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Flavorful bruschetta boasts juicy tomatoes, olive oil and garlic with delicious Italian seasonings topping toasted bread for the best appetizer & antipasto!

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Why We Love This Recipe

  • Amazing Homemade Recipe: Flavorful garlic, Parmesan, and juicy tomatoes with fresh basil adorn golden-toasted bread for a delicious homemade recipe!
  • Perfect Appetizer: I love serving bruschetta before dinner or at a party because it’s perfectly handheld and easy to eat like Caprese skewers and garlic toast.
  • Feeds a Crowd: This recipe makes 40 bruschetta, enough for a big party or for folks to have seconds, thirds, and fourths!

My family and I’ve been enjoying bruschetta since we were youngins’. But that was always in a restaurant, always made by someone else. I thought it was high time we whipped up a batch—all by ourselves. Homemade bruschetta is unbelievable, with juicy, ripe tomatoes, flavorful Italian seasoning, wonderful garlic, and loads of quality olive oil, we’ll be learning how to make bruschetta the tasty way!

What is Bruschetta?

Bruschetta is an Italian appetizer that’s made by toasting sliced baguettes, slathering them in oil and topping them with a tomato and basil based concoction, although the concoction can vary like with tomato sandwich. It’s an antipasto, equivalent to an appetizer or hors d’ouevres, which is served before the main meal.

Overhead of bruschetta featuring toasted bread topped with parmesan and basil bruschetta topping

How do you cook bruschetta?

Learn how to make bruschetta with just a few simple steps for a flavor-packed antipasto.

  1. First, preheat the oven to 400°F. Slice a baguette into 1/2-inch thick slices and arrange them into a single layer on a lined baking sheet.
Two photos showing how to make bruschetta - slicing baguettes, laying them out on a baking sheet, and brushing with a seasoned garlic and olive oil mixture
  1. Next, we’ll prepare the garlic oil mixture. Stir together minced garlic and olive oil with Italian seasoning and brush it over both sides of the baguette slices. Toast for 6-10 minutes, until golden and crispy.
  2. While the bread is toasting in the oven, prepare the bruschetta topping. Cut tomatoes in half, then deseed to remove wet centers. Pat to dry, then dice. You can also skip this step if you like your topping juicy.
Two photos showing how to make bruschetta - stirring together tomatoes, garlic, chopped basil, and parmesan to make the topping
  1. Next, stir together tomatoes, basil, garlic, parmesan, balsamic vinegar, olive oil, and salt and pepper to taste—this is the bruschetta topping.
Spooning the Italian seasoned tomato topping over toasted bread and serving on a plate with basil and cheeses
  1. Spoon this bruschetta topping over the toasted baguette slices. Enjoy! Drizzle with balsamic glaze for a special treat.

Tips

  • Grill the bread instead of toasting it, this will give it a delicious smoky flavor and pretty grill marks!
  • Keep the bruschetta from getting soggy: you can deseed the tomatoes and remove the juicy bits, leaving just the tomato flesh to dice up. Before dicing, lay the tomato flesh on paper towels to dry off.
  • Serve toast and topping separately: allow guests to take as much or as little as they’d like while warding off sogginess.
  • Make homemade balsamic glaze and truly impress your guests with that fact! ๐Ÿ˜‰ It’s so easy to make and delicious atop this recipe.
Drizzling balsamic glaze over this classic Italian antipasto, bruschetta, packed with tomatoes and basil atop toasted olive oil baguettes.

