Everything But the Bagel (and the Cost)

I’m apparently not alone in my deep love for Trader Joe’s Everything But the Bagel seasoning.

It’s crunchy, savory, and salty. But it’s not just for bagels. Ironically, I’ve actually never put it on a bagel. I use it on avocado toast, regular toast, eggs, fish, potatoes, vegetables, dips, spreads, popcorn, chicken, pizza dough, anything panko breaded, rice, pasta, and anything else I can think of.

My personal, and daily favorite, is sprinkling it over cottage cheese. And by “sprinkling,” I mean dumping. I have a heavy hand when it comes to this use of the spice blend.

The concept of “everything bagel seasoning” actually goes back to the 1980s, when New York bagel makers started mixing poppy seeds, sesame seeds, garlic, onion, and salt onto bagels and calling them “everything bagels.” Several bagel shop owners have claimed credit for inventing the “everything bagel” in that era.

However, Trader Joe’s Everything but the Bagel Sesame Seasoning Blend is the one that really popularized the “everything bagel seasoning” trend nationwide when it launched in 2017. They even have an organic version. Now there a a slew of copycat blends available at other stores.

And while the Trader Joe’s version is cheap at $1.99, it’s even more affordable to make your own, and you won’t have to run to the store every time you’re out.

It’s likely you have all the ingredients already in your pantry to make your own. And a huge plus, you can tailor it to your own taste. Let’s say you want less salt. Or maybe you wanna amp up the garlic. Or perhaps you’re not a fan of poppy seeds. You do you!

To make mine, I simply looked at the label of my existing Everything But the Bagel jar, and winged it. Because ingredient labels don’t list amounts, but they do list ingredients in descending order of how much is in there (with the most listed first), it’s simple to recreate.

You’ll need:

2 tablespoons white sesame seeds
1 1/2 tablespoons granulated garlic
1 1/2 tablespoons granulated onion
1 tablespoon poppy seeds
1 tablespoon black sesame seeds
2 teaspoons sea salt flakes

It’s important to note that heavier ingredients will fall to the bottom, so I wouldn’t suggest substituting powdered garlic or onion for the granulated. Same with the salt. If you use kosher salt or coarse sea salt, it will all end up at the bottom of the spice jar.

You can also toast the sesame seeds for a deeper, nuttier flavor. I added dried black garlic to mine and decreased the salt. I’m doing me!