Southwestern Chicken Foil Packets
These Southwestern Chicken Foil Packets are an effortless all-in-one dinner made with seasoned chicken, salsa, black beans, corn, and melty cheese.See below the recipe card for step-by-step images.
Servings: 4
Equipment
- Heavy Duty Foil
- Meat Mallet or Rolling Pin
- Small Bowl
- Large Baking Sheet
Ingredients
- 4 boneless chicken breasts 8 oz. each
- 1 tsp coarse kosher salt
- ½ tsp black pepper
- ½ tsp smoked paprika
- ¼ tsp onion powder
- ¼ tsp garlic powder
- 2 tsp olive oil
- ¾ cup salsa
- 11 oz. can Mexican style corn (with green and red bell peppers), drained
- 15 oz. can black beans rinsed and drained
- 1⅓ cups Mexican blend shredded cheese freshly shredded if possible
- chopped cilantro for serving
- lime juice for serving
- sour cream for serving
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 425℉.
- Cut 4 large sheets of heavy duty foil (about 12-inches wide by 16-inches long.) Coat foil generously with nonstick cooking spray. (Don't skip the spray or the food will stick to the foil.)
- Using a meat mallet or rolling pin, gently pound each chicken breast to a little more than 3/4-inch at the thickest part. (Make sure your fillets are all the same thickness to ensure even cooking.)
- In a small bowl, mix together all the seasonings.
- Drizzle chicken with the olive oil and sprinkle with the seasoning. Massage it all in on both sides, coating as much surface area as possible.
- Place a chicken breast on each piece of foil. Spoon 3 tablespoons salsa on top, followed by ⅓ cup beans, and ⅓ cup corn.
- To seal the foil packet, bring the short sides together in the middle and gently fold down over the ingredients, leaving a little space for steam. Then roll up the ends to seal closed.
- Place packets on a large rimmed baking sheet and transfer to the oven. Bake for 25 minutes (chicken should cooked through and register 165℉.)
- Remove from the oven. Carefully crack each packet open, one at a time, and sprinkle ⅓ cup cheese over the top. Reseal and allow to sit for about 3 minutes while the cheese melts.
- Let cool slightly, transfer to plates. Garnish with fresh chopped cilantro, a spritz of lime juice, and a dollop of sour cream. Slice and enjoy.
Video
Notes
Seal the foil packets correctly. The packets should be fully sealed so nothing leaks, but not so tight that there's no room for the steam to circulate.
Cook on the grill or campfire instead. You can also cook these foil packs on the grill (medium-high heat) or over a campfire. They'll cook a little faster than the oven, so I'd start checking them around 15-20 minutes and flip them a few times as they cook. The chicken is done once the thickest part reaches 165°F internally.
Nutrition
Serving: 1packet | Calories: 534kcal | Carbohydrates: 33g | Protein: 41g | Fat: 26g | Saturated Fat: 11g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 4g | Monounsaturated Fat: 9g | Trans Fat: 0.1g | Cholesterol: 113mg | Sodium: 1738mg | Potassium: 848mg | Fiber: 8g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 765IU | Vitamin C: 5mg | Calcium: 323mg | Iron: 4mg