Baked Bruschetta Chicken
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Baked bruschetta chicken is so tender and bursts with fresh flavor for a perfect easy dinner. Tender chicken breasts topped with melted cheese, juicy ripe tomatoes, sweet basil and just the right amount of balsamic vinegar bring everything together into a simple meal and easy to prep dinner that just melts in your mouth!
Table of Contents
Why We Love Baked Bruschetta Chicken
- Easy Delicious Weeknight Meal– The fresh taste and easy prep for this meal makes it a great weeknight meal that is packed full of flavor and delicious. Everyone loves this easy chicken recipe, and it’s a healthy meal full of classic italian flavors.
- Can Be Prepped Ahead– The tomato mixture for the bruschetta can be prepped the night before, and the rest of the ingredients can be prepared ahead. When you get home after a busy day then it’s only thirty minutes until dinner is on the table!
- Fresh Delicious Taste – I can’t say enough times just how delicious the flavors are in this dish. Rich and sweet balsamic mixed with the sweet taste of fresh basil and ripe tomatoes is just a a completely combination with tender chicken breast and melted mozzarella cheese which is the best part!
Ingredients For Baked Bruschetta Chicken
For The Chicken Breasts
- chicken breasts boneless, skinless
- olive oil
- balsamic vinegar – don’t skip this ingredient!
- Italian seasoning
- minced garlic
- salt
- black pepper
- mozzarella cheese – sliced or shredded work
For The Bruschetta Topping
- Roma tomatoes – diced
- fresh basil chopped
- olive oil
- balsamic vinegar
- garlic powder
- salt
- black pepper
How To Make Baked Bruschetta Chicken
- Preheat oven to 425 degrees.
- Oil a 9 inch by 13 inch baking dish. Place chicken breasts in the pan and set to the side.
- In a small bowl add olive oil, balsamic vinegar, Italian seasoning, minced garlic, salt and pepper. Mix together with a fork until combined.
- Pour oil mixture over chicken breasts. Flip each chicken breast over a couple of times in the baking dish to fully coat both sides of each chicken breast.
- Place in oven to bake for 30 – 40 minutes. Chicken is done once the internal temperature reaches 165 degrees when checked with a meat thermometer in the thickest part of the chicken. Total cooking time will vary depending on the thickness of your chicken breasts.
- Add diced roma tomatoes, oil, balsamic vinegar, garlic powder, salt and pepper to a medium sized bowl. stir all ingredients until combined.
- Once chicken is fully cooked, place a slice of mozzarella cheese on each chicken breast and top with bruschetta mixture. Place back in oven for three to five minutes until you have melty mozzarella cheese, or broil for 1-2 minutes. Let the chicken rest for at least five minutes before slicing so you will have juicy chicken breasts, then enjoy!
How To Prep Bruschetta Chicken In Advance
The chicken can marinate in the oil and herbs up eight hours in advance but doesn’t have to be marinated to be delicious. If making preparing more than eight hours in advance
You can also mix up the tomato mixture the night before, then just put it on top of the chicken when it’s time. I like ot prep ahead the night before when I can, I do this with my pistachio crusted salmon sometimes too make dinner event faster at dinnertime.
Can I Use Other Types Of Tomatoes?
Yes you can use other types of tomatoes. One of the keys to delicious bruschetta is using ripe, fresh ingredients as this dish really is made delicious from using flavorful tomatoes.
Cherry tomatoes or grape tomatoes and similar varieties are all great choices. The slight sweetness these small tomatoes have is delicious!
Canned tomatoes can be used if no fresh tomatoes are available. Use these tips for picking the right canned tomatoes for bruschetta.
What Types Of Cheese Can I Swap In This Recipe?
Don’t hesitate to swap the cheese in this recipe for another milder cheese. While mozzarella is classicly loved, monetary jack, provolone or even gouda cheese. Other mild but melty cheeses can also substitute easily into this recipe.
You can also leave the cheese off entirely if you prefer no cheese and it will still be delicious.
Can I Use Dried Basil In This Recipe?
Fresh basil will have the best flavor in this recipe, hands down. There are sometimes that fresh basil just isn’t easily available. While I wouldn’t make it my go-to when serving friends and family, in a pinch you can use dried basil for fresh basil in this recipe.
Expect to use about two tablespoons of dried basil in the bruschetta in place of the fresh basil in this recipe. The flavor won’t be quite the same, but it will still be delicious.
