22 Easy (but Fancy) Bruschetta Recipe Ideas to Try at Home (2024)

RELATED

PHOTO: JON COSPITO/STYLING: Heath Goldman

Can you believe these summer stunners will only take you 15 minutes from start to finish? All it takes is layering seasoned ricotta cheese and pesto-coated tomatoes on thin slices of baguette.

Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

The word "bruschetta" often refers to tomato-topped bread when used stateside, but it actually has way less to do with produce than you may think. Technically, the only must is grilled bread that's been rubbed with garlic and topped with salt and olive oil—you can supplement with cheese, cured meats, veggies and beyond, hence this snack-filled masterpiece.

Spend with Pennies

You can't go wrong with the classic combo of tomatoes, garlic, fresh dill and EVOO. Pro tip: Drain the tomatoes a bit after dicing them to avoid soggy crostini down the road.

Foodie Crush

Mediterranean meets Italian (meets our mouths). Think garlicky poached shrimp, sun-dried tomatoes, capers and tangy feta atop a layer of herbaceous pesto.

Recipe Tin Eats

Light on calories but still surprisingly filling, thanks to the mushrooms. (They have 3 grams of protein in every half-cup serving.)

Girl Gone Gourmet

Sure beets your usual lunch salad. (Sorry.) The key here is roasting the beets until they're tender, sweet and earthy.

Salt & Wind

Briny, creamy, crunchy—this creative take truly has it all. We especially love the addition of uber-sweet cara cara orange juice in the olive relish.

The Recipe Critic

Tangy balsamic glaze cuts right through the sweetness of summer strawberries and creamy goat cheese. Pair it with your favorite Pinot Grigio and lazy dinner is served.

Whitney Bond

Using fresh figs and nectarines keeps the cook time to a minimum, but we're betting a few minutes on the grill would bring out all the fruits' sweetness.

Half Baked Harvest

The homemade pesto spread is super rustic, since the ingredients are mashed together in a bowl instead of puréed in a blender or food processor. It's just the starter for an old-school Italian main, like pasta alla Norma.

Whitney Bond

Come for the refreshing combination of cucumber, cherry tomatoes and herbs. Stay for the creamy hummus and feta crumbles. Dare we suggest using toasted pita points instead of baguette?

Spoon Fork Bacon

So gorgeous, and yet a total cinch to put together. Seriously—the hardest part is waiting 20 minutes for the tomatoes to roast in the oven.

Salt & Wind

Y'all, it tastes like the beach. Think baked, sugared pieces of baguette topped with vanilla Greek yogurt, fresh fruit and toasted macadamia nuts. Feel free to use whatever tropical fruit you have, like kiwi, coconut flakes or papaya.

The Recipe Critic

There's only one way the O.G. mix of Roma tomatoes, balsamic vinaigrette, garlic and fresh basil could get any better—with a handful of shredded mozzarella.

Whitney Bond

Yup, your favorite breakfast fruit can do more than just avo toast and guacamole. Its buttery flavor and creamy texture are just what this mélange of zippy balsamic and juicy tomatoes calls for.

Salt & Wind

Spring produce in all its glory. The peas are smashed with fresh mint, rice vinegar, diced chiles and lemon before being topped with homemade pickled radishes.

Spoon Fork Bacon

If chips and salsa are getting stale at your weekly Taco Tuesday dinner, look no further than this corn-kissed alternative. The bread is spread with lime-cotija mayonnaise before being topped with charred corn.

Whitney Bond

This isn't just a wheel of Brie baked to gooey perfection and topped with tomato bruschetta. The cheese is baked *inside* a hulled-out loaf of sourdough bread (!!!).

Salt & Wind

Sprinkling the zucchini with salt ahead of assembling is key. They contain a ton of water, so sweating them in a colander to drain will keep the crostini from losing its crunch later on.

Whitney Bond

Good things come to those who wait, including this spring appetizer. The garlicky beets take about an hour to turn fork tender, but your patience will most definitely be rewarded.

Half Baked Harvest

So many of the components can be made ahead, like the sun-dried tomato muhammara, basil pesto or marinated cherry tomatoes. On the big day, just lay out all the toppings, spreads and cheeses so your guests can assemble their own crostini.

Spoon Fork Bacon

We never thought we'd say this, but you won't even miss the bread—promise. Bookmark it now to serve at Mother's Day brunch later.

Food Editor

Taryn Pire is PureWow’s food editor and has been writing about all things delicious since 2016. She’s developed recipes, reviewed restaurants and investigated food trends at...