One great pleasure in this life is biting into a fresh, chewy bagel first thing on a Saturday. Keep your morning donuts, your English muffins, and your French toast. Nothing comes close to the comfort of biting into a dense, doughy bagel, especially when combined with a rich, thick schmear of cream cheese. It’s the perfect way to kick off the weekend.

But what if you don’t have a Jewish bakery nearby to get an authentic bagel experience? Are you condemned to a bagel-less Saturday morning? Nope! There are plenty of bagels at the local grocery store to satisfy even the pickiest bagel aficionado. Choose plain, poppy seed, sesame, cinnamon raisin, everything, or whole wheat bagels. Whatever your favorite, you can find something that matches what the authentic bagel shop offers.

So what are the best store-bought bagels? We’ve searched high and low to put together a list of the chewiest, most flavorful bagels. Forget the low-carb diet for a day! Here’s what we consider to be the definitive list of the best store-bought bagels to ever kick off the weekend.

1. Lender's Original Pre-sliced Plain Bagels 6ct 12oz, Frozen

Let your toppings shine with Lender’s Original Plain Bagels. Lox, peanut butter and banana, cream cheese, butter with jelly, sweet or savory, fresh or toasted — the possibilities are endless. Sticking to the original recipe from 1927, Lender’s authentic bagels are boiled and hearth-baked before being chilled to preserve their fresh taste. They’re pre-sliced, so it’s easy for anyone to prepare a delicious snack.

$2.99

2. Corey's Sesame Bagels 6pk

Bite into a classic New York bagel from Corey’s Deli. Sweet, nutty sesame seeds are the perfect complement to these delicious, doughy treats. Baked to perfection using only the freshest ingredients, try one toasted and topped with cream cheese, ripe tomatoes, and alfalfa sprouts. Take your time and enjoy every last savory, crispy, and satisfying mouthful. Bagels are the one thing New York City doesn’t rush.

$4.89

3. Jack Bakes Cinnamon Raisin Bagels 21oz, Frozen

Made from a family recipe, say hello to the first Challah Bagel made with cinnamon and raisins. Using only real-world, non-GMO ingredients and nothing artificial, this challah bagel puts a surprisingly delicious spin on your favorite breakfast. Dairy-free and made with cage-free eggs and 100% cane sugar, these bagels can do no wrong. Perfect for any kind of schmear, day or night.

$6.49

4. Spielman Bagels Everything Sourdough Bagel 4pk 16oz Bag

Move over New York and Montreal; Portland has entered the bagel game. Made locally by father and son team Rick and Raf Spielman, Portland’s best store-bought everything bagels are fresh-baked every day. These unique "Portland Style" bagels are made from a sourdough starter and then kettle-boiled to perfection. The soft, doughy center contrasts the crunchy exterior loaded with everything flavor you love.

$6.49

5. Kismet Jalapeno Cheese Bagels 4pk

Forget lox and cream cheese; this is a match made in Baked Good Heaven. Kismet Bagels, a family-owned company, has combined delicious cheese with spicy, fresh jalapeño peppers for a flavor combination you won’t soon forget. They’re delicious on their own or topped with scrambled eggs, bacon, and a touch of salsa. Get the bagel that bites you back.

$8.99

6. Thomas' Plain Pre-Sliced Bagels 6ct 20oz

Enjoy a classic favorite that’s perfect by itself, toasted with butter or a schmear of cream cheese. Thomas’ Plain Bagels are soft and chewy, with a delicious taste you can’t resist. Try them today and be part of a tradition of quality that Thomas’ has been proudly serving up to families for more than 135 years.

$4.49

7. Daves Killer Bread Epic Everything Bagels 16.75 oz

Make breakfast epic with the garlic and onion deliciousness you want and the nutrition you need with Epic Everything bagels. These bagels are anything but ordinary, with a healthy dose of 26 grams of whole grains per serving. Plus, they have a killer topping of flax, chia, sesame, poppy, garlic, and onion. Toast them to bring out the nutty flavor before spreading your favorite topping on them. Or not, you’re in charge.

