Bruschetta Chicken is a delicious main dish recipe full of moist chicken breasts, tomato basil topping and melted mozzarella cheese! It’s bursting with classic Italian flavors and can be made in the oven, on the stove top or grill!
This recipe is ‘fast and fabulous’. It’s easy to make and is ready in about 30 minutes.
Add some Pasta e Fagioli or Italian Pasta Salad and Italian Cream Cake for a full Italian-inspired meal!
What is Bruschetta Chicken?
Bruschetta is an Italian antipasti often enjoyed as an appetizer recipe. It’s made with a slice of grilled bread rubbed with olive oil and garlic topped with a variety of ingredients.
One of the most popular bruschetta toppings are the ingredients in an Insalada Caprese! Fresh tomatoes, basil, mozzarella chicken, garlic, balsamic vinegar.
Brushetta chicken includes these delicious ingredients without the bread!
The chicken is marinated in the classic flavors, cooked then the cheese and topping are added.
The chicken is moist and delicious and the fresh topping fantastic.
Recipe Ingredients + Notes
All the ingredients are wholesome and easily found at the grocery store!
Chicken Breasts – boneless skinless chicken breasts are used. You’ll need 4 for a total of 2 pounds of chicken.
Olive Oil and Balsamic Vinegar – this classic duo delivers warm sweet flavor to both the chicken and the tomato basil topping.
Seasonings – salt, pepper, Italian seasoning and garlic powder. These ingredients pump up the flavor and ensure everything tastes delicious and well balanced.
Garlic and Onion – fresh garlic and onion are added to the topping.
Basil – fresh basil is a signature flavor in this recipe. It’s beautiful flavor screams ‘Italian food’ and adds a wonderful fresh flavor.
Tomatoes – I recommend cherry or grape tomatoes instead of roma tomatoes. They have a sweetness that adds a wonderful dimension to the topping.
Mozzarella cheese – if cooking in the oven shredded or sliced cheese can be used. If preparing on the grill or stove top in a grill pan, use sliced mozzarella cheese. It melts better and covers the chicken without falling off.
How to Make it – Step-by-Step
These are the main recipes steps and for cooking in the oven.
Instructions for making grilled chicken or stove top in a grill pan are in the printable recipe card below.
STEP 1: Combine the marinade in a large bowl. Olive oil, balsamic vinegar, salt, pepper, Italian seasoning, garlic powder and fresh basil. Stir to combine.
Place the chicken breasts in the bowl and turn in the marinade to fully coat (photo 1). Set aside for 20 minutes.
STEP 2: Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Lightly spray a baking dish with non-stick spray.
STEP 3: Add the chicken to the prepared pan. Drizzle any excess marinade from the bowl on top of the chicken (photo 2).
Bake for 20-25 minutes until the chicken reaches just below 165 degrees F internal temperature.
STEP 4: While the chicken cooks prepare the tomato basil topping. In a bowl combine the topping ingredients: tomatoes, basil, garlic, olive oil, balsamic vinegar, salt, pepper and red onion (photo 3). Stir and allow to sit while the chicken cooks.
STEP 5: When the chicken is done, remove from the oven. Sprinkle on or place the slices of mozzarella cheese on top of the chicken. Spoon the tomato mixture evenly over the chicken.
Return to the oven. Cook for 5 additional minutes until the cheese has melted and the topping is warm (photo 4). Remove and serve immediately.
Pro Tips
Use Chicken Breasts the Same Size. Selecting similar size chicken breasts ensures they will cook evenly during the cooking time.
If they vary in size, smaller ones will cook faster and possibly dry out. Larger ones may not cook fully in the time planned.
Use an Instant Thermometer. Taking the internal temperature of chicken is the best way to know if it is cooked. The internal temperature of chicken when cooked should be 165 degrees.
Using an instant read thermometer will quickly take the temperature so you don’t overcook the chicken. It also prevents oven heat loss from waiting for a traditional meat thermometer reading.
Using sliced vs shredded cheese. To keep it simple, sliced mozzarella cheese works for any of the cooking methods. Shredded works for the oven method but can fall off on the grill or in the grill pan. Sliced cheese will provide more coverage too!
