Santa Fe Chicken Foil Packets - Top Recipes (2024)

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There is literally no recipe I have ever cooked that’s easier than Santa Fe Chicken. All you have to do is season chicken breasts, place them on top of a piece of foil, spoon veggies and salsa over them and place them on the grill or the oven.

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That’s how easy these chicken foil packets are! So if you have little to no time to prepare dinner tonight, Santa Fe Chicken Foil Packets are the way to go!

Ingredients you’ll need:

Santa Fe Chicken comes together really quickly, and you will need the following ingredients:

  • Boneless, skinless chicken breasts. This recipe makes 4 servings, so you will need 4 chicken breasts.
  • Chili powder, ground cumin, and coriander are the spices we will use to season the chicken breasts.
  • Black beans, drained and rinsed so the liquid doesn’t make our chicken soggy.
  • Whole kernel corn, is also drained so we don’t add any extra liquid to the packet.
  • Chunky salsa. I like the chunky better because it has less liquid so the packets are less likely to leak.
  • Bell peppers. This is the only ingredient you have to prep by slicing them. I like to use different colored bell peppers to make my packets look pretty.
  • Shredded cheddar cheese, or your favorite cheese. I recommend you shred the cheese yourself, this way it melts properly.
  • Cilantro, Jalapenos, and tomatoes for garnish.

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How to make Chicken Foil Packets:

They are so easy to make, it literally takes you less than 10 minutes.

  1. Season the chicken breasts with salt, pepper, chili powder, cumin, and coriander.
  2. Spray 4 large pieces of foil with cooking spray and place one chicken breast in the middle of each piece of foil.
  3. Divide the black beans, corn, sliced bell peppers, and salsa evenly between the packets, placing the veggies around the chicken breasts.
  4. Fold the foil to form packets by bringing 2 of the edges together and folding them down 3 or 4 times. Fold the remaining foil down to form a rectangle.
  5. Place them on the grill, veggies side down, and cook them for 15 minutes. If you don’t own a grill, you can place them in a 425 F oven.
  6. Flip the packages over and cook them for 10-15 mins more.
  7. Remove from the grill, open the packets and divide the shredded cheese evenly on top of the 4 chicken breasts. Return to the grill (packets opened) and cook just until the cheese melts.

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Additions and variations:

  • You could make creamy packets by adding veggies like peas, carrots, and green beans, and instead of salsa, use condensed cream of chicken.
  • How about some French onion packets? Add sliced onions and mushrooms and use french onion soup instead of salsa.
  • Place chicken breasts, sliced ham, and swiss cheese with bechamel sauce for a twist.
  • Lemon chicken is also a great idea. Place lemon slices on top of the chicken breasts, squeeze some juice on top, and season with salt and pepper. You can add fresh thyme and oregano on top.
  • Small diced potatoes and sliced onions with barbecue sauce are other great ideas.

What to serve with Santa Fe Chicken?

I feel soup, rice or potatoes are the way to go for side dishes. My Garlic Butter Rice Recipe is a good one, and Green Beans, Bacon and Potatoes are super yummy as well. You could also serve The Best Broccoli Cheese Soup or Best Cauliflower Soup Recipe. For dessert, I would recommend Easy Double Chocolate Coca-Cola Cake. It’s to die for!

Santa Fe Chicken is both delicious and incredibly easy to make. You’ll be amazed.

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Santa Fe Chicken Foil Packets

Yield: 4

Prep Time: 8 minutes

Cook Time: 25 minutes

Total Time: 33 minutes

There is literally no recipe I have ever cooked that’s easier than Santa Fe Chicken. All you have to do is season chicken breasts, place them on top of a piece of foil, spoon veggies and salsa over them and place them on the grill or the oven.

Ingredients

  • 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
  • 1 teaspoon ground cumin
  • 1 teaspoon ground coriander
  • 1/2 teaspoon chili powder
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • 1 -15 oz can black beans, drained and rinsed
  • 1 -15 oz can whole kernel corn
  • 1 cup sliced bell pepper (½ green, ½ yellow or orange)
  • ¾ cup chunky salsa
  • ½ cup cheddar cheese, freshly grated
  • Cilantro, sliced jalapenos and tomatoes for garnish

Instructions

  1. Season each breast with salt, pepper, chili powder, ground cumin, and coriander on both sides, and place each one in the middle of a large piece of foil previously sprayed with cooking spray.

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  2. Spoon the veggies and salsa around the chicken breasts

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  3. Fold the foil by bringing two opposite sides together and folding them about 3-4 times and then fold the remaining foil down to tuck beneath the packet like so:

    Santa Fe Chicken Foil Packets - Top Recipes (7)

  4. Place on the hot grill veggies side down for 15 mins, flip and cook for another 10-15 mins on the other side.
  5. Remove them from the grill, open the packets and divide the shredded cheddar evenly on top of the 4 chicken breasts. Return to the grill (packets open) and cook just until the cheese melts.

