Chicken Foil Packets are the perfect easy, breezy summer grilling meal! With heart-healthy pieces of chicken, some zesty seasonings and a handful of beans and veggies, an entire entrée can be made in no time at all…with no dishes!
We serve this meal with warm corn tortillas, homemade salsa and fresh guacamole for the perfect meal!
Chicken foil packets are great to take on a picnic, camping, or even just to the backyard grill. This Santa Fe Chicken recipe grills up a super tasty south-of-the-border flair! Perfect served over a bed of cilantro lime rice or a helping of cilantro tomato rice.
What is Santa Fe Chicken?
Santa Fe Chicken is a popular entrée that lets you mix and match the veggies and level of spice you want! Go for fresh, colorful vegetables that cook at the same rate as everything else!
Try seasoning with a homemade taco seasoning recipe or homemade chili powder to control your spice level!
How to Make Chicken Foil Packets
With a quick prep time, this recipe is great for busy summer days with a delicious balance of fresh veggies and beans.
- Place large pieces of foil (about 10”x10”), on a flat work surface & spray with cooking spray.
- Put chicken in the center of each piece and season. Add Veggies and salsa over each chicken breast.
- Fold in the ends to seal the foil packets and grill.
Let’s Get Grilling
On the grill, aim for about 20-25 minutes per packet, flipping halfway through. These can also be baked in a 375°F oven for 30 minutes or longer depending on the size of your chicken breasts.
Always test for doneness with a meat thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the chicken breast, approximately 165°F.
Once done, remove packets and carefully open each packet and sprinkle with shredded cheese. Leaving the packets open, return to the grill and cook until the cheese is fully melted (2-3 minutes).
Remove from heat and top with sour cream, guacamole, black olives, jalapeños and more salsa! Serve over a bed of rice or with heated corn or flour tortillas for a fun twist!
More Foil-Pack Meals
- Barbecue Chicken Foil Packets – loaded with bacon & cheddar
- Cabbage and Sausage Foil Packets – only 5 ingredients!
- Pineapple Teriyaki Shrimp Foil Packets – light and fresh flavor
- Asparagus Salmon Foil Packets – ready in under 30 mins!
- Hobo Dinner Foil Packets – made with hamburger & potatoes
- Parmesan Chicken Foil Packets– 15 mins prep!
- Shrimp Boil Foil Packs – so flavorful & fresh
- Sausage and Veggie Foil Packs – loaded with fresh veggies
Ingredients
- 4 boneless skinless chicken breasts 7-8 ounces each
- ½ teaspoon chili powder
- salt and black pepper to taste
- 15 ounces canned black beans drained & rinsed, 1 can
- 2 cups frozen corn kernels thawed
- 1 cup diced bell peppers any color
- ¾ cup salsa or 10 ounces Rotel Diced Tomatoes & Green Chilies, drained
- ½ cup shredded Mexican cheese blend or Monterey Jack, 2 oz
- toppings as desired such as cilantro, tomatoes & jalapenos
Instructions
- Preheat grill to medium-high heat.
- Place four large pieces of foil on work surface and spray each with cooking spray. Place 1 chicken breast on each piece of foil and season with chili powder, salt & pepper.
- Divide beans, corn, peppers, and salsa over top of chicken breasts.
- Fold in the ends to seal each packet. Place packets the grill vegetable side down for 10 minutes.
- Flip packets over and grill an additional 10-12 minutes or until chicken is cooked through and reaches 165°F.
- Place packets on a large baking pan. Carefully open packets and top with cheese. Place the baking pan back on the grill to melt the cheese.
- Top as desired.
Notes
Nutrition Information
Nutrition information provided is an estimate and will vary based on cooking methods and brands of ingredients used.
Course Main Course
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I don’t understand how the recipe above can be so high in carbs….
Both the corn and the beans contain quite a few carbs.
It has 11 grams of fiber, though, & the beans & veggies are complex carbs.
looks delicious !
Looks delicious! Can’t wait to try this recipe.
Great recipes!
Do you wrap up the whole packet or just the ends and live open?
Hi Monica, the packets should be closed all the way because they are flipped halfway through. The packets are opened near the end of the cooking process when the cheese is added. Hope that helps!
This is very good recipe. The only thing I add some taco seasoning on the beans mixture
These are fantastic!!! The spicier the better! I add Jarred jalapenos and cut raw corn off the cob.Rotelle with green chiles. I used 3 chicken tenders in each packet and bake 375 for about 35 to 40 minutes. Top with shredded cheese and melt. Add sour cream. Oh Yeah! So good!!!
Can this be made in the instant pot?
Foil packets can be made in the IP however I haven’t tried this recipe so I can’t say for sure on the timing. If you try it, please let us know how it goes!
Can’t wait to try these recipes!
Easy and everybody enjoyed it! Thank you, it’s a great idea for a BBQ meal
What temperature do you set? Same time as on the grill?
Hi Ruth, as mentioned in the post, these can also be baked in a 375°F oven for 30 minutes or longer depending on the size of your chicken breasts. Enjoy!
DELICIOUS. EASY, prep can be done ahead and each pkt can be personalized according to flavoring.
My family loved this meal and I also loved how easy it was to throw together! I added cumin and lime juice to the seasoning and used Trader Joe’s island salsa on top. So yummy finished with pepper jack cheese and cilantro!!
We lost water service to our home, so I was looking for a dinner with minimal prep and cleanup. Oh and did I mention we had company coming?? HOME RUN with this recipe — I used chicken tenders because that’s what I had on hand, but followed the recipe other than that. Everybody loved it, and I am going to try the next foil packet recipe tonight Thanks Holly!
I’m so happy you loved this recipe, Pam! :)
It worked great with salmon!
Hello,
Would bone in, split chicken breasts work in this recipe?
I haven’t tried bone-in chicken breasts in a foil packet before. Another option would be to cook the split chicken on the grill (you can use the same method/times listed here) and make the veggies as a foil pack to serve with the split chicken. Let us know how it goes!
You can as also cut the chicken off the rib bones and make it boneless chicken breast.
Looks tasty Can’t wait to try it
Can’t wait to start trying some of these recipes!
Excellent…I used southwestern corn and beans. Very tasty. Definitely be making this again!
That sounds great Terri!
I made these foil packs for dinner tonight and they were as good as I wanted them to be. We will be having these again very soon. I only made two and no measuring just added the ingredients in the amount that looked
right. Also added tomatoes at the end with the cheese. Delicious.