Pesto Bruschetta Chicken (Printable)
Tender chicken baked with pesto and topped with fresh tomato bruschetta and mozzarella cheese.
# 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)
# Method:
01 - Preheat oven to 400°F. Lightly grease a baking dish or sheet pan with cooking spray or oil.
02 - Pat chicken breasts dry with paper towels. Rub with olive oil, then season evenly with salt, pepper, and Italian seasoning. Place seasoned chicken in the prepared baking dish.
03 - Spoon 1 tablespoon basil pesto over each chicken breast, spreading evenly to cover the surface.
04 - Bake chicken for 15 minutes in the preheated oven.
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 well and set aside to marinate.
06 - Remove chicken from oven after 15 minutes. Top each breast with a quarter of the bruschetta mixture, then sprinkle evenly with shredded mozzarella cheese.
07 - Return to oven and bake for another 8-10 minutes, until chicken reaches internal temperature of 165°F and cheese is melted and bubbly.
08 - Let chicken rest for 3-5 minutes before serving to allow juices to redistribute. Serve with any remaining bruschetta topping spooned over the top.
# Expert Hints:
01 -
- The contrast between hot melted cheese and cool fresh tomatoes is absolutely addictive
- Everything comes together in under an hour, but tastes like you spent all day cooking
02 -
- Letting the chicken rest before cutting into it makes a huge difference in juiciness
- The bruschetta releases water as it sits, so toss it right before you top the chicken
03 -
- If your chicken breasts are thick, pound them to even thickness before starting
- Room temperature tomatoes release less water in the bruschetta mixture