15+ creative ways to use Trader Joe’s Everything Bagel Seasoning that kids will love

The lightbulb moment came when I walked into my kitchen last week to find my teenage daughter mixing Trader Joe’s Everything Bagel seasoning into cream cheese and spreading it on red pepper slices. Not exactly what I expected to see as an after-school snack, but there she was, happily munching away on what was essentially a grown-up version of ants on a log.

It got me thinking: if my formerly picky eater was now getting creative with this seasoning blend, maybe I’d been underestimating its power all these years. Here I was, sprinkling it on my own avocado toast while wondering how to get my kids to be more adventurous with food, when the answer was literally sitting in my pantry.

As a mom of older kids, I’ve definitely been through the trenches of picky eating. I’ve hidden vegetables in sauces, made faces with food on plates, and yes, I’ve been that mom who served chicken nuggets three nights in a row just to avoid the dinner table battles. But watching my daughter’s pepper-and-seasoned-cream-cheese creation made me realize that Everything Bagel seasoning isn’t just a millennial food trend—it might actually be the perfect gateway seasoning for kids of all ages.

Why Everything Bagel Seasoning works for kids

The magic is in its simplicity. Made with sesame seeds, poppy seeds, dried garlic, dried onion, and salt, it’s essentially all the flavors kids already know and love, just combined in one convenient blend. There’s no heat, no weird textures, and nothing too exotic—just pure, savory goodness that makes familiar foods more exciting and new foods less intimidating.

Start with what they already love

Before diving into adventurous territory, build trust with foods your kids are already comfortable with:

The obvious (but always good) choices:

• Buttered toast or bagels (duh!)
• Scrambled eggs or omelets
• Mac and cheese for an instant upgrade
• Avocado toast (and if they’re really up for being adventurous, add pickled red onions!)

Snack time winners:

• Popcorn tossed with butter and seasoning
• Mixed into cream cheese for crackers or pretzels
• Sprinkled over baked sweet potato fries
• Added to homemade soft pretzels

The sneaky introduction method

Once they’re hooked on the familiar applications, start introducing it with new foods. The key is pairing the unknown with the known—they’ll associate that familiar Everything Bagel flavor with something positive, making them more willing to try the new food it’s paired with.

Veggie victories:

• Roasted carrots, broccoli, or cauliflower (the seasoning masks any “weird” vegetable flavors)
• Corn on the cob with seasoned butter
• Even Brussels sprouts become more appealing

Protein power-ups:

• Baked chicken tenders or fish sticks with an Everything Bagel coating
• Mixed into meatballs or meatloaf
• Sprinkled on grilled cheese (inside the sandwich for maximum impact)

Creative applications that actually work

Pasta and grains:

• Stir into pasta salad for extra flavor
• Add to mashed potatoes for a savory twist
• Sprinkle over buttered noodles

Dips and spreads:

• Mix into ranch dressing for vegetables
• Blend with softened butter for bread
• Stir into cream soups
• Try my daughter’s invention: mix with cream cheese for a veggie dip that actually gets eaten

Baking projects:

• Add to homemade pizza dough or sprinkle on top
• Mix into breadstick dough
• Incorporate into homemade crackers

The long game strategy

Remember, introducing new flavors is a marathon, not a sprint. Some days your kids will be adventurous, other days they’ll want plain pasta. That’s totally normal and okay.

The beauty of Everything Bagel seasoning is that it’s mild enough to use regularly without overwhelming young taste buds, but interesting enough to keep meals from getting boring. Plus, when they see you enjoying the same flavors, they’re more likely to want to try them too.

A few pro tips from the trenches

After years of navigating picky eating phases (and now watching my kids become more adventurous in their teen years), here’s how I’d apply what I’ve learned:

• Start with just a light sprinkle—you can always add more
• Let kids help with the sprinkling (they’re more likely to eat what they help prepare)
• Don’t make a big deal about it being “new”—just serve it normally
• Have backup plain versions of foods while they’re adjusting
• Sometimes the best ideas come from the kids themselves—stay open to their creative experiments

The bottom line

Sometimes the simplest solutions are the best ones. A $2 jar of seasoning from Trader Joe’s might just be the key to expanding your child’s palate and making mealtimes a little more adventurous for everyone.

And honestly? Even if they only ever eat it on buttered toast, you’ve still won. Because that’s one more flavor they’re comfortable with, one more positive food experience, and one less battle at the dinner table.

What’s your favorite way to sneak new flavors into kid-friendly meals? Share your wins (and fails) in the comments—we’re all figuring this out together.