$6.49

8. Moe's Broadway Bagel Poppy Bagels 4pk

Delight in the best store-bought bagels that Broadway has to offer. And when we say Broadway, we mean from Boulder, Colorado. Moe’s poppy bagels make a yummy on-the-go snack option sure to be liked by kids and adults alike. These water-boiled bagels are made with ethically sourced ingredients and are individually wrapped to preserve freshness and lock in flavor. It’s quality that you can taste.

$8.59

9. Bantam Bagels Everything with Veggie Cream Cheese 6ct

Sometimes, you just want a little bagel. We’re sure it doesn’t happen often, but when it does, there are Bantam Bagel Bites. These handy snacks are easy to prepare using a toaster or conventional oven. In minutes, you can eat a delicious sesame bagel stuffed with soft scrambled egg, swiss, cheddar, and garden veggies. It’s the perfect meal for when you need a bagel on the go.

$8.59

FAQ

Which brand of bagels is the best?

The question of which are the best store-bought bagel brands depends on what you’re looking for. If you want authentic New York flavor, our favorite is Corey's Sesame Bagels. Their Everything Bagel is also chef’s kiss delicious. 

We also love bagels made by craft producers. They aren’t afraid to try flavor combinations that are out of the ordinary. A tasty example is spicy Kismet Jalapeño Cheese Bagels. They’re simply delicious. Or a bagel using a sourdough base like Spielman Bagels Everything Sourdough Bagel — also available in cinnamon raisin or plain bagels, or sweet egg bread dough like Jack Bakes Cinnamon Raisin Bagels and Everything Bagel.

But at the end of the day, we are classic bagel lovers. Moe's Broadway Poppy Bagel is our pick for the best store-bought bagel and cream cheese combination. Who could resist toothsome baked goodness coupled with rich, creamy deliciousness? We certainly can't. There’s nothing better, in our opinion.

Why are Lender’s bagels so good?

Lender’s Bagels were the first frozen bagels on the market. Harry Lender bought a bagel bakery in New Haven, CT, in the 1920s. At first, he sold his bagels to local grocers, but with the addition of a freezer, he could freeze his bagels and distribute them further. He kept this as a family secret that his product was frozen, not fresh. 

Two years later, the secret was out, but the Lenders assuaged their vendor's concerns. After all, people had been buying frozen bagels for years without complaint. Eventually, Lender’s bakery expanded, and they began to sell their bagels nationally. In the 1970s, the United States started to embrace the bagel, and Lender rode a surge of popularity fueled in part by some witty ads launched by son Murray in the 1980s. 

Lender’s Bagels were most people’s introduction to the bagel world. Thanks to that nostalgic association, preservative-free recipe, and some great marketing, their popularity continues. 

Are store-bought bagels healthy?

Unfortunately, bagels aren’t exactly what you call healthy. They’re calorically dense and rich in refined carbohydrates. Does this mean you should never eat another bagel? No. But you should be aware of what you’re consuming and adjust your meal plan accordingly. Eating a bagel once a week can be a perfectly acceptable indulgence when included in a balanced diet. 

There are some things you can do to make them healthier. First, choose a whole-grain bagel option like Dave’s Killer Bread Epic Everything Bagels. Whole grains add some healthy fiber to your diet and help you feel full longer. Another ingredient to consider is the sugar content. While bagels will never fit into a keto diet, you can find some that have low sugar in their recipe.

The good news is that bagels aren’t a significant source of heart-damaging trans fat or any fat at all for that matter. So you can breathe a sigh of relief if you're watching your cholesterol. 

If you’re unsure how to fit bagels into your healthy lifestyle, especially if you choose gluten-free foods, your best bet is to speak to a registered dietitian. They’ll be able to answer your questions and help you find a way to include your favorite bagel into your meal plan.