Mean Green Vegetable Bagel Sandwich

Name: Mean Green Vegetable Bagel Sandwich
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 5 min
Total time: 20 min
Yield: 2
Ingredients: 8 ounces cream cheese, room temperature; Juice and zest of 1 lemon; 1 small jalapeno, seeds and ribs removed and diced; 1/4 cup tender herbs, such as basil, dill, and chive, chopped; Salt and pepper, to taste; 2 bagels, sliced in half; 8 slices deli turkey (optional, omit to make vegetarian); 1/4 cup hot house cucumber, sliced; 1 Granny Smith apple, sliced; 1 medium avocado, sliced; 1 cup baby arugula; 1/2 tablespoon olive oil

Laura Wilkins September 5, 2025

Servings: 2 Total Time: 20 mins Difficulty: Beginner

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Vegetable bagel sandwich with green veggies, fruits, and herbs. A great sandwich on its own or with sliced turkey for extra protein.

All Your Greens in a Sandwich

This mean green vegetable bagel sandwich is loaded with lots of green vegetables, fruits, and herbs. It’s creamy, herby, sweet, and savory all in one! I love this bagel sandwich for breakfast, lunch, or dinner as a filling way to sneak in some extra fruits and veg.

This sandwich recipe was inspired by a bagel sandwich I used to get at a bakery near my old office. It was the best bagel with herby cream cheese, cucumber, arugula and avocado. I’d buy one for myself on special occasions for a little mid-week treat! I’ve taken that idea and spruced it up a little for a heartier lunch. By adding jalapeno to the cream cheese for spice, green apple for sweetness, slices of turkey for protein.

jalapeno herb cream cheese in a white mixing bowl with silver spoon

The Supplies

Ingredients

To make this mean green vegetable bagel sandwich, you’ll need the following ingredients:

Cream cheese
Juice and zest of a Lemon
Small jalapeno
Tender herbs, such as basil, dill, and chive
Salt and pepper
Bagels
Slices of deli turkey, optional
Hot house cucumber
Granny smith apple
Avocado
Baby arugula
Olive oil

For the exact ingredient amounts, check out the recipe card at the bottom of this page.

Equipment

In order to make this mean green vegetable bagel sandwich, you’ll need the following pieces of equipment:

Two small mixing bowls
Mixing spoons
Microplane
Cutting board and knife
Toaster or toaster oven

chopped cucumber avocado and green apple on cutting board

Frequent Recipe Questions

Can I make this sandwich ahead of time?

A: You can definitely mix the jalapeno herb cream cheese ahead of time. The sandwich itself should be made and enjoyed right away so the toasted bagel is nice and warm.

Is it ok to substitute the sliced turkey?

A: Not into sliced turkey? No problem! Sliced deli chicken or ham would also go great on this sandwich. Or, leave the meat off completely! This sandwich is a great vegetarian option.

Is the jalapeno herb cream cheese spicy?

A: It’s not! By removing the seeds and ribs from the jalapeno, it reduces how spicy the pepper is.

What kind of bagel should I use?

A: I love a sesame bagel for this sandwich! It’s a nice subtle flavor that compliments the fruits and veggies. A plain bagel, onion bagel, or whole wheat would also be great!

open face green vegetable bagel sandwich with herby cream cheese

Bagel Sandwich Recipe Tips

When you make this mean green vegetable bagel sandwich, here are a few tips to make sure it turns out perfectly:

For a structurally sound sandwich, try slicing the cucumber and apples to be long and thin, rather than small pieces. They’ll be easier to stack and won’t fall out of the sandwich as easily.
If you can, buy fresh bagels from the bakery section of the grocery store or your local baker. It will make a huge difference in the quality of the sandwich!

Recipe Details

Mix the Herby Jalapeno Cream Cheese

To make the herby jalapeno cream cheese, add room temperature cream cheese, the juice and zest of a lemon, and a finely diced jalapeno into a small mixing bowl. Stir the ingredients together until the lemon juice and zest are fully incorporated into the cream cheese and the jalapeno is evenly distributed.

Add in the chopped herbs and a pinch of both salt and pepper to the mixing bowl. Stir to incorporate the herbs and seasoning into the cream cheese. Give the cream cheese a taste and add more herbs, salt, or pepper if your palate needs it.

cross section of mean green vegetable bagel sandwich with slices of turkey

Build the Bagel Sandwich

To build the sandwich, first toast the bagel halved in a toaster or toaster oven until lightly browned on the inside. Spread a couple tablespoons of the herby jalapeno cream cheese on both sides of the bagel. On top of the cream cheese, begin layering the sandwich ingredients. First the turkey slices, if you’re using them, then the sliced cucumber, sliced granny smith apples, and the avocado.

Add the arugula to a small mixing bowl and drizzle with a bit of olive oil. Toss to coat the arugula in the olive oil then divide it among the bagel sandwiches. Add the top buns to the sandwiches, slice in half, and enjoy! Enjoy these sandwiches with an orange carrot mango smoothie for a perfect midday meal.

If you make this mean green vegetable bagel sandwich, be sure to leave a comment or give this recipe a rating – I can’t wait to hear how it goes. As always, tag me on Instagram, TikTok, or Facebook in your photos. It makes me feel like we’re getting to cook together!

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