Pesto Bruschetta Chicken (Print version)

Juicy chicken baked with pesto, fresh tomatoes, and bubbly mozzarella cheese

# What you need:

→ Chicken

01 - 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (about 1.3 pounds)
02 - 1 tablespoon olive oil
03 - 1 teaspoon salt
04 - 1/2 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 - 1/4 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 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
14 - 1/4 teaspoon black pepper

→ Cheese

15 - 1 1/2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese (about 6 ounces)

# Directions:

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 season evenly with salt, black pepper, and Italian seasoning. Place seasoned chicken in the prepared baking dish.
03 - Spoon 1 tablespoon of basil pesto over each chicken breast, spreading evenly to cover the surface.
04 - Bake chicken for 15 minutes to begin cooking through.
05 - While chicken bakes, combine diced tomatoes, red onion, minced garlic, chopped fresh basil, extra-virgin olive oil, balsamic vinegar, salt, and pepper in a medium bowl. Toss thoroughly to combine and set aside to allow flavors to meld.
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, until chicken reaches internal temperature of 165°F and cheese is melted and bubbly.
08 - Let chicken rest for 3-5 minutes before serving. Spoon any remaining bruschetta mixture over the top or serve on the side.

# Expert advice:

01 -
  • Its weeknight fancy without actually being fancy work
  • The bruschetta topping on warm chicken creates this sweet acidic brightness that cuts through rich melted cheese perfectly
02 -
  • Dont skip resting the chicken or all those good juices end up on your cutting board instead of in your mouth
  • The bruschetta releases water as it sits so toss it right before topping the chicken
03 -
  • Check your pesto label if you need this gluten free since some brands add weird fillers
  • Pinot Grigio or even a crisp rosé plays so nicely with the tomatoes and basil

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