The Easiest Tomato and Basil Bruschetta Recipe

The Easiest Tomato and Basil Bruschetta recipe that is super flavorful, easy to make and such a huge crowdpleaser when entertaining! Made with fresh tomatoes, garlic cloves, rich balsamic vinegar, olive oil and fresh basil. 

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It’s almost tomato season and you know what that means. Give me ALL the tomato recipes. And this easy bruschetta recipe is the perfect way to use those fresh tomatoes from your garden. This recipe features toasted garlicky bread topped with a vibrant mixture of tomatoes, garlic, fresh basil and olive oil. Light, refreshing, and super easy to make! This classic tomato bruschetta recipe is an easy appetizer for serving guests during holidays or dinner parties, yet we also love it as a delicious quick snack.

Why You’ll Love This

• Simple and quick – you can easily whip up this simple bruschetta recipe in under 20 minutes with minimal ingredients. Perfect appetizer last minute!
• Fresh and flavorful – you’ll love the combination of juicy tomatoes, fresh basil and
• Versatile – perfect served as an appetizer, side dish or as a light meal.
• Crowd-pleasing – this tomato and basil bruschetta makes a great appetizer for parties, holidays and summer gatherings.

Ingredients You’ll Need

• tomatoes – I like to use cherry or grape tomatoes for the bruschetta because they’re easier to cut and aren’t as watery and fleshy, but feel free to use Roma tomatoes or whatever is ripe in your garden!
• olive oil – I like to use a good extra virgin olive oil that doesn’t have to be expensive, just make sure it’s cold-pressed and organic for great flavor. You’ll use this to brush onto the bread slices as well as in the tomato mixture.
• balsamic vinegar – this adds a nice rich flavor and make sure to use a quality balsamic vinegar to get the most flavor
• garlic – fresh garlic is a MUST when making bruschetta and we’ll also use some raw garlic to rub on the freshly toasted french baguette slices. If you don’t have any fresh garlic, a teaspoon of garlic powder will work in a pinch.
• fresh basil – fresh basil leaves really helps tie all these flavors together.
• salt and pepper – a little flaky sea salt and black pepper is needed to season the bruschetta.
• whole wheat baguette – you’ll want some variety of crusty bread, I like to use a slender whole wheat baguette that I cut into 1/2 inch slices and toast in the oven.
• balsamic glaze – this is completely optional, but OMG does this balsamic glaze taste amazing drizzled over top of the bruschetta. 10/10 recommend!

How to Make Bruschetta

1. Prepare tomato mixture. In a medium mixing bowl, combine diced tomatoes, garlic, chopped basil, extra-virgin olive oil, balsamic vinegar, salt and pepper. Toss gently and let the mixture sit at room temperature for at least 10 minutes to allow the flavors to marinate.
2. Toast the bread. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F and arrange baguette slices on a prepared baking sheet. Brush the tops of each baguette slice lightly with olive oil and toast in the oven for 5-7 minutes, or until golden brown and crispy. Once toasted, rub garlic clove on each toasted slice of bread for extra flavor.
3. Assemble bruschetta. Spoon the tomato topping on each toasted bread slice. If the tomatoes have released a lot of juices, use a slotted spoon to keep the bread from getting soggy. Add a little extra drizzle of olive oil or a little balsamic glaze and garnish with fresh basil.
4. Serve and enjoy. Serve immediately on a large platter as an appetizer or cover and store in the fridge in a sealed, airtight container until ready to enjoy.

Tips for the Best Bruschetta

• Use fresh, ripe tomatoes – the better the tomatoes, the better the bruschetta! Roma, heirloom, or cherry tomatoes work best.
• Don’t skip the garlic rub – rubbing fresh garlic on the toasted bread enhances the flavor and really takes each bite to another level.
• Let it marinate – allowing the topping mixture to sit for 10 to 15 minutes really helps all that delicious flavor develop.
• Serve immediately – wait to assemble the bruschetta just before serving so that the bread can stay crisp and warm.
• Customize your bread – typically french bread is used for classic bruschetta, but you could also used sliced ciabatta, sourdough or other Italian bread.
• Optional toppings – we LOVE this rich balsamic glaze drizzled over top of the assembled bruschetta. You could also sprinkle a little parmesan cheese on top, add slices of fresh mozzarella cheese or even thinly sliced red onion for some bite.

