Cheesy Chicken Bruschetta Bread Boats
Bruschetta meet caprese. You’re about to be dinner. These Cheesy Chicken Bruschetta Bread Boats are packed with flavor and ready in 30 minutes.
They sayย hell hath no fury like a woman scorned, but I say hell hath no fury like a woman who discovers her lovingly planted and watered tomato plant has disappeared.
Just a few days ago, I was out watering my garden when I noticed something seemed a little off. ย I carefully surveyed my tiny 4 x 8 foot space. The peppers were there, the jalapeno was flourishing, and the strawberries had claimed far more space than they had a right to.
But the tomatoes…something wasn’t right. And then I realized one of my plants was gone. I rushed to the scene, searching for evidence. There were no paw prints, no disturbances, not even a hole where the plant used to be.
I couldn’t find a single trace of green left. No half-eaten leaves or a scraggly stem. Whoever (or whatever) claimed that tomato plant did a darn good job at covering their tracks, and they’re lucky they did, because if I ever find the varmint who took it, they’ll have the fury of a gardener to deal with.
Sure, I’m a little protective of my tomato plants, but it’s for a good reason. There’s nothing quite like a juicy, plump garden tomato still warm from the sun, and I intend to enjoy as many of them as I can this summer. There’s a whole lot of roasting, capreseing, and salsaing in this girl’s future.
And, barring a rascal making off with another one of my plants, there will be lots of these Cheesy Chicken Bruschetta Boats filling my kitchen this summer as well.
This dish is a mash up of some of my favorite summer foods. Think tomato basil bruschetta meets caprese salad meets a satisfying main course dinner.
I’m always amazed at the flavor fresh herbs can lend to a dish. Just a small handful of basil, rosemary, dill, or cilantro can really elevate a ho-hum dish into something worthy of a celebration. And the great thing is, they’re so easy to grow. I do mine in small pots, and as long as I keep them well watered they stay happy (and bug and rascal free) all summer long.
Take these Bruschetta Bread Boats. The components don’t sound like much. It’s just some bread, chicken, cheese, and tomatoes. But when it comes to garden-fresh veggies, there is no “just”.
Here, a “simple” bread, cheese, and chicken dish is made special by juicy, garlicky tomatoes and sweet, fragrant basil. A drizzle of balsamic reduction pulls the flavors together while adding a hint of richness and tang.
The Mr. and I both loved these. It had everything we want in a meal. Varied textures, protein, fresh produce, lots of flavor, and of course, melty cheese. Always melty cheese.
Though this meal has several different parts, it comes together fairly quickly. The key is to get some of the longer components started first while you prep the other ingredients. Here’s my method for getting this on your table in under 30 minutes.
- Start with the balsamic reduction. Throw it in a sauce pan with a pinch of sugar and bring it to a boil. Then reduce heat and simmer for 10-15 minutes or until reduced by half. No stirring necessary. Or you could save yourself the trouble, and buy balsamic reduction from the store.
- While the balsamic gets going, add the diced chicken breast to a skillet with a bit of oil and cook until no pink remains, about 2-3 minutes a side.
- Meanwhile, spread a little butter or olive oil on your sub buns and place them under the broiler until they’re
burnt around the edgesgolden, crunchy perfection. Lately, I’ve been using the broiler a lot to avoid preheating the entire oven and to speed dinner along by a few minutes. With all this practice, I’m even learning to conquer my fear of the broiler.
4. Once the bread is done, your chicken should be ready to go as well. Layer the chicken on the bread, then cover it with slices of mozzarella cheese. Give this another turn under the broiler until the cheese is browned and bubbling (Side note: watching cheese melt is quickly becoming my new favorite hobby.)
5. While the cheese melts, dice a couple tomatoes and toss them with some garlic. When the bread comes out, pile on the tomato mixture then give it one final turn under the broiler just to warm everything up.
6. By that time, your balsamic should be sweet and syrupy and ready to be drizzled over All The Things. Give the tomatoes a good drizzle of balsamic and sprinkling of basil and you’re done! You’ve got a warm, satisfying, summery meal in just 30 minutes. It’s almost good enough to convince you you don’t need a vacation…Almost.
Cheesy Chicken Bruschetta Bread Boats #WeekdaySupper
Ingredients
- 1 cup balsamic vinegar
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- 2 large sub buns
- 3 Tablespoons olive oil, divided
- 2 large chicken breasts, cut into 1 inch cubes
- 4 ounces fresh mozzarella, sliced
- 4 tomatoes, chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 bunch fresh basil leaves, roughly chopped
- Salt and Pepper
Oh my…. I just made this for the second time. The tomatoes are the star of the meal. The recipe is so flavorful and aromatic. The boats looks beautiful plated. Very easy to make and would definitely impress dinner guests. Yum Yum Yum Yum Yum
I am so glad to hear you loved the Bruschetta Chicken! Thanks for coming back to let me know!
it is a good blog and your dis is very delicious
damm delicious. thanks for such a wonderful dish
I can’t believe someone stole one of your tomato plants!!! Could it have been deer? I’ve had them eat things literally into the dirt. That’s so wild. But your bruschetta looks so, so good!!