Or Try Basil Pesto…
If you have some basil pesto you could also use a small smear on top of each chicken breast under the cheese in place of the basil in the recipe at the same time you add the tomatoes.
I keep pesto leftover from summer in my freezer, along with I like to buy this basil pesto from Cucina & Amore for my pantry. Sprouts grocery store also has a house brand basil pesto in a jar that is well-liked in our family, and there are many more basil pesto options. A little bit goes a long way if you don’t have fresh basil for flavor.
Other Easy Additions In This Recipe
Cutting up a little red onion and adding it to the pan is delicious with this recipe. I like to dice them up into the tomatoes, usually, between 1/4 to 1/2 cup of red onion is what I use.
Red peppers also add delicious flavor to this dish, and mix great with the tomatoes. You can add anywhere between a half and a whole diced red bell pepper.
Sometimes I also finish with a sprinkle of parmesan cheese, yum!
I also sometimes will add a drizzle of balsamic glaze at the end before serving. Balsamic glaze is balsamic vinegar and a little sugar that has been cooked down, making it sweet. You can make your own balsamic glaze but I’ve also bought it at Trader Joe’s or this glaze one from Amazon.
What Should I Serve Chicken Bruschetta Pasta With?
This bright and delicious chicken bruschetta goes with so many different dishes! We love it with a side of honey glazed carrots or easy mashed sweet potatoes. This chicken goes well with my infamous pesto pasta salad which can be sold hot or cold. Or try a side of broccoli pasta for a creamy pasta and a serving of veggies in one!
Try serving this dish with crusty bread and salad for an even simpler dinner. Or make a side of these homemade garlic knots if you’re feeling fancy.
Simple sauteed vegetables like mushrooms, broccoli or zucchini are also delicious on the side, as are roasted potatoes or my crispy baked potato wedges which can be made in the oven or in air fryer while the chicken cooks in the oven easily too!
This bright and delicious chicken bruschetta goes with so many different dishes! We love it with a side of honey glazed carrots or easy mashed sweet potatoes. This chicken goes well with my infamous pesto pasta salad which can be sold hot or cold. Or try a side of broccoli pasta for a creamy pasta and a serving of veggies in one!
How Long Does Bruschetta Chicken Last?
Once cool you can store this bruschetta chicken in the fridge in a covered airtight container for up to three days.
Leftovers are also delicious as a sandwich, sliced and added to a tortilla for a wrap, or cold tossed over a salad.
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Baked Bruschetta Chicken
Ingredients
For The Chicken Breasts
- 4 chicken breasts boneless, skinless – 2-3 pounds
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
- 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
- 2 teaspoons minced garlic
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
- 4 slices mozzarella cheese
For The Bruschetta Topping
- 2 cups Roma tomatoes diced, about six medium tomatoes
- 1/3 cup fresh basil chopped
- 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
- 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 425 degrees.
- Oil a 9 inch by 13 inch baking dish. Place chicken breasts in the pan and set to the side.
- In a small bowl add olive oil, balsamic vinegar, Italian seasoning, minced garlic, salt and pepper. Mix together with a fork until combined.
- Pour oil mixture over chicken breasts. Flip each chicken breast over a couple of times in the baking dish to fully coat both sides of each chicken breast.
- Place in oven to bake for 30-40 minutes. Chicken is done once internal temperature reaches 165 degrees when checked with a meat thermometer. Total cooking time will vary depending on the thickness of your chicken breasts.
- Add diced roma tomatoes, oil, balsamic vinegar, garlic powder, salt and pepper to a medium sized bowl. stir all ingredients until combined.
- Once chicken is fully cooked, place a slice of mozzarella cheese on each chicken breast and top with bruschetta mixture. Place back in oven for three to five minutes until cheese has melted, or broil for 1-2 minutes.
- Let the chicken rest for at least five minutes before slicing so you will have juicy chicken breasts, then enjoy!
Notes
- Be careful not to overcook the chicken or it will start to dry out. Final cooking time will depend a lot on the thickness of the chicken breasts.
- To check if the chicken is done, use a meat thermometer to make sure it registers at least 165 degrees. Insert the meat thermometer into the thickest part of the breast to make sure the chicken has finished cooking.
- Shredded mozzarella can also be used in place of sliced mozzarella cheese. If using shredded cheese you’ll need about 3/4 cup.
Nutrition
Did You Make This?
I would love to see it! Share your thoughts with me in the comments below!
