This baked bruschetta is an easy appetizer recipe made with bread topped with creamy mozzarella cheese and a fresh and flavorful mixture of tomatoes, basil and balsamic. This dish is perfect for a holiday appetizer, easy summer recipe and a great Fourth of July cookout recipe.
This homemade baked bruschetta is a classic appetizer recipe made with fresh ingredients for a flavorful and easy appetizer perfect for any time of year.
Baked bruschetta is a simple recipe made with bread topped with mozzarella and a deliciously flavorful tomato, basil and balsamic mixture. This dish is especially perfect to make in the summertime because it can be topped with fresh tomatoes and basil from the garden.
Jump to:
Why You'll Love This
- Easy Appetizer
- Great for Parties and Holidays
Ingredients & Substitutions
- Bread - A baguette or loaf of French bread works best for this recipe. Use a gluten-free baguette to make gluten-free baked bruschetta.
- Tomatoes - This recipe calls for diced tomatoes. We like to use grape tomatoes halved or quartered for best fresh tomato flavor.
- Basil - We recommend using fresh basil cut into slices or ribbons for this dish.
- Mozzarella - Fresh mozzarella pearls give this dish even more fresh flavor. We like to cut the pearls in half because it allows them to melt easier while baking.
- Balsamic - This recipe calls for both balsamic vinegar and balsamic glaze.
- Oil - We recommend using olive oil to give the dish its classic flavor but you can substitute with avocado oil.
- Garlic - Freshly minced garlic adds even more fresh flavor to the dish.
- Salt - A little bit of salt helps to enhance all of the flavors.
Complete list of ingredients and amounts is located on the recipe card below.
Kitchen Tools & Equipment
- Cutting Board - A cutting board is necessary when cutting the ingredients.
- Knife - Using a sharp knife makes it easier to cut the ingredients.
- Bowl - A bowl is necessary to mix the tomato topping mixture together.
- Sheet Pan - A sheet pan is necessary to bake the recipe on.
- Parchment Paper - Parchment paper helps to easily remove the slices from the pan when it is done baking.
How to Make Baked Bruschetta
Step 1. Add the tomatoes, basil, oil, balsamic vinegar, garlic and salt to a bowl.
Step 2. Stir to mix the ingredients together.
Step 3. Place the sliced bread on a sheet pan.
Step 4. Add the mozzarella pearls on top of slices of bread.
Step 5. Add the tomato mixture on top of the cheese.
Step 6. Bake in the oven then drizzle with balsamic glaze to serve.
Recipe Serving Suggestions
This recipe makes about 12 slices of bruschetta depending on how thick of slices you cut the baguette into. We recommend topping the bruschetta with balsamic glaze to serve.
If you like this recipe, you will love our other easy appetizer recipes.
Expert Tips & Variations
- Use fresh ingredients - This recipe is perfect for summer because you can use fresh tomatoes and basil right out of your garden to make it.
- Make ahead of time - If you are making this recipe for a party or cookout, make it ahead of time by slicing the bread and storing in an airtight bag. Prepare the tomato topping and store in an airtight container in the fridge. When ready to enjoy, simply assemble and bake the bruschetta in the oven.
How to Store Bruschetta
- Refrigerator - in an airtight container for up to 3 days
Recipe FAQ
You can toast the bread by placing it on the sheet pan and baking for 5 minutes at 375 degrees in the oven before adding the toppings to bake. After making this recipe many times, we found this step is not necessary and the bread comes out crispy even if this step is skipped.
More Appetizer Recipes
Baked Bruschetta
This baked bruschetta is an easy appetizer recipe made with bread topped with creamy mozzarella cheese and a fresh and flavorful mixture of tomatoes, basil and balsamic. This dish is perfect for a holiday appetizer, easy summer recipe and a great Fourth of July cookout recipe.
Ingredients
- 1 baguette or French bread loaf, cut into slices
- 1 cup mozzarella pearls, halved
- 2 cups diced tomatoes
- ¼ cup basil
- ¼ cup olive oil
- 1 Tablespoon balsamic vinegar
- 1 Tablespoon minced garlic
- ½ teaspoon salt
- balsamic glaze for serving
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375 degrees and line a sheet pan with parchment paper.
- Place the sliced bread on the sheet pan.
- In a medium size bowl, combine the diced tomatoes, garlic, basil, balsamic vinegar, olive oil and salt. Use a spoon to mix everything together.
- Assemble the bruschetta by placing the mozzarella pearls on each slice of bread with a scoop of the tomato mixture.
- Drizzle the remaining oil and balsamic vinegar from the tomato mixture over the slices of bread.
- Transfer the sheet pan to the oven and bake for 10-12 minutes or until the cheese melts.
- Remove the pan from the oven and allow the slices to cool before drizzling with balsamic glaze to serve.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 12 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 168Total Fat: 7gSaturated Fat: 2gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 5gCholesterol: 7mgSodium: 388mgCarbohydrates: 20gFiber: 1gSugar: 4gProtein: 6g
[…] together with friends on the Fourth and everyone brings a dish to pass. This year I am bringing my Bruschetta with Balsamic Reduction on Gluten-Free French Bread. It’s the perfect, easy appetizer for the […]