What to Serve with It
You can serve the chicken as is with some side dishes. Here are some favorites:
- Homemade Garlic Bread
- Mediterranean Salad
- Baked Ziti to add a hearty second dish to the meal
- Lemony Romanesco with Pine Nuts
How to Make Bruschetta Chicken pasta
Turn it into a pasta dish by serving it on some simple pasta tossed in olive oil and shredded Parmesan cheese.
- Prepare the recipe as directed.
- While the chicken is cooking prepare a package of spaghetti or angel hair pasta as directed on the package.
- When the pasta is done cooking, drain and rinse (as directed on the package) and return it to the pot.
- Toss with some olive oil (both to prevent sticking and for some flavor) and shredded Parmesan cheese if desired.
- Serve each chicken breast on a bed of the pasta for a hearty delicious main dish.
Storing Leftovers
Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat in the microwave to warm through.
More Recipes You’ll Love!
- Bacon Lettuce and Tomato Bruschetta
- Sweet Chili Avocado Bagel Bruschetta
- Fresh Savory Tomato Pie
- Spicy One Pot Tomato Mushroom Basil Pasta
- Grilled Caprese Pizza
- Chicken and Biscuits
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Bruschetta Chicken
Ingredients
Chicken + Marinade
- 4 8-ounce boneless skinless Chicken Breasts 2 pounds chicken total
- 2 tablespoons Olive Oil
- 1 tablespoon Balsamic Vinegar
- 1/2 teaspoon Kosher Salt
- 1/4 teaspoon ground Black Pepper
- 1 teaspoon Italian Seasoning
- 1 teaspoon Garlic Powder
- 1 tablespoon chopped fresh Basil
Cheese
- 1 cup shredded or 4 slices of Mozzarella Cheese see notes
Bruschetta Topping
- 1 1/2 cups Cherry or Grape Tomatoes
- 1/3 cup chopped fresh Basil
- 4 cloves Garlic minced
- 1 tablespoon Olive Oil
- 1 tablespoon Balsamic Vinegar
- 1/4 teaspoon Kosher Salt
- 1/8 teaspoon ground Black Pepper
- 3 tablespoon diced Red Onion
Instructions
- Combine the chicken and marinade ingredients in a bowl. Allow to sit for 20 minutes or up to 3 hours.
- While the chicken is marinating, prepare the bruschetta topping. Add all ingredients into a bowl, toss to combine. Set aside.
Cooked in the Oven
- Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
- Spray a baking pan with non-stick spray. Place the chicken into the pan. Pour any excess marinade on top of the chicken.
- Cook for 20-25 minutes until the internal temperature of the chicken almost reaches 165 degrees.
- Remove from oven. Add the mozzarella cheese on top of the chicken followed by the bruschetta topping.
- Return to the oven for 5 more minutes or until the cheese is melted and the topping is warmed.
Cooked in a Grill Pan (Stove Top)
- Preheat a grill pan over medium high heat.
- Remove the chicken from the marinade and place it in the pan.
- Cook 5-6 minutes a side until the chicken reaches 165 degrees internal temperature.
- Add a slice of cheese on top of each chicken breast and allow to melt. NOTE: a large domed pan lid may be placed on top of the grill pan to more quickly melt the cheese.
- Remove the chicken from the pan onto individual plates or a serving platter. Spoon the bruschetta topping on top and serve immediately.
Cooked on the Grill
- Preheat the grill to medium-high heat (375 degrees). Brush and oil the grates.
- Remove the chicken from the marinade and place it on the grill.
- Grill aproximately 5 minutes a side until the chicken reaches 165 internal temperature. NOTE: the thickness of the chicken breasts will determine the grilling time needed.
- Turn off the grill. Add a slice of mozzarella cheese to the top of each chicken breast and allow to melt while on the grill.
- Remove the chicken from the pan onto individual plates or a serving platter. Spoon the bruschetta topping on top and serve immediately.
Jen says
This was so flavorful! An added bonus was that it was easy to make. I served with a side of farfalle and a salad. Delicious summer dinner!
Toni Dash says
Sounds perfect! So glad you enjoyed it.
Geetanjali Tung says
This came out so delicious! It was quite easy as well. Everyone of my family loved this. Thanks!
Agnieszka | Wholly Tasteful says
I love this summer chicken dish. Perfect use of the tomatoes and basil from m garden.