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Everything Bagel

An everything bagel is a bagel topped with a mixed seasoning blend rather than a specific filling.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated July 27, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

An everything bagel is a bagel topped with a mixed seasoning blend rather than a specific filling. Common toppings include sesame seeds, poppy seeds, dried onion, dried garlic, and salt, though recipes vary by baker. The bagel is a plain bagel baked with seasoning on the crust, giving it a stronger, more complex flavour and a crunchy exterior.

Description

An everything bagel is a regular bagel coated with a savory topping blend before baking. The mix gives it a stronger, more complex flavour and a crunchy exterior.

Ingredients and variations

Most versions use sesame seeds, poppy seeds, dried onion, dried garlic, and salt. Some recipes or commercial blends also add black sesame, pepper, or other seasonings.

Origin and popularity

Sources commonly place the modern everything bagel in New York City in the late 1970s or around 1980. Accounts often credit David Gussin with naming and popularizing the style after collecting leftover bagel toppings.

Cultural use

The term has also been used beyond food, including as a metaphor in popular culture. In those contexts, it usually relies on the bagel’s association with being covered in many toppings.

Key facts

  • The everything bagel is defined by its topping mix, not by any filling inside the bagel.
  • Standard toppings usually include sesame seeds, poppy seeds, onion, garlic, and salt.
  • The bagel is a plain bagel baked with seasoning on the crust.
  • The name refers to the variety of toppings applied together.
  • It became especially associated with New York bagel culture.
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Canadian context

Everything bagels are widely sold in Canadian grocery stores, bakeries, and bagel shops, especially in cities with strong North American bagel traditions.

Frequently asked questions

What is an everything bagel?
A bagel topped with a mixture of seasonings and seeds, usually including sesame, poppy, onion, garlic, and salt.
Does an everything bagel contain fillings?
No. The name refers to the exterior topping blend, not to an inside filling.
Where did the everything bagel come from?
Modern accounts usually trace it to New York City in the late 1970s or around 1980.
Who is often credited with inventing it?
David Gussin is commonly credited in published origin accounts.
Is there one fixed recipe?
No. The topping mix varies by baker, but the core ingredients are usually sesame, poppy, onion, garlic, and salt.

References

  1. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Everything_bagel
    Supports: Basic definition, typical toppings, and distinction from fillings.
  2. Wiktionary — https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/everything_bagel
    Supports: Dictionary definition of the term.
  3. Gotham Bagels — https://www.gothambagels.com/blog/whats-the-deal-with-everything-bagels
    Supports: Typical seasoning blend and description of the bagel.
  4. Kottke — https://kottke.org/19/06/the-origin-of-everything-the-bagel
    Supports: Common origin account attributing the bagel to David Gussin in Queens around 1979-1980.
  5. My Jewish Learning — https://www.myjewishlearning.com/the-nosher/the-everything-bagel-is-a-surprisingly-recent-invention/
    Supports: Recent-invention account and origin story.