Grilled Chicken Bruschetta
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Make grilled chicken bruschetta for an easy summer dinner — just season the chicken with aromatic herbs and top with sweet fresh tomato salad.
Chicken bruschetta — it’s a perfect example of what minimalist cooking is all about.
And who doesn’t love that, especially on busy weeknights or lazy summer days?
All you need for this recipe are fresh herbs (more is better), ripe, sweet tomatoes and boneless chicken breasts.
Make a simple tomato salad and use it as a fresh sauce for the quick-cooking chicken.
Yes, chicken breasts can be a snooze but there’s nothing like the ease of cooking them.
Plain grilled chicken loves to be paired with acidic flavors and garlic, which is just what this recipe does.
I topped off the chicken on this page with a crazy-good Summer Cherry Tomato Salad, which mixes sweet roasted tomatoes with fresh ones.
It’s a two-for-one kind of recipe, which makes life interesting 🙂
One thing to know about authentic bruschetta is that it’s actually an Italian snack or antipasto based on grilled crusty bread.
It probably ranks as one of the simplest meals in the world: Toasted bread rubbed with garlic, lavishly drizzled with olive oil, and topped with any number of vegetables, meats or cheese.
The salsa-like tomato topping on bread known as bruschetta in the United States is just one variation.
But when did bruschetta become so generic?
I kind of wish it hadn’t, but that doesn’t make it any less delicious!
More tips and serving ideas
- Make the salad ahead of time and leave it at room temperature for a few hours until you’re ready to cook the chicken.
- Add some sliced mozzarella to the plate (bite-size bocconcini are cute and tasty).
- Drizzle with good balsamic vinegar.
- Serve the chicken with fresh greens like arugula or baby spinach for a low-carb meal.
- Of course, you can always serve over pasta!
Grilled Chicken Bruschetta
Ingredients
Chicken
- 4 (450 g) boneless skinless chicken breasts
- Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
- 2-3 tablespoons chopped fresh herbs, such as thyme, rosemary and basil
- 1-2 garlic cloves, pressed or chopped to a paste
- 2 tablespoons (30 ml) extra-virgin olive oil
Bruschetta Topping
- 1 pound cherry tomatoes, sliced in half
- 2 teaspoons red or white wine vinegar
- 1 shallot, finely chopped
- 1 teaspoon granulated sugar or honey
- 1/2 teaspoon salt, or to taste
- 3 tablespoons (45 ml) extra virgin olive oil
Instructions
- Heat a gas grill to medium-high or prepare a charcoal grill for direct medium-hot grilling.
- Put the chicken in a shallow baking dish and season liberally with salt and pepper (I use about 1 teaspoon kosher salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper for 4 breasts). Add the herbs and garlic to the breasts and drizzle with olive oil, turning to coat them evenly.
- When the grill is ready, cook the chicken until browned and cooked through, about 6 minutes per side.
- Arrange the chicken on a platter. Spoon the tomato salad over the top and serve.
- To make the topping, combine all ingredients in a medium bowl and toss gently. Taste for seasoning and add more salt or vinegar to taste.
Karen's Notes and Tips
- Assemble the dish and keep at room temperature for 2 - 3 hours.
- Drizzle the dish with balsamic vinegar to finish, if you like.
- Serve with crusty toasted bread or over pasta
- Shave Parmesan cheese over the top, or top with sliced mozzarella balls
Nutrition
Summer Cherry Tomato Salad
Ingredients
- 2 pounds (90o g) cherry tomatoes in assorted colors, halved
- 1 garlic clove, smashed, peeled and roughly chopped
- ¼ cup (60 ml) extra virgin olive oil
- Kosher salt
- Freshly ground black pepper
- ½ teaspoon granulated sugar, or 1 teaspoon honey
- 2 teaspoons (10 ml) white wine vinegar, or fresh lemon juice
- Handful fresh basil leaves, torn
- Fresh mozzarella, burrata or ricotta cheese
- Toasted bread
Instructions
- Heat oven to 425 degrees.
- Toss half the tomatoes in a shallow baking dish with the garlic and olive oil. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
- Roast tomatoes until they become shriveled and softened, 20 - 25 minutes. Cool to room temperature.
- Transfer the tomatoes along with all the juices in the baking dish to a serving bowl.
- Stir in the remaining raw tomatoes. Sprinkle with the sugar and vinegar or lemon juice and gently combine. Sprinkle with the basil.
- Serve with fresh cheese and toasted bread on the side.
Nutrition
Hey, I’m Karen
Creator of Familystyle Food
I’m a food obsessed super-taster and professionally trained cook ALL about creating elevated dinners with everyday ingredients. Find simplified recipes made from scratch and enjoy incredibly tasty food! Read more about me here.