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Substitute for Everything But the Bagel Seasoning

Updated on April 9th, 2023

You’re not alone if you don’t like the stuff in store-bought everything bagel seasoning. Trader Joe’s and McCormick both have their own brands of this seasoning. You can even make it yourself. Here are some tips to make it yourself. Make sure to use quality spices. If you’re using off-brand ones, read the ingredients label. A few key ingredients will make your homemade version taste better than the brand-name variety.

What is Everything Bagel Seasoning, and What does it do?

Everything bagel seasoning is the seasoning that goes on everything bagels, the ones with the sesame seeds, poppy seeds, garlic flakes, and other goodies.

Trader Joe’s began selling “Everything But the Bagel Seasoning” — essentially the seasoning that goes on all bagels — and it quickly became popular on the internet and in other stores.

It’s truly brilliant. Those who avoid bagels and other carbohydrate/gluten-containing foods can enjoy the same flavor on other foods!

I was resolved to assist you after witnessing everyone who didn’t have a Trader Joe’s close lament about not being able to obtain any EBS. Everything Bagel Seasoning now has an abbreviation.

How to Make Everything Bagel Seasoning at Home?

Ingredients

2 tblsp pomegranate seeds

1 tablespoon sesame seeds, white 1 tablespoon sesame seeds, black

1 tblsp. Plus 1 tblsp. chopped garlic, dry

1 tablespoon dry minced onion plus 1 teaspoon

2 tablespoons coarse salt or flakes of sea salt

Direction:

Combine the poppy seeds, sesame seeds, dried garlic, dried onion, and salt in a small bowl. Stir until Everything is well combined. Keep in a tightly sealed jar or container.

Sprinkle on bagels, avocado toast, scrambled tofu, potatoes, handmade bread, salads, and roasted vegetables, among other things.

What are Other Ingredients in Everything Bagel Seasoning?

Dried Garlic Flakes – Not granulated garlic or garlic salt, as previously stated. These are frequently found in the grocery store’s bulk spice aisle.

Dried Onion Flakes, also known as dried chopped onion, are a type of dried onion. Don’t add onion powder here, either.

Black Sesame Seeds – These are normally found in the spice department of a supermarket store, but I’ve often discovered more affordable, larger jars in the Asian section. Alternatively, you may go to an Asian market. (Update: I’ve had difficulty locating it in quantity since we relocated to Boise.) Instead of paying $6 for a 2-ounce jar, I paid $12.99 for a 2-pound bag on Amazon. As I already stated, I take my EBS very seriously.) If you don’t want to use black sesame seeds, simply add extra white sesame seeds to achieve a similar flavor.

White Sesame Seeds are regular sesame seeds, and I prefer to use roasted sesame seeds in this recipe since it gives the mixture a stronger sesame taste.

Poppy Seeds – This one is quite simple. Use whatever you can get your hands on. Fresh poppy seeds are always preferable, so if your jar dates from the late 1990s, it may be time to replace it.

Not regular salt, but flaked sea salt Or even Himalayan pink salt. This, in my opinion, warrants its own section. So keep scrolling down, and it’s well worth the effort.

Sea salt flakes are different from other types of salt since they’re light, crispy, and not rock-like. And the flavor is fantastic. After hopping from Kosher salt to fine sea salt to Himalayan pink salt, I’ve become a salt snob. Except for homemade play dough, I can’t even use plain table salt anymore.

I strongly advise using Maldon sea salt. It was like biting on small rocks when I grabbed some coarse sea salt. This was located in a conventional (nicer) grocery store, but I later discovered it was cheaper on Amazon. *facepalm*

Also, if you have a child who enjoys salt, I would keep this firmly hidden. Just a thought.

Is it Possible to Double or Triple the Amount of Everything Bagel Seasoning?

This recipe only makes 3 Tablespoons, but it can easily be doubled or tripled to fill a tiny mason jar. I included measurements for a pint jar and a quart jar in the recipe.

Yes, it’s a quart. This filled a (nearly full) quart jar.

You’ll probably want to since it’ll end up on Everything once you start sprinkling it on things. It’s one of my favorite seasoning combinations of all time.

Smearing a hard-boiled egg with cream cheese and a sprinkling of this is bliss if you’re on a keto diet or eating gluten-free or grain-free. Seriously.

Everything Bagel Seasoning: How to Use it?

I’d want to tell you about a dozen different things I wore this with, but I’m more of a one-trick pony.

I put it on hard-cooked or scrambled eggs and eat them for breakfast 90% of the time. Alternatively, a snack. Here are a few more ideas for what to wear it with:

Avocados (Seriously, they’re delicious.) If avocado toast is your thing, a sprinkle of this on top will send you to bliss.)

Salads (It’s surprising how much taste a small sprinkling can add! It’s one of the ingredients in my 5-Minute Breakfast Salad.)

Lettuce Wraps & Sandwiches with Smoked Salmon

Roasted Vegetables with Popcorn

Bowls of Sushi (It’s fantastic in a Sushi Bowl with California Rolls!)

Popcorn

Pizza dough (Before baking, sprinkle some along the edge of the crust.) It’s a doozy.)

