Vegan Bagel Sandwich with Pesto

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This vegan bagel sandwich with pesto is full of fresh flavors and lots of veggies. Even better, making a vegan bagel sandwich recipe isn’t complicated and takes less than 20 minutes. It’s perfect for breakfast, lunch, or even a light dinner!

completed Vegan Bagel Sandwich with Pesto on a white surface and another sandwich in the background

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Why You’ll Love this Vegan Bagel Sandwich Recipe!
Ingredients for Vegan Bagel Sandwich with Pesto
How To Make a Bagel Sandwich Vegan
Toni’s Recipe Tips
FAQs for Vegan Bagel Sandwich
Variations on Vegan Bagel Fillings
Serving Suggestions
More Yummy Vegan Sandwich Recipes
Vegan Bagel Sandwich with Pesto Recipe

Why You’ll Love this Vegan Bagel Sandwich Recipe!

If you’ve been looking for vegan lunch ideas or yummy vegan bagel fillings, look no further! This vegan pesto bagel recipe is my go-to when I need a simple but tasty meal solution. The pesto packs great flavor into this simple but satisfying sandwich. Plus, it’s a no-cook recipe that’s so easy, even kids can make it!

Additionally, this bagel sandwich makes a great light lunch or pairs fabulously with a bowl of soup or salad. I love it for dinner with some roasted pepper and tomato soup or vegan minestrone soup. Alternatively, for lunch, it’s great to carry along with a yogurt parfait, crispy chickpeas, or a piece of fruit. However you enjoy it, the fresh veggies add energizing nutrients to any meal. And it’s easy to prep ahead and enjoy on the go!

Ingredients for Vegan Bagel Sandwich with Pesto

You don’t need much to make these vegan bagel sandwiches for a meal!

Bagels: Any flavor works! Generally, bagels are vegan. But check the ingredient labels of some flavors for non-vegan ingredients such as eggs, honey, or cheese.
Pesto: I prefer making my own Sunflower Seed Pesto. Alternatively, you can use store-bought vegan pesto or another pesto recipe as well.
Veggies: Baby spinach, avocado, tomatoes, and red onion! Use baby spinach leaves which are more tender and small cherry or grape tomatoes.

How To Make a Bagel Sandwich Vegan

process shot of adding pesto to a bagel with ingredients on the side

Step 1: First, cut the bagels in half and toast them.

process of adding spinach on top of pesto with ingredients on the side

Step 2: On each bagel half, spread some sunflower seed pesto. Then top with layers of spinach leaves, avocado slices, halved cherry tomatoes, and sliced red onion.

process of adding onion to the pesto sandwich with ingredients on the side

Toni’s Recipe Tips

Open face sandwich. This vegan bagel sandwich is meant to be enjoyed open-faced, which means you can pile on the veggies, making it a heartier meal.
Eat immediately. I find that these pesto sandwiches taste the best when freshly made. If taking on the go, I recommend keeping the veggies separate and adding them at the last minute.
Get creative. Use this bagel sandwich recipe as a guide and make your own combinations to use up ingredients you have in the fridge.

FAQs for Vegan Bagel Sandwich

Are bagels dairy-free?

The basic recipe to make bagels doesn’t contain any dairy or animal products. But sometimes flavored bagels may have ingredients made from dairy, which makes them no longer dairy-free or vegan.

What do vegans eat on sandwiches?

There is a wide variety of plant-based sandwich toppings available for vegans to use! For bagel sandwich ideas, vegetarian or vegan, consider protein ingredients like spreads such as hummus, bean spreads, marinated tofu, and tempeh! Then of course, all varieties of veggies are fair game. When it comes to sandwich spreads, you can use mustard or vinaigrettes which are often vegan, and/or use vegan mayo.

Is a bagel sandwich healthy?

In moderation, a bagel sandwich is a healthy option for meals. Although it does depend on the toppings added to the sandwich. This vegan bagel sandwich is made meat-free without dairy and piles on the veggies for a healthy sandwich option you can enjoy!

Variations on Vegan Bagel Fillings

Change up the pesto. If making your own, I love this sunflower seed pesto but you can also make it with pumpkin seeds too!
Add some vegan cheese. Not always budget-friendly, but it’s a great way to add some more flavor.
Add protein. Make this pesto bagel sandwich a bit heartier with a bit of classic hummus, roasted red pepper hummus, or white bean spread.
Add a sauce. It can be as simple as some vegan mayo or this creamy garlic sauce.
Use other veggies. This pesto bagel sandwich is a great way to use up ingredients you have on hand. Cucumber slices, avocado, lettuce, red bell pepper strips, and roasted veggies are just a few ideas!

Serving Suggestions

Serve this easy sandwich with your favorite sides, for a hearty lunch!

Chips: Potato chips, pita chips, or crackers.
Cut veggies and dip: Like roasted red pepper hummus, white bean dip, or French onion dip.
Potatoes and fries: Enjoy roasted or French fried, or switch up the fries with sweet potato fries, carrot fries, or baked zucchini fries.
Soup: Pairs great with most any soup you love, like lemon orzo soup, kabocha squash soup, or lentil sweet potato soup.
Salad: Serve with a side salad like my kale quinoa salad, Mediterranean farro salad, mixed bean salad, or spinach pasta salad.

More Yummy Vegan Sandwich Recipes

Vegan Lunches

Mushroom Sandwich

Vegan Dinners

Easy Crispy Buffalo Tofu Sandwich

Vegan Dinners

20-Minute BBQ Jackfruit Sandwiches

Vegan Lunches

Pesto Tofu Sandwich

If you tried this vegan bagel sandwich with pesto recipe or any other recipe on my blog, please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how it went in the 📝 comments below. Thanks!

Photos by Alfonso Revilla

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