Bruschetta Chicken recipe – Baked, Grilled or Stove Top

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.

1. Prepare the recipe as directed.
2. While the chicken is cooking prepare a package of spaghetti or angel hair pasta as directed on the package. 
3. When the pasta is done cooking, drain and rinse (as directed on the package) and return it to the pot.
4. Toss with some olive oil (both to prevent sticking and for some flavor) and shredded Parmesan cheese if desired.
5. 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

Please SUBSCRIBE and FOLLOW ME on FACEBOOK , TWITTER , INSTAGRAM and PINTEREST !