How rotten of whatever little critter stole your plant! The neighborhood cats keep chewing on my kale – can’t imagine how upset I’d be about tomato plants!
Oh, my can you say delicious?! And who on earth stole your tomato plant without any trace…
Whaaaaat? Tomato thieves on the prowl!! This looks amazing Courtney!
Sorry your plant is gone… but I am so glad you shared this amazing recipe… I am loving the fresh tomato over the warm gooey cheese!
GASP! Tomato crime is a terrible, terrible thing. Who would have thought you’d need a burglar alarm on a plant??
Holy f*zz, this looks good. Beyond good. Like, wetting the front of my shirt from drool good. There’s nothing I love more than crispy carbs ‘n melted cheese and of course, the fresh tomatoes and basil will make me feel like I’m eating healthy. I really gotta start making my own balsamic reduction! I’m sorry to hear your tomato plant disappeared. Who they hell took it?! You’d figure if it were an animal, there’d be traces of it, so I suspect it may be a two legged animal. My little sister’s best friend’s mom had a rockin’ vegetable garden a few years ago but because it wasn’t fenced in, all the people in the neighborhood would help themselves to fresh produce. The nerve, right?! She put up a fence with barb wire (I’m kidding on the last part but that would be a total boss move) to keep all the freeloaders out. I hope you have a new plant soon and that it doesn’t vanish!
I know. We have a rather mischievous neighbor kid who keeps wandering into our yard (by knocking over the gate). My bets are on him. I don’t think they make kid traps though, so I’m just going to keep my eyes peeled for him next time.
Courtney, I just happened to have all of these ingredients in the house soooooo….yep I made them last night and my husband said they were the best “pizza’s” he’s ever had! Shhhh we don’t have to tell him they aren’t pizza’s right??!!
That’s awesome Tammi! They can be pizzas if you want them to be pizzas! ๐ So glad you guys loved them. Thanks for coming back to let me know!
I can’t believe your tomato plant disappeared! That’s nuts! You need to nanny cam your garden ๐ And my family would be all over these bruschetta boats!
Love meals like this in the summertime. My husband made a cover that we place over our garden at the end of the day because of the sneaky little varmints. So far so good.
YUM!! I love bruschetta and with cheese sounds amazing! ๐
Oh my gosh, that is CRAZY!! I hope you catch the perpetrator. Red handed. literally. In the meantime, I will totally mourn their loss with these bread boats. YUM.
Bahaha! You’re so punny. ๐
There is nothing like garden fresh tomatoes. I can’t wait until they’re ready for picking here. So odd that one of your plants went MIA! Boo. Hiss. Once we can pick our own tomatoes, I am SO making this recipe!!! It looks incredible! Pinning ๐
Renee – Kudos Kitchen
Yum! I love that they are loaded with so many fresh and delicious ingredients!
Oh my goodness that looks sooo good! Fantastic recipe, totally bookmarking and trying ๐
Happy Blogging!
Happy Valley Chow
I have to agree with Back for Seconds, these fantastic and I’m super hungry!
You are making me so hungry!!
This looks wonderful! Very smart idea and my husband will love them!
Uh yeah, I just figured out what I’m having for dinner tonight. This! Also think a neighbor stole the tomatoes? That so weird.
So weird. We have a very mischievous neighbor kid who may have been the culprit. Otherwise, I’m betting it was a rodent.
I bet you it was a groundhog! My mom gets tons of them. They leave no prints but sure did eat every last piece of broccoli she had! Either way, these look fantastic!
Grrrr….if I ever catch him he’s going to be in big trouble!
I’ve got to say, these looks pretty awesome!
I love fresh tomatoes from the garden! Can’t wait till my start up again!
Isn’t it the best? Mine are ready yet either, but I’ll be eating TONS of this meal in July!
Let us know if you ever find out about the missing tomato plant! This looks so wonderful, and summery. And I love how easy it is to throw together – perfect for a weeknight meal! Pinning now!
Thanks Julie! For now, the missing tomato plant is being filed under unsolved mysteries.
This made me want to lick the screen! YUM!!
This looks so good, I can just taste it. I love all the bruschetta on top of the cheesy bread, yummy!
What an absolutely perfect way to use garden fresh tomatoes! Mine are loaded with green ones right now and I can’t wait until they start to ripen. I’ll definitely use a few to enjoy in this recipe.
I know! Mine aren’t ripe yet either, but I can’t WAIT until they are!
K- this just made my mouth water! I love it! as far as you missing plant goes – someone had a yummy snack lol! Last summer I stood at my kitchen window almost in a daze watching 1 groundhog devour my pepper plants – I was fascinated at the speed of it. By the time I came to my senses he had devoured a full long hot plant and a jalapeno plant. As long as they leave some for me, I am ok – he never did come back to eat more – maybe they were too spicy!
Ugh. What a rascal! Whatever it was better hope I never find it!
I saw this yesterday and I LITERALLY almost died. I am making this IMMEDIATELY.
Thanks Claire! I hope you love it as much as we did!
This is going on my MUST MAKE list! What a fabulous idea!
I hope you love it as much as we did!
Oh my. This and a glass of wine would be a perfect meal for me. Yum!