Santa Fe Chicken Foil Packets {Portion Fix/21 Day Fix}

When my boys were growing up they thought a foil packet made just for them was so cool! I would never tell them what was in them so it was like opening a surprise present at the supper table. One of their favorite ones was Mexican flavored. I thought I would recreate those flavors with these Santa Fe Chicken Foil Packets.

 

The ingredients for the foil packets

Let’s start this list with the FOIL. It is important to use heavy-duty foil if you can. If you can’t use heavy-duty then use multiple layers of the thin stuff. I try to tear off about 12-15 inches of the regular width and spray each one with olive oil spray. 

Canned corn and black beans drained and rinsed. I try to find the reduced-sodium versions of them if I can.

One cup of each one will equal 4Y. Mix them together in a bowl.

Bell peppers and onions in any combination you want. I like heavy on the onions and light on the peppers! 

Spices. I used Mrs. Dash Southwestern Chipotle Spice, salt, and garlic powder. The Mrs. Dash is SPICY! But you could use chili powder and cumin with the salt and garlic powder.

Chicken breasts that equal about 1 Red container.

 Salsa of your choice. I used green salsa verde and red salsa/taco sauce. Here you can use your favorite salsa! I made 2 of each kind this day.

There is a great homemade salsa verde recipe HERE.

Putting the Santa Fe Chicken Foil Packets together

Gather all the ingredients before you get started to make assembly easier. 

Start with a base of corn and beans, 1/2 cup of the mix of them.

Add a layer of the onions and peppers. I mix the spices together and give this layer a sprinkle of 1/4 teaspoon. 

Layer the chicken on top of the whole pile and sprinkle 1/4 teaspoon of the spice mix added to it. 

Add 1/4 cup of your favorite salsa to the whole thing.

Carefully bring the long side up and fold them down, kind of rolling and sealing hard as you go.

Then carefully not to tip the contents again, fold the ends down to fully seal the packet. Make sure to bake/cook seam side up so they won’t leak.

My favorite fast way of cooking these is in my Instant Pot. 15 minutes and natural release gets them cooked all the way thru for me. If your chicken breasts are thicker you might want to cook them a few extra minutes.

What can you serve with these Santa Fe Chicken Foil Packets?

Often I like to use these as a 1 dish meal! I have my Red/Yellow/Green in one dish and it is a plate full. 

Santa Fe Chicken Packets without Cheese

But sometimes I need more Green containers in my meal so I will add a side veggie. These Broiled Parmesan Tomatoes are just perfect because I will already have my oven on. I can leave my chicken dish without cheese and put cheese on these. Recipe HERE.