Bruschetta Chicken is a healthy and flavorful Italian dish that comes together with just a few fresh ingredients. Savory juicy chicken breasts topped with a classic Tomato Bruschetta and a touch of tang thanks to a marinade (and a finishing drizzle) of Balsamic Vinaigrette.
In addition to an easy, two-part recipe, we'll also cover all the need-to-know and helpful tips for executing this dish including (but not limited to): What is bruschetta, anyway? Tomato picking tips and how to easily deseed them for your dish! Plus, carby and healthy options to serve with Bruschetta Chicken.
WHAT IS BRUSCHETTA?
While the fresh image of diced tomatoes, garlic, and basil often come to mind, technically the word "Bruschetta" is meant to indicate sliced bread brushed with oil that has been toasted (or grilled) and houses a topping of some sort. From Goat Cheese and Honey to Lox Spread, the possibilities for Bruschetta toppings are practically endless.
WHAT IS BRUSCHETTA CHICKEN?
Unlike its aforementioned carby counterpart, Bruschetta Chicken should conjure only one image, and that image is perfectly cooked, juicy chicken breasts topped with the classic Bruschetta topping of fresh tomatoes, garlic, and basil.
BRUSCHETTA CHICKEN INGREDIENTS
- Balsamic Vinaigrette
- Chicken Breasts
- Tomatoes
- Shallot
- Basil
- Garlic
THE BALSAMIC VINAIGRETTE
The Balsamic Vinaigrette will play an important role in your Bruschetta Chicken, and is used in two different ways: (1) as a marinade and (2) as a dressing for the tomato bruschetta itself. If you'd prefer to make your own dressing, you can certainly do so, but for simplicity sake, you may want to consider picking up a bottle of flavorful, high-quality Balsamic Vinaigrette.
KNOW YOUR TOMATOES
This dish is almost as much about the tomatoes as it is about the chicken. Therefore, if you're not in the peak of summertime, you should be a touch choosy when it comes to the variety of tomatoes you're going to use. Many larger tomatoes will be grainy and lackluster in flavor in cooler months so stick with Vine-Ripened or Campari tomatoes if at all possible outside of the summertime.
You'll also want to take care to deseed your tomatoes. Tomato seeds and the pulp will not only water down the topping for your chicken, but the seeds have somewhat of a bitter note to them.
HOW TO DESEED A TOMATO
To remove the seeds from a tomato quickly, slice off the stem end, cut the tomato in half and turn it upside down over the sink or a bowl. Applying a gentle amount of pressure, squeeze the tomato and shake until the seeds fall out. You may need to use your fingers to break apart the inner cavity and release the seeds.
HOW TO MAKE BRUSCHETTA CHICKEN
For the best possible results when it comes to Bruschetta Chicken, you'll want to plan ahead and allow a little extra time for a marinade. The marinade is optional, but it will increase the flavor of your dish exponentially.
- Marinate the chicken.
- Pat the chicken dry, season, and pan-sear it.
- Transfer the chicken to the oven and bake until cooked through.
- Make the Tomato Bruschetta.
- Spoon the Tomato Bruschetta across the tops of the cooked chicken breasts and serve!
COOK THE CHICKEN
Once the chicken has had time to marinate, you'll pat it dry, season it, and pan sear it. Pan-searing chicken ensures you get the most flavor out of your chicken breasts. Then, the breasts will go into the oven to cook through.
While the chicken is baking, you'll start on your Tomato Bruschetta.
MAKE THE BRUSCHETTA TOPPING
Making Tomato Bruschetta is very easy and a simple matter of chopping a few fresh ingredients. In this case, the tomatoes, shallots, garlic, and basil. Then, add a little dressing, and give it a stir. Seriously -- that's it.
COMBINE THE TWO
Once the chicken has finished cooking and you've whipped up your Tomato Bruschetta, add a generous spoonful of the dressed tomatoes to each breast, serve and enjoy!
