The Ultimate Pizza Night Upgrade: Italian Sausage & Jalapeño "Bagel-Crust" Pizza

Pizza night is a sacred tradition in households all over the world. But let's be entirely honest—frequently, the plain, unseasoned crust handles at the edge of the slice get left behind on the plate, cast aside as mere "pizza bones." If you want to stop wasting dough and turn the outer rim into the absolute highlight of the entire meal, it’s time to give your crust a gourmet bakery makeover. Meet the viral Italian Sausage & Jalapeño "Bagel-Crust" Pizza.

The secret to turning boring dough edges into a shatteringly crisp, artisan-style handle is a heavy hand of Trader Joe’s Everything But the Bagel (EBTB) Seasoning.

This recipe reinvents the classic pie by brushing the outer border of the dough with a golden egg wash, creating an immovable binder for Trader Joe's premium blend. As the pizza bakes at a blistering heat, the toasted sesame seeds, poppy seeds, minced garlic, and onion flakes fuse into the crust, mimicking a freshly baked New York style everything bagel. Combined with a rich marinara sauce, gooey shredded mozzarella, savory chunks of Italian sausage, and the fiery pop of fresh jalapeño slices, every bite delivers a balance of heat, cheese, and crunchy satisfaction.

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Cooking Metrics

Yields: 2–3 Servings

Prep time: 15 mins

Cook time: 12–15 mins

The Culinary Science of High-Heat Crumb Structure & Crust Sealing

Achieving a puffy, airy pizza crust with a violently crisp exterior relies on intense heat transferring rapidly to the dough. When dough hits a preheated pizza stone or hot baking sheet, the moisture inside vaporizes instantly, causing the dough to puff up rapidly. By applying a protein-rich egg wash to the outer rim before baking, we create a gloss matrix that seals in just enough moisture to keep the inside of the crust incredibly chewy and bread-like.

Simultaneously, the egg proteins cook into a golden adhesive that locks the Trader Joe’s Everything But the Bagel Seasoning down. Because the seeds are exposed to the direct ambient heat of the oven, they roast deeply, releasing their essential oils directly into the crust without burning, resulting in an unforgettable textural contrast.

Ingredients

• 1 lb Prepared Pizza Dough (store-bought or homemade, brought to room temp)
• ½ cup Marinara sauce or pizza sauce
• 1.5 cups Mozzarella cheese (shredded)
• ½ cup Italian sausage (cooked and crumbled)
• 1 Fresh jalapeño (thinly sliced)
• 1 Egg (beaten with 1 tsp of water for egg wash)
• 1.5 tbsp Trader Joe's Everything But the Bagel Sesame Seasoning Blend
• Cornmeal (for dusting the baking sheet)

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Fire Up the Heat: Preheat your oven to its highest setting—ideally 450°F to 500°F (230°C to 260°C). If using a pizza stone, place it inside while the oven preheats. Dust a pizza peel or large baking sheet with cornmeal.
2. Shape the Dough: Stretch or roll out your pizza dough on a lightly floured surface into a 12-inch circle. Transfer the dough carefully to your prepared baking sheet or pizza peel.
3. Build the Bagel Border: Brush the outer 1-inch border of the pizza dough generously with the egg wash. Generously sprinkle your Trader Joe’s Everything But the Bagel Seasoning all along the wet border, pressing lightly so the seeds stick firmly.
4. Sauce and Toppings: Spread the marinara sauce evenly over the center of the dough, keeping it inside the seasoned border. Scatter the shredded mozzarella cheese uniformly over the sauce, then top with the crumbled Italian sausage and sliced jalapeños.
5. Bake to a Blister: Slide the pizza into the hot oven. Bake for 12 to 15 minutes, or until the cheese is bubbling and golden-brown, and the everything bagel crust rim has puffed up into a deep mahogany, crunchy ring.
6. Slice and Serve: Remove from the oven and let it cool for 2 minutes so the cheese sets. Slice up your pie and serve immediately while piping hot!

The Absolute King of Artisanal Homemade Pizza

You don't need a wood-fired brick oven to create a spectacular pizza that leaves people speechless. By utilizing an egg-wash binding technique and a bottle of Trader Joe’s Everything But the Bagel Seasoning, you can transform an ordinary home-baked pizza crust into a highly texturized, savory, and addictive asset that ensures not a single crumb goes to waste.

Transform your next pizza night today:

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Did you create the ultimate crunchy bagel crust at home? Snap a photo of that blistered pizza rim and tag us on Instagram @thehongkongfoodies!

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