It’s well worth creating a bit extra, no matter how many applications you have for it.

Have you gotten on board with the everything bagel craze? I’d love to see how you put it to use because I’m always seeking new ideas!

Without Poppy Seeds, How to Make Homemade Everything Bagel Seasoning?

If you don’t care for poppy seeds in general but love Everything about bagel seasoning, you can easily leave them out. The flavor will differ somewhat from the original, but it will still be delicious! It’s crucial to enjoy the meal you’re eating, and the easiest way to achieve so is to tweak the recipe to your preferences. That’s one of the things I like about this seasoning blend. You can adjust it to your preferences, and it never fails to satisfy a yearning for spicy crunch.

To create Homemade Everything Bagel Seasoning without poppy seeds, simply leave them out of the recipe or substitute chia seeds or another spice (in the same proportions).

What are Some Tips to Make Perfect Everything But the Bagel Seasoning?

If you’re storing this in a mason jar or spice jar, leave at least 14% of the top unfilled. You can give it a good shake to combine all of the components.

I prefer to make a large quantity and keep it in my spice cabinet. In an airtight container, it will last around 6 months, and the quality and pungency of the spices would deteriorate beyond that period.

You could simply combine a small amount of each ingredient and produce only enough for one dish at a time.

How to Make the Trader Joe’s Version and McCormick Version?

Trader Joe’s Version

Trader Joe’s version of Everything bagel seasoning is a classic, flavorful blend of ingredients. Originally created 100 years ago, Everything But the Bagel seasoning consists of poppy seeds, garlic, onions, and sea salt flakes. You can use it to season sandwiches, ice cream, salads, and even eggs. And with only a few ingredients, you can create delicious meals with it.

Try Trader Joe’s Everything But the Bagel Seasoning for even more delicious dishes. You can use this delicious spice blend to top homemade bagels, eggs, avocado slices, and egg rice cakes, and you can even sprinkle it on baked chicken and grilled meat. You can buy the spices at Trader Joe’s or on Amazon. It only takes a couple of minutes to make a jar of Everything but the bagel seasoning and store it in your pantry.

Trader Joe’s has recreated the success of everything bagel seasoning. The Trader Joe’s seasoning blends are both domestic and globally inspired. Examples include za’atar, grilled street corn flavor, and basic barbecue blend. All of them are affordable and can be used to season various foods, including eggs, grilled sourdough bread, and avocado toast.

McCormick Version

If you like garlicky, salty, crunchy flavors in your food, you’ll love the McCormick version of everything bagel flavoring. Use it to add flavor to Everything from pizza to eggs to roasted vegetables. Sprinkle it on a slice of homemade bread before baking it. Or, try combining it with breadcrumbs to make a tasty topping or coating. It’s also great on popcorn.

The classic seasoning is gluten-free and is perfect for people following a low-carb or paleo diet. You can also find this seasoning in vegan, Keto, Whole30, and gluten-free varieties. This seasoning also happens to be low-sodium, preservative-free, and non-GMO. It’s a versatile and healthy addition to chicken, avocado toast, salads, and even a bloody mary.

This seasoning is full of protein, vitamins, and minerals. It can lower cholesterol, fight infections, help diabetes, and even improve your oral health. Poppy seeds contain manganese, an important mineral for bone health and blood clotting. So, if you’re in the mood for a bagel, pick up some of this McCormick version of Everything bagel seasoning and spice your life!

Why will you Enjoy the Recipe for Everything but the Bagel Seasoning?

Purchasing your own ingredients to make it from scratch is less expensive than purchasing a pre-made blend.

To make it your own, adjust the number of spices and ingredients.

This multi-purpose bagel seasoning can be used on almost Everything.

Make homemade gifts for friends, neighbors, and teachers by storing them in bottles.

What are the Other Variations That can be Used in the Recipe of Everything but the Bagel Seasoning?

If you don’t like poppy seeds, you can easily leave them out of the recipe.

Reduce the amount of minced garlic powder to 12 teaspoons if you prefer a milder garlic flavor.

Give a pinch of cayenne pepper to the mix to add some heat.

Add a spoonful of dried chives for an onion-garlic flavor with a flash of green color.

I used flaky smoked salt to give the seasoning a little smokey flavor.

Who Came Up with the Idea for Bagel Seasoning?

The actual roots of everything bagels are unclear, as they are with so many great innovations of our time. Several people, including famed restaurateur Joe Bastianich, claim to have devised the notion of combining the various toppings that had fallen off the bagels while they were baking. They first appeared in the New York area in the late 1970s or early 1980s, for whatever reason. When it comes to selling the seasoning separately, Trader Joe’s deserves credit for popularizing, if not inventing, the product.

Conclusion

Everything except the bagel is a seed and spice seasoning blend that goes well with nearly anything. It became popular in the 1980s in New York when Everything Bagels were widely available. People couldn’t get enough of the seasoned bread, and it wasn’t long before they could buy jars of the salty and nutty combination that gave the bagels their distinctive flavor!

The most well-known brand is Trader Joe’s Everything but the bagel. However, you are not required to purchase it, and it’s quite simple to produce a jar of it in your own kitchen.