Chicken Bruschetta

I love seasonal food for all different reasons and summer food is no different. I love that it is fresh, bursting with flavor, you don't have to cook it most of the time and it is usually quick to prepare.

Some of my favorite hallmark flavors of summer include anything grilled, fresh herbs (mostly basil), garden fresh tomatoes, cucumbers, corn and fresh picked peaches and raspberries. I got to play farm girl for a couple of years a while back while we rented a house and it ruined me forever! Now all I want to be when I grow up is a farmer.

So, anyway, back to the topic of this delicious chicken. As you can tell from the list above, this has many of my favorite summertime flavors all wrapped up in one. My mom made something similar for me a while back when we were at her house for dinner and I couldn't wait to recreate something at home, just as delicious. I got to share this chicken with some friends a few weeks back and got thumbs up all around, even two from the chicken-haters club. So I'd say it's pretty tasty!


Chicken Bruschetta
For the chicken:
4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, butterflied to make two thin halves
olive oil
Garlic butter seasoning (Like Johnny's)

For the bruschetta topping:
1 Tbsp. Olive Oil
5 cloves Garlic, Finely Minced
2 pints grape tomatoes, halved lengthwise
1 Tbsp. balsamic binegar
handful of fresh basil leaves, chiffonade
salt and pepper, to taste

freshly grated parmesan cheese


Prepare chicken breasts by slicing them thin. Place them in a large baking dish. Generously drizzle them with olive oil and give them a good sprinkle of the garlic butter seasoning. Using your hands, make sure all the chicken is evenly coated with the mixture. Cover and chill several hours. (Make sure you take chicken out of fridge about a half hour before you are ready to grill them.)

In a small skillet, heat 1 tablespoon og olive oil over medium-high heat. Add garlic and stir, lightly frying for about 30 seconds. Pour into a mixing bowl and allow to cool slightly.

Add tomatoes, balsamic, basil, and salt and pepper to the bowl. Toss to combine, then taste and add more basil if needed, and more salt if needed, making sure not to over-salt. Cover and refrigerate for an hour or two, if possible.

Preheat outdoor grill or indoor grill pan, then grill until done in the middle; about 4 minutes per side.

To serve, give the tomato mixture a final stir. Arrange chicken breasts on a plate then spoon a generous amount of bruschetta topping over the top. Sprinkle with fresh grated parmesan cheese.

Use extra topping on slices of grilled baguette!


SOURCE: Slightly adapted from Pioneer Woman