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Air Fryer Bagel Sandwich (Egg, Ham & Cheese in 15 Min)

Name: Air Fryer Bagel Sandwich
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 15 min
Ingredients: 1 bagel (sliced); 1 large egg; 1 slice deli ham; 1 slice cheddar cheese; 1/4 teaspoon of salt (to taste); 1/8 teaspoon black pepper (to taste); 1 teaspoon butter

Author: Laurie Fleming
Published: December 16, 2020

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This air fryer bagel sandwich is a toasted bagel stacked with a fried egg, deli ham and melty cheddar, then wrapped in foil and heated until everything is hot and the cheese is soft. The egg fries on the stove while the bagel toasts in the air fryer, and the whole sandwich is ready in about 15 minutes.

Air fryer bagel sandwich with a fried egg, deli ham and melted cheddar, cut in half to show the layers

It’s my go-to when I want a coffee-shop breakfast sandwich at home. The bagel gets crisp on the cut side while staying chewy inside, the egg stays soft in the middle, and the foil wrap melts the cheese right into the ham.

Why You’ll Love This Air Fryer Egg Bagel

Easy to scale. Make one for yourself or a few for the family.
Crispy and melty. The air fryer toasts the bagel and melts the cheese without drying out the sandwich.
Quick. About 10 minutes of cooking for a hot, filling breakfast.
Customizable. Swap the ham for bacon or sausage, or change the cheese.

Ingredients for an Air Fryer Bagel Breakfast Sandwich

Ingredients for an air fryer bagel sandwich: a bagel, egg, deli ham, cheddar cheese, butter, salt and pepper

Bagel: Plain, everything, sesame or whole wheat all work. Store-bought is fine, and so are my homemade sesame bagels.
Egg: One large egg, fried in a small skillet.
Deli ham: One thin slice, or two if you like a heartier sandwich.
Cheddar cheese: One slice. American, Swiss or pepper Jack are all good swaps.
Salt and pepper: Just a pinch of each on the egg. The ham and cheese add plenty of salt.
Butter: About 1 teaspoon, for frying the egg.

How to Make an Air Fryer Bagel Sandwich

Bagel halves cut side up in the air fryer basket, toasted until lightly golden

Step 1: Toast the bagel. Slice the bagel and place it cut side up in the air fryer basket. Air fry at 320°F for about 3 minutes, until the cut sides are lightly golden. For more detail, see my Air Fryer Toasted Bagel guide. If your bagel is frozen, follow Air Fryer Frozen Bagels first.

Layering cheddar cheese, deli ham and a fried egg on the bottom half of a toasted bagel

Step 2: Fry the egg. While the bagel toasts, melt the butter in a small nonstick skillet over medium heat. Crack in the egg and cook until the white is set, 2 to 3 minutes, flipping once if you like it over easy. Season with a pinch of salt and pepper. If you’d rather keep everything in the air fryer, my Air Fryer Fried Egg cooks it in a ramekin instead.

Step 3: Build the sandwich. On the bottom half of the bagel, layer the cheddar, then the ham, then the egg, and close with the top half. Putting the cheese on the bottom keeps the bagel from getting soggy.

Step 4: Wrap and heat. Wrap the sandwich in aluminum foil and air fry at 340°F for 3 minutes, until the cheese is melted and the sandwich is hot all the way through.

Step 5: Serve. Unwrap carefully (steam will escape), cut in half and serve warm.

Bagel sandwich wrapped in aluminum foil in the air fryer basket to melt the cheese

Tips for the Best Air Fryer Bagel Breakfast Sandwich

Cook the yolk the way you like it. For a less messy sandwich, break the yolk before flipping or cook it over medium.
Check the bagel early. Air fryers vary, and higher-wattage models toast faster. Look at it at 2 minutes.
Cheese goes on the bottom. It acts as a barrier between the egg and the bagel.
Don’t skip the foil. It traps steam so the cheese melts without the bagel drying out or over-browning.
Making more than one? Toast the bagels in one batch while you fry the eggs in a larger skillet, then wrap and heat the sandwiches together in a single layer.

Variations

Bacon, egg and cheese: Swap the ham for 2 slices of cooked bacon, like my Air Fryer Bacon and Egg Sandwich.
Sausage, egg and cheese: Use a cooked Johnsonville breakfast sausage patty in place of the ham.
Ham and Swiss: Use Swiss cheese and a thin swipe of Dijon on the top half.
Veggie: Skip the meat and add spinach, sliced tomato or avocado after heating.
English muffin: Same method on an English muffin gets you close to my Air Fryer Copycat McDonald’s Egg McMuffin.

Close-up of a ham, egg and cheese bagel sandwich from the air fryer with melted cheddar and a soft yolk

What to Serve With It

A crispy side of frozen hash brown patties in the air fryer makes it a full diner-style breakfast. If you like hash browns that much, my Air Fryer Hash Brown Breakfast Sandwiches use them in place of the bread entirely. Fresh fruit or yogurt keeps things lighter.

Feeding a group? My Air Fryer Bagel Breakfast Sliders turn the same ham and cheese idea into a batch of bagel sliders brushed with a buttery Dijon sauce, which is easier than making sandwiches one at a time.

Make Ahead, Storing and Reheating

Make ahead: Cook the eggs ahead and keep them in the fridge for up to 3 days. In the morning, toast the bagel, assemble and do the foil step, adding a minute or two since the egg starts cold.
Fridge: Wrap assembled, cooled sandwiches in foil and refrigerate for up to 2 days.
Reheat: Air fry, still in the foil, at 340°F for 5 to 6 minutes until hot in the center.

Air Fryer Bagel Sandwich FAQs

Can you cook an egg for a bagel sandwich in the air fryer? Yes. Crack it into a greased ramekin and air fry at 370°F for 3 to 4 minutes. It comes out round and the right size for a bagel.

How long do you air fry a bagel sandwich? Toast the bagel for 3 minutes at 320°F, then heat the wrapped sandwich for 3 minutes at 340°F. The egg fries on the stove while the bagel toasts, so the cooking takes about 10 minutes.

Can I make a ham and cheese bagel in the air fryer without egg? Yes. Skip step 2 and layer the cheese and ham, then follow the foil step. Add a minute if you use two slices of ham.

Why wrap the sandwich in foil? The foil holds in heat and steam so the cheese melts evenly without the bagel getting too dark or hard.

Which bagel works best? Any kind. Plain and everything bagels are the most popular. Thinner bagels heat through faster.

How do I keep the bagel from getting soggy? Toast it first and put the cheese on the bottom half before the ham and egg.