How to Make a Beautiful Bagel Board for a Crowd

A breakfast bagel board is a fun way to make hosting easy while incorporating the perfect mix of protein, carbs, and freshness. Hard-boiled eggs and bagels are the stars of this board, while the toppings and sides add fun and freshness!

I’m always looking for easy breakfast and brunch ideas when hosting friends and family, and what better way to do this than over a hearty breakfast charcuterie board?

WHAT IS A BREAKFAST BAGEL BOARD?

A breakfast bagel board is a shareable platter loaded with bagels and all the fixings. It includes a variety of spreads like cream cheese, butter, and jam, plus toppings like smoked salmon, avocado, tomatoes, cucumbers, and fresh herbs. I also like to add fruit, micro greens (fancy!), homemade salsa macha, and hard-boiled eggs for extra protein. Perfect for gatherings, it lets everyone customize their ideal breakfast bite!

How to Make a Beautiful Bagel Board for a Crowd

RECOMMENDED BY LOLA

Large Round Cutting Board

STEP-BY-STEP INSTRUCTIONS: HOW TO BUILD A BAGEL BOARD

1. Choose your board and select ingredients

  • Start by selecting a board or platter that is large enough to accommodate all of your brunch items. A wooden board or slate platter work well for a rustic and natural look; a white porcelain platter gives a more elegant and modern vibe.
  • Choose a mix of sweet and savory items for your brunch board.
How to Make a Beautiful Bagel Board for a Crowd

2. Group items into sections

  • Place all of the bread and hard-boiled eggs together.
  • Add some freshness and color – use a mix of fresh and colorful items to add visual interest to your board. This could include grapes, fresh berries, microgreens, cucumbers, tomatoes, sliced lemon, and other vibrant veggies.
How to Make a Beautiful Bagel Board for a Crowd

3. Fill in the gaps

  • Once you have arranged your items, fill in any empty spaces with small items like nuts, salsas, olives, capers, and other garnishes. You can serve ingredients like these in small bowls, along with the cream cheese.
How to Make a Beautiful Bagel Board for a Crowd

WHAT PAIRS WELL WITH BAGEL BOARDS?

Round out your brunch with a few different drink choices. Water, tea and coffee with a few creamer options and fancy homemade syrups are always a good idea.

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How to Make a Beautiful Bagel Board for a Crowd

HOW TO MAKE A BEAUTIFUL BAGEL BOARD FOR A CROWD

by Lola Dweck
A breakfast bagel board is a fun way to make hosting easy while incorporating the perfect mix of protein, carbs, and freshness. 
5 from 1 vote
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 5 minutes
Course Breakfast
Cuisine American
Servings 12 people

Equipment

Ingredients
  

PROTEIN

CARBS

  • Bagels (my favorites: sesame, plain, egg, cinnamon raisin, asiago, and pumpernickel

FRESH FIXINGS & SIDES

Instructions
 

  • Choose your board and select ingredients. Start by selecting a board or platter that is large enough to accommodate all of your brunch items. A wooden board or slate platter work well for a rustic and natural look; a white porcelain platter gives a more elegant and modern vibe.
    Choose a mix of sweet and savory items for your brunch board.
  • Group items into sections. Place all of the bread and hard-boiled eggs together.
    Add some freshness and color – use a mix of fresh and colorful items to add visual interest to your board. This could include grapes, fresh berries, microgreens, cucumbers, tomatoes, sliced lemon, and other vibrant veggies.
  • Fill in the gaps. Once you have arranged your items, fill in any empty spaces with small items like nuts, salsas, olives, capers, and other garnishes. You can serve ingredients like these in small bowls, along with the cream cheese.

A Note from Lola

TIPS, TRICKS, AND SUBSTITUTIONS

  • When building your board, place the largest items on the board first. Then, fill in the remaining areas with the smaller items. You can even use fresh flowers to fill in some areas and to emphasize the spring theme. Keep wet items away from bagels so they don’t get soggy.
  • Replace the hard-boiled eggs with my Chipotle Deviled Eggs if you’re feeling extra ambitious.
  • Make it vegetarian by simply omitting the salmon and fish.
  • Make it vegan by using a variety of nuts for your protein options and use a vegan cream cheese.
LOVE THIS RECIPE?Leave a comment below or tag me on social media @lolascoina

Recipe originally published March 7, 2023 and updated with step-by-step instructions and photos on January 17, 2025.

Lola’s Cocina is a small business that earns various revenue streams. This includes sponsored posts and affiliate commissions from linked products, which I use and love. This commission is an agreement between Lola’s Cocina and retailers, with no extra cost to readers. This income helps sustains the site.

Photography + Styling: Cacey McReavy

Lola Wiarco Dweck

Lola is a Mexican-American recipe developer, writer, and cooking instructor who loves sharing her culture with the world. Growing up in California and spending summers in Mexico, Lola celebrates her family’s Mexican recipes and vibrant culture through Lola’s Cocina.

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2 Comments

  1. 5 stars
    I absolutely loved this idea. We created a bagel board for my sister’s baby shower brunch and everyone loved it. So easy!