Everything bagel seasoning is a dry blend of sesame seeds, poppy seeds, dried onion, dried garlic and salt. It started as the topping on an everything bagel and now gets sold on its own, no bread required. That's the short answer. The much longer list of things everything bagel seasoning uses is what actually makes the jar worth keeping in the cupboard: eggs, roasted vegetables, popcorn, chicken, dips, and even the rim of a drink. Most people buy it for one thing and end up reaching for it most days of the week.
This isn't a health food, and it won't fix your diet. It's a jar of crunchy, savoury flavour that makes ordinary things taste like you tried harder than you did.
Where Does Everything Bagel Seasoning Come From?
The name comes directly from the bagel it was baked onto for years before anyone thought to sell it separately. Every everything bagel gets the same treatment: sesame seeds, poppy seeds, dried onion, dried garlic and coarse salt, pressed onto the dough before baking, with some bakeries using a mix of white and black sesame seeds for a bit of colour contrast.
Trader Joe's gets the credit for popularising the standalone jarred version. They launched their Everything But the Bagel Sesame Seasoning Blend in 2017. The everything bagel itself has New York roots going back to the 1970s or 80s, though no single baker is universally credited with inventing it. Other brands followed with their own versions under the more general name, 'everything bagel seasoning', with the same five ingredients, which are easier to find on this side of the Atlantic than the original jar ever was.
Every version leans slightly differently. Some lean sesame-forward; others are heavier on the garlic and onion, and a few use kosher salt instead of a flaky sea salt for a different texture underfoot. If you're comparing brands, the ingredient order on the label is a fair guide: sesame listed first usually means a nuttier blend, and garlic or onion higher up means a more savoury one.
Ways to Use Everything Bagel Seasoning
Here's where the seasoning earns its keep. None of this is complicated. Most of it is a five-second sprinkle over something you were already making.
Fried, Scrambled, or Hard-Boiled Eggs
Sprinkle it on right at the end of cooking, while the egg still has some moisture to hold onto it. It works just as well on deviled eggs as an appetiser if you want something with a bit more occasion to it.
Avocado Toast
This is the pairing that made everything bagel seasoning famous in the first place. Mash the avocado onto toast; add a good sprinkle, maybe a squeeze of lemon if you've got one to hand, and you've got the version people queue for in cafes.
Popcorn
Toss warm, freshly popped corn with a little melted butter, then shake the seasoning through it. Sesame seeds and salt do exactly what you'd hope on popcorn, and it works just as well mixed into a savoury snack mix.
Dips and Hummus
Swirl a spoonful over the top of shop-bought or homemade hummus, or stir it into cottage cheese for a quicker version of the same idea.
Cream Cheese
A schmear of cream cheese mixed with this seasoning and spread on a bagel, a cracker, or toast is one of the most obvious uses there is and one of the most satisfying.
Bloody Mary Rim
Wet the rim of the glass and press it into a plate of the seasoning instead of plain salt.
Roasted Vegetables
Broccoli, cauliflower, or whatever's in the fridge, tossed in olive oil and a generous sprinkle before it goes in the oven or the air fryer. The crunch holds up well through roasting.
Baked Potatoes
A baked potato with sour cream gets a crunchy lift from a sprinkle on top, or work it into mashed potatoes with a bit of cream cheese stirred through them.
Coleslaw
Skip the plain salt and finish your coleslaw or green salad with a pinch of this instead. Same job, more going on.
Roast Chicken
Rub a little into the skin before roasting, alongside your usual oil and seasoning, for a savoury crust.
Chicken Tenders or Wings
Coat lightly before baking or air frying for extra crunch, or serve alongside a dipping sauce for chicken on the side.
Smoked Salmon
Smoked salmon on a bagel, on toast, or on its own takes to this seasoning the same way it takes to capers.
Bread Dough and Flatbread
Press it into bread dough or flatbread before baking. Bakers have been doing exactly this to bagels for decades, so there's nothing new about it beyond the loaf.
Biscuits
Press onto the top before baking. Crunchy, salty, done.
Pizza
The crust edge or the top, before it goes in the oven alongside your usual toppings, works just as well as any other savoury bake here.
Mac and Cheese
Just before serving, a finish of this seasoning over the top adds a savoury crunch that plain breadcrumbs don't.
Ramen and Noodle Dishes
A pinch stirred through ramen or other Asian dishes at the end of cooking adds crunch and a different note than sesame oil alone.
Tuna Salad
Stir it through tuna salad instead of relying on salt and pepper alone, whether it's headed for a sandwich or a bowl on its own.
You don't need to work through this list in order or use all of it. Pick two or three that fit what you already cook, and the jar earns its place fast.
Should You Buy or Make Everything Bagel Seasoning?
You can make your own everything bagel seasoning at home, and it only takes five ingredients: sesame seeds, poppy seeds, dried minced garlic, dried onion, and salt mixed in a bowl. Toasted sesame seeds give a slightly deeper flavour if you want to take the extra step. If you already keep all five in the cupboard separately, there's a homemade everything bagel seasoning recipe a search away, and nothing is stopping you from putting one together yourself.
In practice, most people don't bother. Buying it store-bought means the ratios are already worked out, the jar is ready to go, and you're not raiding half the spice rack for a spoonful of flavour. It's the difference between a five-minute project and a five-second sprinkle, and for a seasoning you'll reach for most mornings, the second one usually wins.
Where to Buy Everything Bagel Seasoning in Ireland
Bowl & Basket's Everything Bagel Seasoning is the five-ingredient blend covered above, already mixed and ready to use: sesame seeds, garlic, poppy seed and other spices that aren't just for bagels. It's just as good on salads, veggies, meat, poultry, potatoes and avocados, which covers most of the list above without much extra thought required.
One practical note before you buy: this blend contains sesame, one of the fourteen priority allergens that must be declared under Irish and EU food labelling rules. Always check the jar's ingredient list and any cross-contamination warning if that's relevant to your household.
Ready to Try Everything Bagel Seasoning?
Once you've worked through a few of these, you'll stop reaching for plain salt and start reaching for this instead. That's the real test of a good pantry addition: not whether it's interesting once but whether it earns a permanent spot.
If this has you curious about what else American pantry shelves do differently to Irish ones, Irish vs American Pantry Staples is worth a read.
This blog post is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for medical advice. If you are pregnant, breastfeeding, on medication, or managing a health condition, please consult your GP before making significant changes to your diet.
