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.
Santa Fe Chicken Foil Packets {Portion Fix/21 Day Fix}
Ingredients
- 4 12" pieces heavy-duty aluminum foil, sprayed with olive oil
- 1 cup canned corn, rinsed and drained *mix with beans
- 1 cup canned black beans, rinsed and drained *mix with corn
- ½ cup bell pepper, chopped, mix with onions
- ½ cup onions, chopped, mix with peppers
- ½ teaspoon Mrs. Dash Southwest Chipotle seasoning, mix with other spices or ¼ teaspoon each of chili powder and cumin
- ½ teaspoon salt, mix with other spices
- ½ teaspoons garlic powder, mix with other spices
- 4 medium chicken breast
- 1 cup salsa
- ⅔ cup cheddar cheese, shredded OPTIONAL
Instructions
- On each piece of sprayed foil add these in order:
- ½ cup corn and bean mix, ¼ cup onion and pepper mix, ¼ teaspoon spice mix, 1 chicken breast,¼ teaspoon spice mix, ½ cup salsa
- Fold the long sides down sealing tight. Then carefully fold the ends up, again making a tight seal. All the seams should be facing up. COOK SEAM SIDE UP.
INSTANT POT DIRECTIONS
- **FOR COOKING 2 PACKETS: Place 1 cup of water and trivet in your 6qt Instant Pot. Place 2 of the packets side by side on the trivet with a space between them and cook for 15 minutes on "manual", 5 minutes natural release then quick release. (Check 1 packet for doneness.) Plate and CAREFULLY open foil.
- **FOR COOKING 4 PACKETS: Place 1 cup of water and trivet in your 6qt Instant Pot. Place the first 2 as above and then place the next 2 packets crossways on top of them and cook for 20 minutes on "manual", 5 minutes natural release then quick release.(Check 1 packet for doneness.) Plate and CAREFULLY open foil.
- ** If using cheese: CAREFULLY open foil and place on a broiler-safe pan (or use s crisper lid on Instant Pot). Add 2½ Tablespoons of cheese to each packet and broil for 3-5 minutes or till cheese is the color you like.
OVEN DIRECTIONS
- Preheat oven to 350°.
- Place packets seam sides up on a cookie sheet or broiler safe pan.
- Bake 20-25 minutes or till chicken is done.
- ** If using cheese: CAREFULLY open foil and add 2½ Tablespoons of cheese to each packet and broil for 3-5 minutes or till cheese is the color you like.
Container counts for Portion Fix/21 Day Fix per 1 packet: 1R, 1/2Y, 1/2G - if using cheese 1/2B
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.
Could you freeze these prior to cooking?
Yes, you can!