Spooky 10-Minute Ghostly Pizza Bagels Everyone Loves

Name: Spooky 10-Minute Ghostly Pizza Bagels Everyone Loves
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 12 min
Total time: 22 min
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 4 plain bagels, halved; 1 cup pizza sauce; 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese; 1/2 cup sliced black olives; 1/4 cup sliced green bell peppers; 1 tsp dried oregano

Author: lia

Published: August 22, 2025

Updated: August 22, 2025

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Picture this: It’s Halloween night, my kitchen smells like cheesy goodness, and a plate of grinning ghostly pizza bagels disappears faster than kids at a haunted house! After years of testing holiday recipes (I’ve made enough Franken-cookies to rebuild Boris Karloff), these adorable yet delicious pizza bagels became my ultimate party lifesaver. What I love most? They’re ridiculously easy – just 10 minutes of prep for a snack that looks impressive and tastes even better. The secret? Those little olive eyes and bell pepper mouths transform ordinary bagels into spooky masterpieces that’ll have everyone snapping photos before devouring them. Trust me, once you try this simple twist, ghostly pizza bagels will haunt your Halloween menu forever!

Table of Contents

Why You’ll Love These Ghostly Pizza Bagels

These aren’t just any pizza bagels—they’re your new secret weapon for stress-free entertaining. Here’s why they’re a total game-changer:

Crazy quick: From fridge to table in under 25 minutes (even when you’re scrambling to finish your zombie makeup).
Kid magnet: My niece calls them “friendly ghosts” and always sneaks an extra one.
Totally yours: Swap toppings to match what’s in your fridge—I’ve used pepperoni smiles and even zucchini “bandages.”
Party perfect: Ghostly pizza bagels disappear faster than candy at trick-or-treating—double the batch!

Seriously, the only scary thing about these is how addictive they are!

Ingredients for Ghostly Pizza Bagels

Let me tell you – after making these probably 50 times (okay, maybe 100… I really love Halloween), I’ve nailed down exactly what works. Here’s your shopping list for the most adorable – and delicious – ghostly pizza bagels around:

4 plain bagels, halved: I like “everything” bagels for grown-ups, but plain works best for the ghost faces to show up clearly. My go-to is Thomas’ because they toast up perfectly.
1 cup pizza sauce: Contadina’s my favorite jarred sauce – it’s got just the right thickness to not make the bagels soggy.
2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese: Buy the blocks and shred it yourself – the pre-shredded stuff doesn’t melt as nicely for those ghostly “sheets.”
1/2 cup sliced black olives: These become the eyes – get the pre-sliced ones to save time (but pat them dry so they don’t slide around!).
1/4 cup sliced green bell peppers: For those perfect little ghostly mouths – I use about 3 thin strips per bagel half.
1 tsp dried oregano: Just a sprinkle gives that authentic pizza parlor aroma.

Pro tip: Have extra olives and peppers ready – someone always “accidentally” eats the decorations while you’re assembling!

How to Make Ghostly Pizza Bagels

Okay, let’s get spooky! Here’s exactly how I make these little ghostly pizza bagels that disappear faster than a phantom at sunrise. Follow these steps and you’ll have a plate full of edible spirits in no time – promise!

Fire up your oven to 375°F (190°C): This gives it time to get nice and toasty while you prep. (Bonus: The warmth feels amazing on chilly Halloween nights!)
Spread that sauce like a mad scientist: Use about 2 tablespoons of pizza sauce per bagel half – enough to cover but not so much it slides off. I use the back of a spoon to make little swirls that look like ghostly wisps.
Blanket those ghostly pizza bagels with cheese: Sprinkle mozzarella evenly over each one – about 1/4 cup per bagel half. Leave some gaps if you want “tattered ghost” effects!
Time for faces! This is where the magic happens. Place two olive slices for eyes and arrange thin bell pepper strips into cute little “O” mouths or spooky frowns. (My nephew insists on making one with crossed eyes every year.)
Dust with oregano: Just a pinch over each one gives that authentic pizza parlor aroma. Pretend you’re casting a tasty spell!
Bake your ghostly pizza bagels for 10-12 minutes: Watch for melty, bubbly cheese with maybe a few golden spots. The bagel edges should be crisp but not too dark – we want friendly ghosts, not burnt ones!

