Grilled Bruschetta Chicken

This Grilled Bruschetta Chicken is healthy and flavorful! It's made with tender marinated chicken breasts and a tomato basil garlic topping.

My recipe for Grilled Bruschetta Chicken Breasts was first published on Sunday Supper Movement where I am a contributor.

This Bruschetta Grilled Chicken is a tasty dish that combines two of the best things about he summer months - Grilling and gardening. It's made with juicy grilled chicken breasts and lots of fresh garden produce.

Late summer is one of the most anxiously awaited times of he year because it means the arrival of tomato season. There are so many ways to utilize tomatoes and this Bruschetta Chicken is no exception.

I love traditional grilled dishes like burgers and brats, but sometimes it's nice to switch things up a bit and opt for lighter meals that highlight bright Mediterranean flavors.

This is the perfect meal to enjoy this time of year. It's made with chicken breasts that are marinated in olive oil, lemon juice, garlic, and Italian seasoning and grilled until tender and juicy.

The chicken is sliced and served with a bruschetta topping prepared with fresh tomatoes, lots of garlic, and basil. It's great served with grilled veggies of choice and some toasted crostini or your favorite toasted bread.

Jump to:

• What Is Bruschetta?
• Ingredients For Grilled Bruschetta Chicken
• How To Marinate Chicken Breasts
• How To Make Tomato Basil Bruschetta
• How To Grill Chicken Breasts Without Drying Them Out
• How To Grill The Chicken Indoors
• How To Make Juicy Grilled Chicken
• What To Serve With Bruschetta Chicken
• How Long Does It Last In The Fridge?
• Grilled Bruschetta Chicken

What Is Bruschetta?

Bruschetta is an Italian dish that consists of sliced bread that is drizzled with olive oil, grilled or toasted, and often served with vegetable, cheese, or meat toppings.

The word bruschetta means 'to toast' or 'to roast over coals' and its usually served as an antipasto, which is a snack or appetizer.

In America, bruschetta is usually served with a topping that consists of tomatoes, garlic, and basil.

This version is prepared with a combination of diced fresh tomatoes, basil, garlic, olive oil, kosher salt and pepper. It's served over grilled chicken breasts with some toasted crostini on the side.

Ingredients For Grilled Bruschetta Chicken

Here's what you'll need to make it.

• 2 lbs. Boneless, Skinless Chicken Breasts
• 5 Tbsp. Olive Oil (split)
• 3 Tbsp. Lemon Juice
• 6 cloves Garlic (split)
• ½ tsp. Smoked Paprika
• 1 tsp. Italian Seasoning
• ¾ tsp. Kosher Salt (split)
• ½ tsp. Pepper (split)
• ¼ tsp. Red Pepper Flakes (optional)
• 4-5 Roma Tomatoes (diced)
• 2 Tbsp. Fresh Basil (minced)
• ½ cup Parmesan or Asiago Cheese (grated) (optional)
• 1-2 Gluten Free Baguettes (or regular baguettes if not gluten free) (optional)

How To Marinate Chicken Breasts

I hear from many people that they struggle with grilled chicken because it tends to get rubbery and dry out.

The key to tender and juicy chicken is to marinate it for a few hours before grilling and not to overcook it.

Marinating the chicken allows the proteins to tenderize and helps to infuse flavor into it. I recommend marinating the chicken for at least 30 minutes, but 2 hours is even better.

This recipe calls for 2 lbs. of boneless, skinless chicken breasts. If your chicken breasts are super thick I recommend butterflying them to make them thinner. This will help them to cook faster and they won't require spend so much time on the grill drying out.

To butterfly a chicken breast simply means to halve them with a knife so that they are a uniform thickness. It is a simple process but it's important to watch your knife carefully so that you don't cut yourself.

Check out this tutorial to properly butterfly a chicken breast. You'll only need to do this if your chicken is really thick!

1. To make the marinade, start by mincing 2 cloves of garlic.
2. In a small bowl add the minced garlic, 3 Tbsp. olive oil, 3 Tbsp. lemon juice, ½ tsp. smoked paprika, 1 tsp. Italian seasoning, ½ tsp. kosher salt, ¼ tsp. pepper, and ¼ tsp. red chili flakes (optional).
3. Whisk all of these ingredients together until combined.
4. Place 2 lbs. of boneless, skinless chicken breasts into a large bowl. Pour the marinade over the chicken breasts and toss until completely coated.
5. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and place into the fridge and allow the chicken to marinade for at least 30 minutes or up to 2 hours.

It's also important to not over-marinate the chicken, or it may become tough. 2 hours is a sufficient amount of time to marinate the chicken breasts.

How To Make Tomato Basil Bruschetta

Nothing says hot summer days like a big bowl of tomato bruschetta topping. It's super easy to make and is the perfect way to utilize fresh garden produce.

The great thing about this bruschetta topping is that it can be prepared while the chicken breasts are marinating in the refrigerator. Alternately, it can be made the day ahead, covered, and stored in the fridge until needed.

I recommend using Roma tomatoes when preparing this bruschetta topping. Roma tomatoes have a lower water content, which helps to prevent it from becoming watery. However, you can use any fresh tomatoes you like.

