Pesto Bruschetta Chicken (Printable View)

Tender chicken with pesto, fresh tomato bruschetta topping, and melted mozzarella. A 40-minute Italian-inspired meal.

# Ingredient List:

→ 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 (store-bought or homemade)

→ 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 Prepare:

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 each breast with olive oil, then coat evenly with salt, black pepper, and Italian seasoning. Place seasoned chicken in the prepared baking dish.
03 - Spoon 1 tablespoon basil pesto over each chicken breast, spreading it evenly across the surface.
04 - Bake chicken in preheated oven for 15 minutes to partially cook through.
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.
06 - Remove chicken from oven after 15 minutes. Top each breast evenly with one-quarter of the bruschetta mixture, then sprinkle shredded mozzarella over the top.
07 - Return to oven and bake for 8-10 minutes longer, 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 mixture spooned over the top.

# Expert Suggestions:

01 -
  • Everything comes together in under 45 minutes with mostly pantry ingredients
  • The combination of hot melted cheese and cool fresh tomatoes is pure comfort
02 -
  • Crowding the pan traps steam and prevents the chicken from browning properly
  • The tomatoes release moisture as they bake, so do not add extra liquid to the bruschetta mix
03 -
  • If your chicken breasts are thick, slice them horizontally to make two thinner cutlets instead of pounding
  • Let the cheese get golden brown in spots, those crispy bits are the best part

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