Thank you for stopping by and enjoying yet another tasty recipe with me. Sending you all my love and maybe even a dove, xo Demeter ❤️

How are you loving all of these homemade Italian recipes like Italian dressing, pesto pasta salad and tomato basil pasta? Here are a few more to keep you satisfied!

close up of bruschetta on toasted bread with a drizzle of balsamic glaze
5 from 5 votes
Servings: 40 bruschetta

Bruschetta Recipe

This delicious bruschetta recipe features ripe tomatoes, fresh garlic, and olive oil combined with tasty Italian seasonings on crispy toasted bread for the best antipasto!
Prep: 10 minutes
Cook: 5 minutes
Total: 15 minutes
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Ingredients 

Toast Ingredients

Bruschetta Topping

Instructions 

  • Preheat oven to 400°F. Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper or foil. Slice baguette into ½-inch thick slices.
  • Mix olive oil and garlic together in a small bowl with Italian seasoning, if using. Brush on both sides of the baguette slices. Spoon any remaining garlic onto the bread.
  • Toast bread about 6-10 minutes, until golden and very well toasted. Mine took 7.5 minutes.
  • While the bread is toasting, prepare the bruschetta topping. Cut tomatoes in half, then spoon out the seeds/juicy, wet centers. Lay halves on paper towels and pat gently to dry. Dice tomatoes. Or, skip and simply dice for juicy Bruschetta topping.
  • In a medium bowl, stir to combine tomatoes, basil, garlic, parmesan, balsamic vinegar, olive oil, and salt and pepper to taste.
  • Spoon over toasted bread. Optionally, drizzle bruschetta with balsamic glaze. Enjoy! This homemade balsamic glaze lends a delicious tangy sweetness.
  • ★ Last Step: If you made this recipe, leave a comment and review. It truly helps our small business keep running and it helps readers like you!

Notes

*Or, you can use a pinch each: dried basil, parsley, and garlic powder (optional)
To make ahead: store Bruschetta topping in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Toast bread before serving, then spoon topping over bread.
Course: Appetizers
Cuisine: Italian
Like this? Leave a comment below!
Photo of Demeter, author of the Beaming Baker blog.

Hi there!

I'm Demeter, it's nice to meet you! Here, you'll find easy recipes that are fun & approachable. I love cozy movies, a good mystery, and chocolate. Welcome!

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12 Comments

  1. Kerri says:

    5 stars
    This appetizer was so good! Love that balsamic glaze!

    1. Demeter | Beaming Baker says:

      Woohoo! Itโ€™s my favorite part, so Iโ€™m glad you liked it too!

  2. Irena says:

    5 stars
    Made this bruschetta for a summer BBQ with friends, and it was such a hit. I have never added Parmesan before and it works so well. Added a touch of umami to the tomatoes. Yum!

    1. Demeter | Beaming Baker says:

      Right? Itโ€™s such a perfect accompaniment to the other flavors. Iโ€™m so glad it helped make your BBQ a hit!

  3. Gianne says:

    5 stars
    The fresh tomatoes, fragrant basil, and a hint of garlic on crispy, toasted bread made for a perfect appetizer. It’s incredibly easy to make, and the vibrant flavors are sure to impress any guest!

    1. Demeter | Beaming Baker says:

      Exactly, itโ€™s one of my go-toโ€™s when it comes to entertaining! ๐Ÿ˜„

  4. kushi says:

    What a delicious bruschetta recipe to try. Thanks a lot for sharing.

    1. Demeter | Beaming Baker says:

      Youโ€™re so welcome, Kushi!

  5. Jackie says:

    5 stars
    This is the first time I’ve tried making bruschetta at home, and it has the BEST flavor! I like to taste the seasoning in food and usually have to adjust and add more – I did not have to do that here!!

    1. Demeter | Beaming Baker says:

      Wow thatโ€™s so wonderful to hear, Jackie! High praise to know the seasoning shines through. Thanks for taking the time to let me know how you liked it!

  6. Lynn says:

    5 stars
    Wow I donโ€™t think Iโ€™ve ever had bruschetta like this before. Or been able to pronounce it properly lol. Everyone at dinner just loved it! Perfectly crunchy and so much flavor, and not soggy either which was just the best. Thank you for this wonderful recipe!

    1. Demeter | Beaming Baker says:

      Woohoo! Iโ€™m so happy to hear that it was a hit for you, Lynn! Hereโ€™s to many more crunchy appetizers in both of our futures! ๐Ÿ˜„