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This Healthy Bruschetta Chicken contains many of the flavors you love from traditional bruschetta but now you can enjoy it for dinner!
Recently we were eating at a restaurant that served a complimentary bruschetta appetizer to all of it’s guests. I’m not usually someone who orders it but this one smelled strongly of garlic. Since garlic is my love language I couldn’t say no. It was really out of this world good. Naturally it got me thinking about how to incorporate those flavors in a better for you dish. So let’s turn it into an entree, shall we?
Y’all, you’re going to go gaga for this Healthy Bruschetta Chicken.
Bruschetta is widely known as a mix of tomatoes, basil, garlic, and mozzarella or parmesan served over grilled bread. Mine is a bit different.
This is an entree, not an appetizer. I’ve included no bread and no cheese. It’s just not necessary with so many other big flavors.
This version includes fresh tomatoes, basil, and oregano. Oregano? Yes! Oregano! It smells so incredibly fragrant. The leaves are small so there’s not much cutting involved. It pairs beautifully with all the other ingredients. I know it’s not in most bruschetta but it should be.
There’s also garlic, olive oil, and balsamic vinegar.
For punch I used extra balsamic vinegar to make a quick balsamic reduction to drizzle on top. You need no other ingredients. Just balsamic vinegar and a few minutes on the stove. The end result is a thick sauce that clings to your chicken perfectly.
That’s it! This is one dish that’s sure to wow!
What is balsamic glaze?
Balsamic glaze is also called a balsamic reduction. It’s what happens when you cook balsamic vinegar until it reduces or thickens. The final consistency is similar to a syrup and it has a highly concentrated flavor that’s both sweet and tangy.
Some people like to sweeten their glaze with sugar or honey but I love it as is. No other ingredients needed!
How long does it take to make a balsamic glaze?
The cooking time is generally between 10 and 15 minutes but can vary depending on two factors.
- The quality of the vinegar: A high quality balsamic will reduce faster than a lower quality watered down vinegar.
- Your cooking temperature: The vinegar needs to simmer in order to reduce.
How do you know your balsamic glaze is done?
The finished glaze should be glossy and coat the back of your spoon. It will reduce to at least half your original amount.
Once it’s done remove it from the heat immediately. It will continue to thicken as it cools.
If your vinegar isn’t reducing, make sure you’re using enough heat. Your balsamic vinegar should be simmering as it cooks. If it’s not simmering then you’re not using enough heat.
How to fix balsamic glaze that’s too thick
If you’ve accidentally overcooked your glaze and it’s too thick (but not burned), simply stir in a little water and heat into it’s thinned out a bit.
How to serve
I love serving this chicken with a big salad topped with my Easy Homemade Italian Dressing and Homemade Croutons. What a simple and delicious meal!
You can also pair this chicken with Roasted Spaghetti Squash, Easy Roasted Broccoli, or Herb Roasted Brussels Sprouts & Broccoli.
Healthy Bruschetta Chicken
Ingredients
Chicken
- 2 tbsp olive oil, extra virgin
- 4 chicken breasts
- salt & pepper to taste
- 1 tbsp dried basil
- 1 tbsp minced garlic
Bruschetta
- 3 ripe roma tomatoes, diced
- 7 basil leaves, chopped
- 1 sprig oregano, chopped
- 2 tsp minced garlic
- 1 tbsp olive oil, extra virgin
- 1 tsp balsamic vinegar
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp pepper
Balsamic Glaze
- 1 cup balsamic vinegar
Instructions
Chicken
- Add olive oil to saute pan or cast iron skillet. Heat pan to medium high heat.
- Add chicken to hot pan. Sprinkle salt, pepper, and dried basil on top of each cutlet. Cook until browned, about 5 minutes. Flip chicken. Add garlic to the pan. Cook until remaining side of chicken is browned, about 5 minutes.
Bruschetta
- Add all ingredients to a bowl and stir together until combined.
- Pour over your cooked chicken breasts.
Balsamic Glaze
- Add 1 cup balsamic vinegar to a small saucepan. Bring to a boil over medium high heat. Reduce heat to medium. You should see bubbling along the outside of your pan. Let simmer for 10 minutes. Stir occasionally as vinegar begins to thicken and coat the spoon. Remove from heat and set aside to cool for a few minutes. It will thicken a bit more as it sits and you'll end up with around 1/3 cup of balsamic glaze.
- Drizzle over bruschetta topped chicken.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
This has become one of our favorites! So fresh and yummy…
I have made this twice now and once again we are fighting over the leftovers! My husband requested that a container of this be in our fridge at all times. So full of flavor! The reduced balsamic adds the right burst of twang. Love it!!! Thank you Christina!!
2nd time making and it was a HIT again! We paired it with a salad and some homemade garlic bread.
This was great! Loved all around and one of our new faves!
I actually did make this recipe. It was so delicious. I ate it over brown rice. The only change I’ll make next time would be to buy the balsamic glaze instead of making my own glaze. The fumes from simmering vinegar made everyone in my tiny apt sick and it burned our eyes.
I would have to agree with the other reviewer, I don’t appreciate all of these 5 start reviews from people who didn’t even make this recipe. It’s not nice to mislead.
Either way, loved the recipe. Thank you for sharing!
Best recipient I have tried in a long time. Easy and tasty – thanks so much!
Love love love this recipe. My 2 young girls eat it. My mother in law asked for the recipe too. This meal is always a crowd pleaser.
This dish is in our regular rotation. It tastes incredible and is easy to make! It’s also such a great dish for summer!
I have made this twice and always forget how yummy it is and how easy it is to make. I served this with roasted broccoli and it was amazing with the glaze as well! I am going to try grilling the chicken next time to make it even healthier!
Hands down one of our family favorites, thank you for sharing! 😊👍