cheese and smoked salmon works especially well with something crisp and fresh on the side.

For entertaining, add them to a larger brunch spread with fruit, pastries, eggs, and your favorite breakfast drinks.

If You Enjoyed Baked Bagels & Lox Sliders

If these sliders have you planning your next brunch, try my Ham and Cheese Sliders next. They’re another warm, buttery slider recipe that’s easy to make for family meals, parties, or a crowd.

For something hearty enough to anchor your brunch table, my Italian Breakfast Strata is another delicious option. It’s loaded with sausage, peppers, eggs, bread, and cheese for a filling savory breakfast.

You can also add my Breakfast Egg Muffins to the menu. They’re individually portioned and easy to serve, making them a great partner for these mini bagel sliders at a larger breakfast or brunch.

For a heartier breakfast, try my Mexican Breakfast Casserole. Its bold, savory flavors make it a great choice for an easy breakfast dish that can feed several people.

If you’re putting together a fall brunch, my Roasted Squash Quiche is a great seasonal addition. The roasted butternut squash, Gruyère, sage, and flaky phyllo crust give it plenty of savory flavor.

For a make-ahead option, try my Overnight Italian Brunch Casserole. You can prepare it the night before, making it especially convenient for holidays and weekend guests.

And if you want something sweet to balance all those savory brunch flavors, my 3 Ingredient Scones are an easy addition. They’re soft, lightly sweet, and simple enough to make without adding much extra work to your brunch prep.

Looking for more delicious ideas? Browse my Recipe Index to find even more easy breakfast, brunch, lunch, dinner, and dessert recipes for any occasion.

Hand holding a Baked Bagels & Lox Slider filled with smoked salmon, cream cheese, red onion, capers, and dill

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Save these Baked Bagels & Lox Sliders for your next brunch, holiday breakfast, or easy weekend meal. They’re especially handy when you want something that feels a little special without spending all morning in the kitchen.

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