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Nutrition Information:

Amount Per Serving:Calories: 541Total Fat: 12gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 158mgSodium: 721mgCarbohydrates: 45gFiber: 13gProtein: 64g

Did you make this recipe?

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Santa Fe Chicken Foil Packets - Top Recipes (2024)

FAQs

How long to cook chicken in foil in air fryer? ›

For fresh chicken you've frozen yourself, after seasoning to taste, wrap in foil and place in your air fryer and set your timer for 30 minutes. Check at the 15-minute mark and flip if it needs to cook longer. Cook until it reaches an internal temperature of 165 degrees.

Does covering chicken with foil make it moist? ›

The covering helps prevent excessive evaporation and keeps the chicken moist throughout the cooking process. Preventing dryness. Chicken tends to dry out more quickly when exposed to direct heat. Covering the chicken creates a barrier that prevents the top surface from drying out, resulting in tender meat.

How long does it take for raw chicken to cook in the air fryer? ›

Air fry: Preheat the air fryer. Place the chicken on the air fryer basket / grate in an even layer, leaving a bit of space for air to circulate around. Air fry the chicken at 415 degrees for 10 minutes. If you have larger pieces of chicken, you'll want to go closer to 13 minutes.

What temperature do you grill foil packets? ›

Directions
  1. Preheat a gas grill to medium-high (400-450 degrees F). ...
  2. Toss asparagus, mini peppers, zucchini, oil, garlic, salt and pepper in a large bowl until evenly coated. ...
  3. Place the foil packets, sealed-side up, on the grill rack; grill, covered, for 4 minutes. ...
  4. Stir butter, parsley and chives together in a small bowl.

How do you make a good foil packet? ›

Pull out an extra-long length of aluminum foil and fold it in half so you've got a double layer. Place your ingredients in the center, then pull over one side, folding the edges to seal. Then fold the remaining two edges. Don't seal the packet too tightly: you want to leave some room for the steam to expand.

How long does it take to cook foil packets on the grill? ›

Wrap each packet securely using double-fold seals, allowing room for heat expansion. When ready to grill, place packets, seam side up, on gas grill over medium heat or on charcoal grill 4 to 6 inches from medium coals. Cook 25 to 35 minutes or until vegetables are tender.

Can you make foil packets ahead of time? ›

Yes! you can make your foil packets ahead of time and store in cooler or fridge. Just be sure to use heavy duty aluminum foil, and if the ingredients are heavy double up on the foil. Making the packets ahead of time is such a time saver and makes dinner prep so easy.

Can you bake chicken in foil? ›

Preheat the oven: For boneless chicken breasts, we recommend baking them in foil at 400°F for 25–30 minutes, depending on the size of your chicken and packet.

Does foil in the bottom of the oven affect cooking? ›

A layer of foil will block air flow and circulation which will cause malfunction of the heating elements of the appliance. Putting foil on the bottom of a gas oven can interfere with the flame, leading to improperly cooked food and fluctuating internal temperatures.

Is it better to bake chicken at 350 or 400? ›

Given the fact that drumsticks and thighs are dark meat and won't dry out as easily as breasts, the range from 350 to 450 degrees is okay for baking them. 350 to 375 is generally best for breasts. The best answer to these questions? Simply check the chicken for doneness using an instant read thermometer.

What is the best cooking method to keep chicken moist? ›

Sear and Bake

For chicken breast that's crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside, employ the sear-and-bake method. Brown the outside of the meat on a pan then finish it off in the oven.

Do you flip chicken in the oven? ›

It is completely up to you and as tempting as it is to flip it when you're using the oven method, it is not necessary. The outer part of your chicken will cook to brownish in color as it continues to cook through the inside, if you flip it over sometimes both sides will become dry.

Do you need to wrap chicken in foil for air fryer? ›

Not all air fryers allow you to use foil, so first check your manual before preparing your chicken. If it allows you to, feel free to use foil in your air fryer. This will also prevent it even more from getting dirty and having juice stick to it which will make it even more annoying to clean.

Can you cook in a foil tin in an air fryer? ›

Yes, you can put aluminum foil in an air fryer. Tasteofhome.com explains that due to the air fryer's cooking process consisting of rushing hot air, your aluminum foil and the meal it's with will not be ruined by the air fryer.

Can you use baking foil in an air fryer? ›

The great news about air fryers is that you can use foil along with parchment paper to cook your food in an air fryer. Just remember that if it's safe and effective to use in a conventional oven, it will work just fine in an air fryer.

Does foil block airflow in air fryer? ›

Foil can disrupt the airflow within the appliance, preventing food from cooking evenly. Although you shouldn't use foil in your air fryer, KitchenAid® countertop ovens with air fry are simple to clean in just a few steps, and some components are also dishwasher-safe.

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