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Easy Garlic Bread Bruschetta Recipe

This Easy Garlic Bread Bruschetta Recipe combines two amazing Italian appetizers! Toasty garlic bread topped with a flavorful balsamic tomato salad.

bread slices topped with tomato salad and served on a white platter

An Easy Bruschetta Recipe

This quick and easy appetizer is full of fresh ingredients and savory flavors. All you have to do is toast your bread, smother it with garlic, and add your hearty toppings! I love serving this garlic bread bruschetta with a classic Italian pasta dish.

This recipe is perfect for summer because tomatoes are in season. It’s a great healthy snack to make with your garden harvest. You can also pick up ripe and juicy tomatoes at your local grocery store or farmer’s market.

tomato salad in a salad bowl set next to toasted garlic bread

What is Bruschetta?

Bruschetta is one of the classics when it comes to Italian cuisine. It’s basically a flavorful tomato basil salad that’s served on top of freshly toasted bread. This version adds garlic into the mix for even more explosive flavor! It’s easy to make and it’s addicting.

Recipe Ingredients

For the Toasted Garlic Bread

  • Italian Bread: Slice your bread into 1/2 inch thick slices.
  • Olive Oil
  • Garlic: Cut one clove of garlic in half.

For the Salad

  • Grape Tomatoes: You can also use Roma tomatoes if you’d like.
  • Parmesan Cheese
  • Basil Ribbons: To make these, stack several basil leaves on top of one another, roll them up tightly, and slice the basil into thin ribbons.
  • Minced Garlic
  • Salt & Pepper
  • Olive Oil
  • Balsamic Vinegar
top view of toasted garlic bread slices

How to Make Bruschetta

  1. Heat Oven: Preheat your oven to 400˚F.
  2. Brush Bread with Oil: Using a pastry brush, brush each slice of bread with olive oil; transfer slices to a baking sheet, oiled-side down.
  3. Toast: Toast your bread in the preheated oven for 8 to 10 minutes, keeping an eye on the bread so it doesn’t burn.
  4. Add Garlic: Remove your toast from the oven and rub the cut side of the garlic cloves over each slice of toasted bread. Set aside.
  5. Make Salad: Transfer the prepared tomatoes to a mixing bowl. Add cheese, basil and garlic, stirring to combine.
  6. Season: Season the salad with salt and pepper to taste.
  7. Add Oil & Vinegar: Add the olive oil and balsamic vinegar, mixing until thoroughly combined. Taste and adjust accordingly.
  8. Assemble & Serve: Divide up the salad over the toasted bread slices. Serve on a platter and enjoy!

Tips for the Best Bruschetta

  • Use Fresh Ingredients: The fresher your ingredients are, the tastier your bruschetta will be.
  • Season to Taste: Before you add your tomato basil salad to your toast, taste it and make sure you’re satisfied with the amount of seasoning. Just try not to eat it all from the bowl! 😉
  • Start on Salad while Toasting Bread: As long as you’re keeping an eye on your bread while it’s toasting, you can start making your salad. This way, the salad will be ready to go when the bread is still nice and warm.
white platter with toasted bread sliced covered in tomato salad with balsamic glaze

Serving Suggestions

Bruschetta is a delicious way to kick off any meal! Here are some of my favorite things to serve it with:

  • Pasta: This appetizer goes great with just about every pasta dish you can think of. Try serving it with my super easy Skillet Lasagna!
  • Chicken Breasts: Bruschetta tastes amazing with baked or grilled chicken breasts. You can also omit the garlic bread and serve your bruschetta salad over my Juicy Skillet Balsamic Chicken Breasts.
  • Salad: For a hearty Italian dish that matches the freshness of this bruschetta, make my Italian Antipasto Pasta Salad!
close up shot of bruschetta

Can Bruschetta Be Made in Advance?

  • This appetizer recipe is amazing for meal prepping. You can make your salad up to a day ahead of time and store it, covered, in the refrigerator.
  • Letting your salad soak will only make it more flavorful! Then, when you’re ready to serve your bruschetta, all you have to do is toast your bread.

How Long Does Bruschetta Keep?