Pro Tips for the Best Ghostly Pizza Bagels

After countless Halloween parties (and several cheese-related disasters), here are my hard-earned secrets:

Toast the bagels lightly first if you love extra crunch – just 2 minutes under the broiler prevents sogginess from the sauce.
Pat those olive eyes dry with a paper towel – wet toppings make the cheese slide right off like a ghost through walls!
Let them cool for 2 minutes before serving – melted cheese burns are scarier than any Halloween decoration I’ve seen.

Ghostly Pizza Bagels Variations

One of the best things about these ghostly pizza bagels? How easily you can tweak them to match whatever ingredients you have or dietary needs you’re cooking for. Here are my favorite twists that always impress:

Mummy Madness: Swap the full cheese blanket for thin strips of string cheese laid criss-cross over the sauce. Add two olive eyes peeking through – they’ll look like adorable little mummies unwrapping themselves!
Vegan Phantoms: My dairy-free friends still want in on the fun. Use your favorite vegan mozzarella (I like Miyoko’s) and skip the olives if you want – sliced mushrooms make surprisingly cute ghost eyes too.
Pepperoni Poltergeists: For meat lovers, tiny pepperoni circles become perfect spooky eyes on your ghostly pizza bagels. Or cut them into crescent moons for ghoulish smiles – just bake them under the cheese so they don’t curl up.

Honestly, half the fun is getting creative – last year I used purple cauliflower “eyes” for a witchy twist! What spooky variations will you dream up?

Storing and Reheating Ghostly Pizza Bagels

Here’s the spooky truth: these ghostly pizza bagels disappear fast! But if you miraculously have leftovers (it’s happened exactly once in my house), pop them in an airtight container for up to 2 days. When reheating, I find 5 minutes at 350°F brings them back to melty perfection—microwaving turns them into sad, rubbery ghosts. Pro tip: Store assembled-but-unbaked bagels on a tray in the fridge overnight—just add 1-2 minutes to bake time the next day!

Ghostly Pizza Bagels Nutrition Information

Now, I’m no nutritionist (just a Halloween enthusiast with a cheese problem), but here’s the scoop on what’s in these adorable ghostly pizza bagels. Keep in mind – these numbers can change based on your specific ingredients. For example, using low-fat cheese or turkey pepperoni will tweak things. Here’s what one of my standard ghostly pizza bagels clocks in at:

Serving Size	1 pizza bagel
Calories	210
Total Fat	8g
Saturated Fat	3g
Protein	9g
Carbohydrates	28g
Fiber	2g

Honestly? When they’re this cute and tasty, I stop counting after the first one anyway. But it’s nice to know you’re getting some protein and fiber along with all that cheesy goodness! Just balance it out by eating some carrot sticks shaped like little bones later, okay?

FAQs About Ghostly Pizza Bagels

Over the years, I’ve gotten all sorts of questions about these adorable ghostly pizza bagels (and eaten plenty while answering them!). Here are the ones that pop up most often at my Halloween parties:

Can I use English muffins instead of bagels?

Absolutely! English muffins make perfect little ghostly pizza rounds – just reduce the baking time to 8-10 minutes since they’re thinner. I actually did this last year when I ran out of bagels, and the kids didn’t notice the difference (though the ghosts were admittedly a bit… stubbier).

What’s the best way to make these ahead of time?

Here’s my party-saving trick: prep all the toppings separately the night before. Keep sliced olives and peppers in little containers, shred the cheese, and even portion out the sauce. When it’s go-time, just assemble and bake! You can also assemble the ghostly pizza bagels completely and refrigerate them for 2-3 hours before baking – just add an extra minute or two in the oven.

Any other fun spooky shapes besides ghosts?

Oh, you’re speaking my language! Try cutting bell peppers into bat wings or pumpkin shapes before baking. For a full monster mash, use different cheeses to create Frankenstein faces (provolone “bolts”), or make mummy versions with cheese strips. Last year I did little cheesy spiders with olive bodies and pepper legs – they were a hit!”

Honestly, once you start seeing your veggies as potential Halloween creatures, there’s no going back. What spooky creations will you dream up?

Alright, my fellow Halloween food artists – it’s time to put those spooky skills to the test! Whip up a batch of these ghostly pizza bagels for your next gathering and watch them vanish faster than a ghost in the night. I’d love to see your creative twists – snap a pic of your cheesiest, spookiest creations and tag us on social media. Who knows? Your olive-eyed masterpiece might just inspire next year’s Halloween party menu! Now if you’ll excuse me, I’ve got a date with my oven and a serious craving for some melty, ghostly goodness…