Sure, ideally, you'd always have an hour or more to cook a well-balanced dinner for your family—served on the back porch, in perfect weather, and everyone would clean their plates. But more often than we'd like there are a million things going on, and it's hard to find time even to toss a sheet pan dinner into the oven.
Those nights are when you want to lean on something super easy but hopefully, still well-balanced. That's where foil packet dinners come into play! There’s absolutely no other cooking method out there that’s as fast, fun, mess-free, and downright delicious as foil packets. You can wrap up individually portioned meals ahead of time, keep them marinating in the fridge, and when you're ready, you only need to fire up the oven or grill and let it cook. The meal is that much more enjoyable knowing there are no dirty dishes to clean up. And if everyone in the family needs to eat at different times, no problem! Each packet can be cooked separately.
Since foil packet recipes make dinner so much easier (we're talking sometimes just 15 to 20 minutes of cooking time), we rounded up some of the best appetizers, sides, and entrees that you can make on repeat all summer long. Think everything from barbecue chicken foil packets to savory shrimp foil packets. And for the ultimate childhood camping nostalgia, cook foil packet hamburgers in the backyard with your little ones (it’s a fun summer activity). Stock up on aluminum foil, stat, because you’re going to want to taste test every single one of these easy foil packet dinner recipes for yourself.
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1
Cauliflower Curry Foil Packet
This vegetable-loaded meal hardly compromises taste thanks to its light curry and yogurt sauce additions. It's so good, your family will have no idea how healthy it actually is.
Get the recipe at Veggies Save the Day.
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2
Chicken Cordon Bleu Foil Packets
Busy night ahead? Make getting dinner on the table the least of your concerns with these ham, chicken, and potato-infused packets, which only require 10 minutes of prep and 20 minutes of cooking.
Get the recipe at The Recipe Rebel.
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3
Philly Cheesesteak Foil Pack
Take the mess out of eating this classic meal by nixing the sandwich rolls and digging in the classy way—with a fork.
Get the recipe at Chelsea's Messy Apron.
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4
Garlic Shrimp and Veggie Foil Packet
Zucchini and a handful of other veggies put a summery spin on this low-carb seafood foil packet recipe. Pair with a summer salad for even more festive fare.
Get the recipe at Gimme Delicious.
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5
Teriyaki Beef Foil Packs
Good luck sticking to just one of these juicy beef packets, loaded with broccoli, bell peppers, mushrooms, and potatoes.
Get the recipe at Life Made Sweeter.
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6
Zucchini Parmesan Foil Packs
There's no shortage of light, yummy meals to serve with cheesy grilled zucchinis, meaning you can bust out this easy recipe all summer long.
Get the recipe at Damn Delicious.
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7
Bacon Ranch Chicken Foil Packets
Satisfy picky little eaters with this savory foil packet dinner, which you can make in just an hour.
Get the recipe at Dinner at the Zoo.
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8
Steak Fajita Foil Packet
Ditch the tortillas and chow down on marinated steak, peppers, and onions straight from the oven-friendly packet.
Get the recipe at Diethood.
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9
Cheesy Potatoes Foil Packet
A cheese and potato combo alone is a major dinner side dish win-win, but the mess-free foil cooking method makes this recipe even more of a must.
Get the recipe at Crunchy Creamy Sweet.
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10
Italian Sausage and Veggies Foil Packet
Fire up the grill and set your outdoor table, because this nutritious foil packet meal makes for the ideal al fresco family dinner.
Get the recipe at Chelsea's Messy Apron.
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11
Grilled Pineapple Chicken Foil Packet
Teriyaki sauce and Asian toasted sesame dressing pack a flavorful punch with this simple and satisfying five-ingredient weeknight dinner.
Get the recipe at Creme de la Crumb.
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12
Nachos Foil Packet
You don't even need to bust out a bowl or serving platter—just wait for this mouthwatering appetizer to cool down from the oven and dive straight in.
Get the recipe at The Cookie Rookie.
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13
Cajun Shrimp Foil Packets
Enjoy grilled corn like you've never tasted it before—with shrimp, red potatoes, and a fiery Cajun kick.
Get the recipe at Favorite Family Recipes.
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14
Tater Tot Meatball Foil Packets
Tater tots and meatballs and cheese, oh my! No, it's not the healthiest meal on the market, but it does the trick for those easygoing Friday nights when your kids deserve to munch on something fun.
Get the recipe at Gimme Some Grilling.
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15
Southwestern Chicken Foil Packets
Douse chicken breasts in salsa and cheese for a delicious spin on chicken Parm. Layer the foil pack with corn to start, then top the the meat with sour cream and avocado once the packet's finished grilling.
Get the recipe at Dessert Now Dinner Later.
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16
Baked Tilapia Foil Packets
Itching to minimize indoor cooking time now that the weather's warm? Meet your healthy seafood saving grace, which takes just 15 minutes.
Get the recipe at The Wicked Noodle.
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17
Hawaiian Barbecue Chicken Foil Packets
There's no better time than summer to bring an island-inspired vibe to your meals. Save this for your next Hawaiian-themed party, or wow your family with the tangy foil packets for dinner.
Get the recipe at The Recipe Critic.
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18
Hamburger and Potato Foil Packets
Relive your camping glory days with the original foil packet meal—hamburger patties. Keep it old school and cook them by the campfire or let them bake in the oven.
Get the recipe at Spend with Pennies.
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19
Creamy Salsa Verde, Chicken, Rice, and Veggies Foil Packets
Your family will love a tasty Mexican dinner—and you'll love that it only takes 10 minutes to put together.
Get the recipe at Chelsea's Messy Apron.
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20
Garlic Steak and Potato Foil Packs
A classic steak-and-potatoes dinner is even easier when you can just cook it in foil.
Get the recipe at Creme de la Crumb.