How to Serve

• Italian pasta dishes – serve alongside classic spaghetti dishes , lasagna or these stuffed shells. Spoon it over this caprese chicken quinoa casserole.
• Grilled meats – a great side for grilled chicken, steak or fish and tastes amazing in this bruschetta grilled chicken recipe.
• Soups – pair bruschetta with tomato basil soup or cozy minestrone soup for a comforting meal.
• Salads – pair with a light arugula salad or this healthy caesar salad. Don’t forget a drizzle of balsamic glaze!
• On top of eggs – this is one of the best ways to enjoy leftover bruschetta. We’ll top our omelets or scrambled eggs for a flavorful breakfast.
• As an appetizer – this fresh tomato bruschetta is such a classic Italian appetizer that looks amazing displayed on a large serving platter or wooden board. Perfect for dinner parties, holidays or a casual snack.

Prepping and Storage

This tomato bruschetta can be made up to a day or two ahead of time and stored in the refrigerator in a sealed, airtight container, but I think serving it as fresh as possible is best!

Fresh Tomato Recipes

• Grilled Bruschetta Chicken
• Marinated Summer Caprese Salad
• Cucumber, Chickpea and Tomato Salad
• Loaded Veggie Tomato Sauce
• Summer Zucchini and Tomato Gratin
• Homemade Pico De Gallo

More Italian Recipes

• Healthy Baked Ziti
• Baked Chicken Parmesan
• Air Fryer Eggplant Parmesan
• Cheesy Meatball Casserole
• Baked Spaghetti Squash Casserole

Hope you all enjoy this delicious Tomato and Bruschetta recipe! If you love this as much as we do, please leave a ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ star rating below and don’t forget to tag me on Instagram! Follow for more healthy recipes!

5 from 5 votes

Tomato and Basil Bruschetta

The Easiest Tomato and Basil Bruschetta recipe that is super flavorful, easy to make and such a huge crowdpleaser when entertaining! Made with fresh tomatoes, garlic cloves, rich balsamic vinegar, olive oil and fresh basil. 

Prep Time: 10 minutes mins

Cook Time: 10 minutes mins

Total Time: 20 minutes mins

Servings: 8

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Ingredients 

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For the bruschetta:

• ▢ 2 cups cherry, or grape tomatoes, sliced
• ▢ 2 cloves garlic, minced
• ▢ 1 tablespoon olive oil
• ▢ 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
• ▢ 1/3 cup basil, chopped (or more if desired)
• ▢ Salt and pepper, to taste
• ▢ Balsamic glaze, optional

For the baguette slices:

• ▢ 1 large whole wheat baguette, sliced into 1/2-inch slices
• ▢ 2 tablespoons olive oil, for brushing
• ▢ 1 clove garlic, sliced in half

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Instructions 

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
• To make the bruschetta, slice the tomatoes and place in a bowl and mix in the chopped garlic, olive oil, balsamic vinegar, basil, salt/pepper and set aside to let marinate.
• Slice the baguette into about 16 slices (or however many it yields) and lightly brush them with olive oil. Place each slice oiled-side down on a sheet pan and toast in the oven for 8 to 10 minutes, until lightly toasted.
• Once the bread is lightly toasted, rub garlic on each slice and spoon on the tomato mixture.  Drizzle with the balsamic glaze, if desired, and enjoy!
• Store any excess bruschetta in a sealed, airtight container in the fridge for up to 2 days.  This tastes amazing over grilled chicken!

Nutrition

Serving: 2slices | Calories: 161kcal | Carbohydrates: 27.2g | Protein: 4.5g | Fat: 3.5g | Saturated Fat: 0.5g | Sodium: 459.2mg | Fiber: 0.6g | Sugar: 2.6g

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

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