WHAT TO SERVE WITH BRUSCHETTA CHICKEN
The obvious choice to serve with your Bruschetta Chicken is pasta. You can serve it underneath the chicken or on the side. Spaghetti and Angel Hair Pasta are both wonderful choices. Here's a fun idea: Serve with a side of Toasted Baguette Slices would allow you and your guests to put any fallen tomatoes to good use making actual Bruschetta as you eat!
The possibilities certainly don't end there. There are plenty more carby options to choose from. If you're trying to stick to a healthy diet, no worries. We've got you covered in that direction as well.
MORE CARBY OPTIONS
HEALTHY OPTIONS
- Classic House Salad
- Parmesan Caesar Salad
- Spaghetti Squash with Basil and Parmesan
- Steamed Broccoli
- Fresh Green Beans
4 MORE BRUSCHETTA RECIPES YOU’LL LOVE
- Bruschetta Chicken Salad turns boneless, skinless chicken breasts into an exciting chicken salad with easy tomato bruschetta and quick balsamic dressing. Eat it on its own, add it to sandwiches or use as a salad topping.
- Bruschetta Chicken Sandwiches feature Bruschetta Chicken Salad topped off with slices of fresh mozzarella on a toasted Ciabatta bun, smeared with Balsamic Mayonnaise, and broiled to absolute perfection. Yum.
- Chicken Bruschetta Over Romaine is a beautiful and healthy salad topped with Bruschetta Chicken Salad, sprinkled with salty Ricotta Salata, and toasted pine nuts. Finish with a drizzle of olive oil and balsamic vinegar.
- Bruschetta Chicken Canapes are yet another wonderful way to put that chicken salad to excellent use. Toasted baguette slices are topped off with Bruschetta Chicken Salad and fresh mozzarella and baked to bubbly perfection.
Low-carb Bruschetta Chicken is delicious and easy to make! Featuring juicy baked chicken topped with a classic Tomato Bruschetta and Balsamic Vinaigrette.
- 1 ½ cup + ⅓ cup good-quality Balsamic Vinaigrette, separated
- 4 (about 2 pounds) boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- 2 tablespoons canola, avocado, or olive oil
- 2 ½ teaspoons Kosher salt, separated
- 1 teaspoon black pepper, separated
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ¼ teaspoon onion powder
- 4 medium-sized tomatoes, seeded and chopped
- 1 shallot minced
- 2 tablespoons freshly minced basil
- 2 cloves garlic minced
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Add the chicken and 1 ½ cup of balsamic dressing to a freezer-safe zip top bag and transfer it to the refrigerator. Marinate for at least 2 hours, and no more than 24 hours. This step is optional but will maximize flavor significantly.
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Preheat the oven to 350° and allow to come to temperature. Place a large, oven-safe skillet (or pan) over medium-high heat, and prepare the chicken.
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Remove the chicken from the marinade and pat dry with a paper towel. Discard of the marinade in the bag. Sprinkle the chicken with 1 ½ teaspoon Kosher salt, ¾ teaspoon black pepper, garlic powder, and onion powder, and rub all over to evenly apply.
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Add 2 tablespoons of oil to the heated pan, and allow to come to temperature. Add the chicken and sear for 3- 4 minutes, just until golden-brown. Flip the chicken and sear for 2-3 minutes more.
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Transfer to the oven and bake for 25-27 minutes, or until the chicken is cooked through.
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While the chicken is cooking, in a medium-sized mixing bowl, add ⅓ cup of balsamic dressing, tomatoes, shallot, basil, and garlic. Season with 1 teaspoon Kosher salt and ¼ teaspoon black pepper, and stir to combine.
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Top each chicken breast with a generous serving of bruschetta, serve and enjoy!
If using Campari tomatoes, you will need 6-7 tomatoes.
Nellie Tracy says
Absolutely amazing! One of my favorite recipes!
Krystle says
Really yummy, our whole family enjoyed it. Would be great for entertaining too.
Kelly Anthony says
Thank you so much, Krystle!