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Meal Prep Christmas Bagel
- Category: Popular |
This is the first Christmas recipe of the year for BOL, and of course it had to be a Christmas bagel.Feel free to prep these in advance and keep in the fridge for a festive lunch on the go, while working from home or in the office!
SERVES
1
DIFFICULTY
simple
Can I make these Christmas bagels in advance?
These bagels are perfect for meal prep. Assemble them the night before, wrap tightly, and store in the fridge for up to 2 days. If you’re using fresh ingredients and keeping them cool, they’ll stay fresh and tasty for your lunch the next day.
How do I stop my bagel from going soggy?
To avoid sogginess, spread the cranberry sauce and mayo between the meat and stuffing layers, not directly on the bagel. You can also lightly toast the bagel before assembling — it helps create a barrier and keeps it firm.
What can I use instead of turkey and ham?
You can swap the turkey and ham for leftover roast chicken, beef, or even veggie alternatives like roasted mushrooms or a nut roast slice. The flavours still work brilliantly with cranberry and stuffing.
Can I freeze Christmas bagels?
It’s best not to freeze fully assembled bagels with mayo or cranberry sauce, as they can go watery when defrosted. But you can freeze the cooked turkey, ham, and stuffing separately, then defrost and assemble fresh.
Are Christmas bagels healthy?
These bagels are a balanced festive option — they include lean protein from the turkey and ham, some carbs for energy, and a bit of festive flavour from the cranberry and stuffing. To lighten it up, use a wholegrain bagel and light mayo.
What goes well with a Christmas bagel?
They’re great on their own for lunch, but you can serve them with a small side salad, air fryer roasties, or even a mug of soup for a warming winter meal.
Can I use different sauces?
Try swapping cranberry sauce for apple sauce, mustard, or even a bit of gravy mayo for something extra indulgent.
Method
Step 1
Prepare your cranberry mayo by mixing 1 tbsp of light mayo with 1 tsp of cranberry sauce and give that a good mix.
Step 2
Slice your bagel in half and add some of the mayo to both sides of the bagel then layer with turkey, ham, stuffing and a few heaped tablespoons of stuffing.
Step 3
Close the bagel, slice in half and get stuck in. I chose to heat up some leftover gravy for dunking but these would be perfect for meal prep too.
Ingredients
Bagel of choice
1 slice of cooked turkey
1 slice of cooked ham
2 tbsp breadcrumb stuffing
1 heaped tsp cranberry sauce
1 tbsp light mayo