Pesto Bruschetta Chicken (Printable)

Tender chicken topped with basil pesto, fresh tomato bruschetta, and melted mozzarella for a vibrant Italian-inspired meal.

# What You'll Need:

→ Chicken

01 - 4 boneless skinless chicken breasts (about 1.3 pounds)
02 - 1 tablespoon olive oil
03 - 1 teaspoon salt
04 - ½ teaspoon black pepper
05 - 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning

→ Pesto

06 - 4 tablespoons basil pesto

→ Bruschetta Topping

07 - 3 medium ripe tomatoes, diced
08 - ¼ cup red onion, finely chopped
09 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
10 - 2 tablespoons fresh basil, chopped
11 - 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
12 - 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
13 - ½ teaspoon salt
14 - ¼ teaspoon black pepper

→ Cheese

15 - 1 ½ cups shredded mozzarella cheese (about 5 ounces)

# How-To Steps:

01 - Preheat oven to 400°F. Lightly grease a baking dish or sheet pan with cooking spray or a small amount of oil.
02 - Pat chicken breasts dry with paper towels. Rub each breast with olive oil, then season evenly with salt, black pepper, and Italian seasoning. Arrange seasoned chicken in the prepared baking dish.
03 - Spoon 1 tablespoon of basil pesto over each chicken breast, spreading it evenly to cover the top surface.
04 - Place baking dish in the preheated oven and bake for 15 minutes to partially cook the chicken.
05 - While chicken bakes, combine diced tomatoes, red onion, minced garlic, chopped basil, extra-virgin olive oil, balsamic vinegar, ½ teaspoon salt, and ¼ teaspoon black pepper in a medium bowl. Toss thoroughly to combine and set aside to marinate.
06 - Remove chicken from oven after 15 minutes. Top each breast with one-quarter of the bruschetta mixture, then sprinkle shredded mozzarella evenly over all pieces.
07 - Return dish to oven and bake for an additional 8-10 minutes, until chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F and cheese is melted and lightly golden.
08 - Let chicken rest for 3-5 minutes before serving to allow juices to redistribute. Serve with any remaining bruschetta mixture spooned over the top or on the side.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • It looks impressive but comes together in under 45 minutes with minimal prep
  • The combination of warm melted cheese and cool fresh tomatoes is absolute perfection
  • Elegant enough for dinner guests but casual enough for Tuesday dinner
02 -
  • Pound your chicken breasts to even thickness if theyre very thick at one end or theyll cook unevenly
  • Pat the tomatoes dry after dicing if they seem really juicy or your bruschetta will be watery
  • Let the chicken rest before cutting into it or all those juices will run out onto the plate
03 -
  • Room temperature chicken cooks more evenly than cold straight from the fridge
  • Homemade pesto makes this dish sing but good store bought is totally fine
  • A meat thermometer takes the guesswork out of knowing when the chicken is done

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