A great grilled
foil pack dinner is a revelation. Inside the crinkle-covered recesses of the silvery foil can be a complete meal, and we’ve proven it time and time again that you can get everything from steak (like in our surf & turf foil packs) to gnocchi (like in our corn & tomato gnocchi foil packs) in them. Best part? They’re often replete with a veggie side and a flavorful sauce too. 😍
These Santa Fe-inspired chicken packets are no exception. Packed with simple, everyday ingredients, this dish brings together chili-spiced rice, black beans, corn, peppers, and a salsa-and-cheese-topped chicken for a complete meal, all neatly wrapped up and grilled. For best results, use small chicken breasts to guarantee they’ll cook all the way through in the same time as all your other ingredients.
No grill, or want to make these when it’s not nice enough out to eat al fresco? Though foil packets are a summer grilling classic, you can make them in the oven too. Prepare the recipe as written, but rather than grill the packets, bake them at 425ºF on a rimmed baking sheet for about 25 minutes.
Ingredients
- 2 c.quick-cooking white rice
- 1 3/4 c.low-sodium chicken broth or water
- 2 tsp.chili powder
- Kosher salt
- 4(6-oz.) skinless, boneless chicken breasts
- Freshly ground black pepper
- 1 tbsp.extra-virgin olive oil
- 1(15-oz.) can black beans
- 2small red or orange bell peppers, stemmed, seeded, and thinly sliced
- 1 1/2 c.fresh or frozen corn (from about 2 ears)
- 1 1/2 c.mild or medium salsa
- 1 c.shredded Mexican cheese
- 2 tbsp.chopped fresh cilantro
- 1lime, cut into wedges
Directions
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- Step 1
Prepare a grill for medium-high heat; preheat 5 minutes. In a medium bowl, combine rice, broth, chili powder, and 1/4 teaspoon salt. Let sit at least 5 minutes or up to 15, until liquid is mostly absorbed.
- Step 2Season chicken with 1 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon black pepper. Arrange 4 (16″-by-12″) pieces of foil on a work surface. Pull up sides to form into a shallow boat. Drizzle centers with oil. Divide rice mixture and any residual liquid among foil packets (about a heaping 1/2 cup each). Sprinkle beans, bell pepper, and corn over. Nestle 1 chicken breast into each foil packet and top with salsa and cheese. Tightly fold foil packets to seal.
- Step 3Grill, covered and rotating packets halfway through, until an instant-read thermometer inserted into thickest part of chicken registers 165º, 15 to 18 minutes.
- Step 4Carefully open foil packets. Top with cilantro and serve with lime wedges alongside.
- Step 1
