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Grilled Bruschetta Chicken is a delicious and easy summer meal! Marinated grilled chicken topped with gooey melted mozzarella cheese and a fresh tomato basil topping. Simple, healthy and full of Italian flavor!
Bruschetta is a great way to showcase sweet summer tomatoes. While bruschetta is normally served as an appetizer, this Grilled Bruschetta Chicken is a delicious way to turn that appetizer into a main dish.
As if the tomato, basil, garlic topping wasn’t enough flavor, the chicken breasts are marinated in a balsamic vinegar and Italian seasoning combination. I could have stopped there, but a thick slice of melted, fresh mozzarella on top of the chicken just had to be done.
What is Bruschetta?
Bruschetta is an appetizer that originated in Italy. It’s grilled bread that can have a variety of toppings. Common toppings are, tomatoes, beans, cured meats, cheese, or vegetables. Tomatoes, garlic and basil are one of the most well known combinations.
Ingredients For Grilled Bruschetta Chicken
- boneless skinless chicken breasts
- balsamic vinegar
- olive oil
- Italian seasoning
- garlic powder
- tomatoes
- garlic
- fresh basil
How to Make Grilled Bruschetta Chicken
Start by combining the chicken breasts with the olive oil, balsamic vinegar, Italian seasoning, garlic powder, salt and pepper. I like to put all of the ingredients into a resealable freezer bag so I can easily massage the marinade into the chicken.
The chicken should marinate for an hour or overnight if that’s more convenient. While the chicken marinates, dice the tomatoes, mince or grate the garlic, and thinly slice (chiffonade) the basil.
Put the ingredients into a bowl and add in the balsamic vinegar, olive oil and season with plenty of salt and pepper. If you’re planning to serve the tomato topping within a few hours of making it, leave it out on the counter. Tomatoes taste much better when they haven’t been in the refrigerator.
Preheat your grill to 400° F. and oil the grates. Place the chicken on them and grill for 6-8 minutes, then flip them over and grill another 5-6 minutes. The cooking time will depend on the size of the chicken breasts. Use a meat thermometer for best results. The internal temperature should be 165° F. when chicken is fully cooked.
Approximately 2-3 minutes before the chicken is finished cooking, top each them with slices of fresh mozzarella cheese. Continue to cook until the cheese is melted and then remove the chicken from the grill onto a serving plate. Let it rest for 5 minutes and then top with the tomato basil mixture.
What to Serve with Grilled Bruschetta Chicken
- Grilled crusty bread rubbed with olive oil, garlic and topped with sea salt
- Berry Pesto Pasta Salad
- Chimichurri Potato Salad
- Cacio e Pepe
- Vegetarian Italian Chopped Salad
Frequently Asked Questions
If you’re like me and not a big fan of raw garlic you have a couple options. Use garlic powder in place of it. I suggest starting with 1/8 -1/4 teaspoon and adding more depending on your taste.
Another option is to peel the clove(s) of garlic and microwave it in a small bowl for 10 seconds or until it’s warm, but not cooked. Then just mince it and add it in with the tomatoes. Doing this gets rid of the bite that raw garlic has.
Grilled Bruschetta Chicken
Ingredients
Chicken
- 1 pound boneless skinless chicken breasts
- 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 1/2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
- 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
- Kosher salt and fresh ground black pepper to taste
- 4 slices fresh mozzarella cheese
Bruschetta Topping
- 3 cups diced tomatoes
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh basil
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 2 teaspoons balsamic vinegar
- Kosher salt and fresh ground black pepper to taste
Instructions
- In a resealable bag, combine all of the ingredients for the chicken. Press the air out of the bag and seal it. Massage the marinade into the chicken and let it rest on the counter for 30-60 minutes or marinate in the fridge overnight.
- While the chicken is marinating, dice the tomatoes. If there are a lot of seeds in the tomatoes scoop them out so the topping isn’t so runny. Add the tomatoes, garlic and basil to a serving bowl. Drizzle in the balsamic vinegar, olive oil and season with plenty of salt and pepper. Stir together and taste for seasoning adjusting as needed. Set aside.
- Preheat grill to 400° F. Oil the grates and place the marinated chicken on them. Grill for 6-8 minutes and then flip them over and grill another 3-4 minutes. During the last few minutes of cooking, place the slices of mozzarella on top of the chicken. Continue to cook until the internal temperature of the chicken reaches 165° F. and the cheese is melted.
- Remove the chicken from the grill and let it rest for 5 minutes. Serve the chicken topped with the bruschetta topping or on the side.