  • For the best results, I recommend serving your garlic bread bruschetta right away. But if you do have leftovers, you can definitely store them in the fridge.
  • Keep them in a covered container and enjoy within a couple days.
close up shot of bruschetta
Print Recipe
5 from 4 votes

Easy Garlic Bread Bruschetta Recipe

This Easy Garlic Bread Bruschetta Recipe combines two amazing Italian appetizers! Toasty garlic bread topped with a flavorful balsamic tomato salad.
Prep Time10 minutes
Cook Time8 minutes
Total Time20 minutes
Course: Appetizer
Cuisine: Italian
Keyword: best bruschetta recipe, best garlic bread recipe, bruschetta recipe, easy appetizer ideas, easy bruschetta, easy garlic bread, garlic bread recipe, how to make bruschetta
Servings: 8
Calories: 211kcal

Equipment

  • Oven

Ingredients

For the Toasted Garlic Bread

  • 8 slices Italian bread, 1/2-inch thick
  • 1/4 cup olive oil
  • 1 clove garlic, cut in half

For the Salad

  • 2 cups fresh grape or cherry tomatoes, diced, (or 3 to 4 Roma tomatoes, diced)
  • 1/4 cup freshly grated parmesan cheese
  • 1/4 cup basil ribbons, (stack several basil leaves one on top of the other, roll them up tightly, and then slice into thin ribbons)
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • salt and fresh ground pepper, to taste
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
  • balsamic glaze, optional, for topping

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 400˚F.
  • Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or foil.
  • Using a pastry brush, brush each slice of bread with olive oil; transfer slices to prepared baking sheet, oiled-side down.
  • Toast bread in the preheated oven for 8 to 10 minutes. Keep an eye on the bread so it doesn’t burn.
  • Remove from oven; rub the cut side of the garlic cloves over each slice of toasted bread. Set aside.
  • Transfer diced tomatoes to a mixing bowl.
  • To the tomatoes, add cheese, basil, and garlic; stir.
  • Season with salt and pepper.
  • Add oil and balsamic vinegar; mix until thoroughly combined.
  • Taste salad and adjust accordingly.
  • Divide up the salad over the toasted bread slices, add just a drizzle of balsamic glaze over the top, and serve!

Nutrition

Calories: 211kcal | Carbohydrates: 13g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 17g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Cholesterol: 3mg | Sodium: 127mg | Potassium: 125mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 7g | Vitamin A: 249IU | Vitamin C: 9mg | Calcium: 41mg | Iron: 1mg

14 Comments

  • Beth
    Jul 27, 2020 at 9:45 pm

    5 stars
    Oh my goodness this looks so incredible and delicious! I can’t wait to try this!

    Reply
    • Katerina
      Katerina Petrovska
      Jul 28, 2020 at 5:46 pm

      Thank YOU! I hope you enjoy it! 🙂

      Reply
  • Allyson Zea
    Jul 28, 2020 at 12:48 am

    5 stars
    OHHHH I LOVED THIS! Thank you!

    Reply
    • Katerina
      Katerina Petrovska
      Jul 28, 2020 at 5:46 pm

      I am very glad you enjoyed it! THANK YOU! 🙂

      Reply
  • Dorothy Reinhold
    Jul 28, 2020 at 1:01 am

    I have a bunch of fresh tomatoes and basil from the garden. This will be perfect!

    Reply
    • Katerina
      Katerina Petrovska
      Jul 28, 2020 at 5:45 pm

      I hope you enjoy it! Thank YOU! 🙂

      Reply
  • Toni
    Jul 28, 2020 at 1:15 pm

    5 stars
    This is such an amazing appetizer! Everyone at my house loved it!

    Reply
    • Katerina
      Katerina Petrovska
      Jul 28, 2020 at 5:45 pm

      That’s great! I am very glad you and your family enjoyed it! Thank YOU! 🙂

      Reply
  • Sara Welch
    Jul 28, 2020 at 7:15 pm

    5 stars
    This was such a unique and decadent dish! Even my picky eaters gobbled this up! Delicious!

    Reply
    • Katerina
      Katerina Petrovska
      Jul 29, 2020 at 5:44 pm

      That’s great! I am very glad you enjoyed it! Thank YOU! 🙂

      Reply
  • Cathy
    Jul 28, 2020 at 9:55 pm

    Love the garlic bread base!

    Reply
    • Katerina
      Katerina Petrovska
      Jul 29, 2020 at 5:43 pm

      Thank you, Cathy! 🙂

      Reply
  • sanda
    Aug 17, 2020 at 4:21 pm

    how to you make balsamic glaze?

    Reply
    • Katerina
      Katerina
      Aug 17, 2020 at 5:06 pm

      I usually buy mine – you can get it on Amazon (affiliate link) –> https://amzn.to/3kOTECp.
      But, you can also make your own by combining 2 cups balsamic vinegar with 1/2 cup brown sugar in a saucepan set over medium heat; whisk and stir constantly until sugar has dissolved. Bring mixture to a boil, reduce heat to low, and simmer for about 15 minutes, or until glaze is reduced by half. When it’s done, the glaze should coat the back of a spoon.
      Let the mixture cool. If you have leftovers, pour into a jar with a lid, and store glaze in refrigerator.

      Reply

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