Bruschetta, or to some, “broo-sketta,” is one of those foods that’s just as fun to say as it is to eat. The delicious mixture of chopped juicy tomatoes, lemon juice, and strands of fresh basil—usually piled on top of bread—is pretty tough to beat. So our chefs decided to give it a delicious upgrade. This recipe swaps bread (which, let’s be honest, usually gets a bit soggy!) for golden, panko-and-mozzarella-coated chicken breasts. On the side, there’s creamy mashed potatoes studded with bits of crispy bacon and roasted asparagus tossed with bright lemon zest. One bite will transport you to the Italian countryside.
The quantities provided above are averages only.
Produced in a facility that processes eggs, milk, fish, peanuts, sesame, shellfish, soy, tree nuts, and wheat.
12 ounce
Yukon Gold Potatoes
6 ounce
Asparagus
¼ cup
Panko Breadcrumbs
(Contains Wheat)
½ cup
Mozzarella Cheese
(Contains Milk)
1 teaspoon
Italian Seasoning
12 ounce
Chicken Breasts
4 ounce
Bacon
1 unit
Lemon
1 unit
Roma Tomato
½ ounce
Basil
1 teaspoon
Vegetable Oil
2 teaspoon
Olive Oil
3 tablespoon
Butter
(Contains Milk)
Salt
Pepper
Adjust rack to top position (top and middle positions for 4 servings) and preheat oven to 425 degrees. Wash and dry all produce. Dice potatoes into ½-inch pieces. Trim and discard woody bottom ends from asparagus. Place 1 TBSP butter (2 TBSP for 4) in a medium microwave-safe bowl; microwave until melted, 30 seconds. Stir in mozzarella, panko, Italian Seasoning, salt, and pepper.
Lightly oil a baking sheet (or spray with nonstick cooking spray). Pat chicken dry with paper towels; season with salt and pepper. Place on one side of prepared sheet (for 4 servings, spread chicken out across entire sheet). Mound mozzarella crust onto tops of chicken, pressing firmly to adhere (no need to coat the undersides). Roast on top rack until crust is lightly browned, 10-15 minutes (you’ll add the asparagus then).
Place potatoes in a large pot with enough salted water to cover by 2 inches. Bring to a boil and cook until tender, 15-20 minutes. Reserve ½ cup potato cooking liquid, then drain. Return potatoes to pot; cover to keep warm. Meanwhile, place bacon in a large, dry pan over mediumhigh heat. Cook, turning occasionally, until crispy, 6-10 minutes. Turn off heat; transfer to a paper-towel-lined plate.
Once chicken is lightly browned, remove sheet from oven. Carefully toss asparagus on empty side with a drizzle of olive oil, salt, and pepper. (For 4 servings, toss asparagus on a second baking sheet; roast on middle rack.) Continue roasting until asparagus is tender and chicken is cooked through, 10-12 minutes more. TIP: For a deeply golden crust, broil chicken for the last 2-3 minutes.
Meanwhile, zest and quarter lemon (for 4 servings, zest 1 lemon and quarter both). Finely dice tomato. Pick basil leaves from stems; thinly slice leaves. In a small bowl, combine tomato, sliced basil leaves, juice from 2 lemon wedges (4 wedges for 4), and a drizzle of olive oil. Taste and season with salt and pepper.
Mash potatoes with 2 TBSP butter (3 TBSP for 4), adding splashes of reserved potato cooking liquid as needed until smooth. Chop bacon into bite-size pieces; add half to mashed potatoes. Season with salt and pepper. Top asparagus with lemon zest to taste. Divide potatoes, asparagus, and chicken between plates. Top chicken with bruschetta and potatoes with remaining bacon. Serve with remaining lemon wedges on the side.