If you find that the bruschetta topping is a bit watery, feel free to serve it with a slotted spoon.

1. To make the bruschetta topping, start by mincing 4 cloves of garlic.
2. Dice 4-5 Roma tomatoes, making sure they are all relatively the same size.
3. Mince 2 Tbsp. of fresh basil.
4. Place the diced tomatoes into a bowl. Add the minced garlic and basil along with 2 Tbsp. olive oil and ¼ tsp. each of kosher salt and pepper.
5. Stir all these ingredients together until combined. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and store in the refrigerator until use.

How To Grill Chicken Breasts Without Drying Them Out

After the chicken breasts have finished marinating it’s time to grill them up. They can be grilled outdoors on a charcoal or gas grill or indoors using a grill pan if needed.

Internal temperature is a much better gauge than cooking times when it comes to grilling.

It's important to remember that cooking times vary depending on the thickness of the meat and the type of grill used.

It's best to grill chicken only until it reaches a safe internal temp of 165 degrees Fahrenheit (it can even be pulled from the grill at 160 degrees Fahrenheit, as it will continue to cook).

Anything over this temperature means that the chicken is overcooked and it will dry out. Make sure to use a food thermometer to accurately measure the internal temperature of the chicken.

1. To grill the chicken, heat a charcoal grill or a gas grill to 450 - 500 degrees Fahrenheit.
2. Place the marinated chicken breasts directly over coals (or the hottest part of the grill) and cook for 3-5 minutes on the first side.
3. Flip the chicken breasts over and repeat. Cook over direct heat for 3-5 minutes on the second side.
4. Move the chicken breasts to indirect heat and cook for another 8-10 minutes, or until the internal temperature has reached 165 degrees Fahrenheit. This can be tested using a food thermometer.
5. Allow the chicken to rest for 3-4 minutes before cutting into it.

How To Grill The Chicken Indoors

A cast iron grill pan works great when grilling outdoors isn’t an option.

1. Place a cast iron grill pan on the stove top and heat to medium-high. It's important that the grill pan is hot, the meat should sizzle as it hits the pan.
2. Place the chicken breasts on the grill pan and cook for 5-6 minutes on the first side, without moving them.
3. Once the meat has cooked a little more than halfway through flip them over and repeat, cooking for another 5-6 minutes on the second side.
4. Continue to cook until the internal temperature reaches 165 degrees Fahrenheit. Remove the chicken breasts and allow to rest for 5 minutes before cutting into them.

How To Make Juicy Grilled Chicken

As mentioned, the best method for ensuring that grilled chicken is juicy and not dry is to make sure it is not overcooked.

Make sure to measure the internal temperature with a food thermometer and don't rely on cooking time.

It's also important to let the chicken rest for a few minutes before cutting into it. This allows the chicken to reabsorb the juices and prevents it from drying out.

Make sure to allow the chicken hang out for a few minutes before serving. I like to cut the chicken breasts into slices before serving with the bruschetta topping.

Love chicken? Don't miss these recipes!

• Grilled Italian Chicken Sandwich
• Chicken Kofta Kebabs
• Grilled Thai Chicken Bowls
• Asian Grilled Chicken Wings

What To Serve With Bruschetta Chicken

I love to serve this Grilled Bruschetta Chicken with some grilled crostini or any type of grilled bread.

1. To make the crostini, simply cut a baguette or bread of choice into slices.
2. Drizzle the bread with a bit of olive oil.
3. Place the bread onto the grill and cook for 1-2 minutes on the first side.
4. Flip the bread and repeat on the second side. Both sides of the bread should be lightly toasted.
5. Remove the toasted bread from the grill.

Serve the grilled chicken with a generous amount of the tomato bruschetta topping and a few slices of toasted bread. Feel free to garnish the dish with some grated Parmesan or Asiago cheese and extra basil leaves.

Dishes like this one are great paired with grains like quinoa, lentils, or wild rice. It's perfect served with a tangy side salad or Caesar salad.

Grilled veggies like asparagus, zucchini, or summer squash make a delicious pairing.

Grilled chicken is great with vegetable salads like this Italian green bean salad, fresh pea mint salad, or summer roasted vegetable salad or pasta salads like this Italian pasta salad or sundried tomato pesto pasta salad.

If you're looking for an appetizer to serve with this dish, check out this Kalamata olive tapenade or mushroom tapenade.

How Long Does It Last In The Fridge?

Any leftover chicken may be stored for 1-2 days in an airtight container in the refrigerator.

Make sure to allow it to cool completely before transferring to the fridge for storage.

Any leftover bruschetta may be stored for 2-3 days in an airtight container in the fridge.

Serve the bruschetta topping separately from the chicken with a slotted spoon if it becomes watery.

Love grilled dishes? Check out these recipes!

• BBQ Sweet Potatoes
• Steak with Shallot Sauce
• Grilled Chuck Steak
• Juicy Lucy Burgers
• Southwest Guacamole Burgers
• Jalapeno Sauce Burgers
• Grilled Eggplant Sandwiches

Looking For More Grilled Chicken Recipes? Don't Miss These!

Grilled Chicken Kabobs

Grilled Chicken Salad

Grilled Buffalo Chicken