Honey Dijon Chicken Foil Packets

Cooked in the oven or on the grill, these amazing Honey Dijon Chicken Foil Packets are a quick and easy 30-minute meal filled with fresh and colorful seasonal vegetables, juicy chicken breasts, and a delicious sweet and tangy honey dijon sauce. 

Easy Chicken Foil Packets

With so many activities happening over the summer, the last thing anyone wants to think about is cooking dinner and doing the dishes. Fortunately, foil packets are here to save the day!

Foil packet dinners have been increasing in popularity over the years thanks to their flexibility and easy cleanup. Super easy to prepare and cook, you can prepare a bunch ahead of time for an easy weeknight dinner or take them along on your next camping trip. Forget about the pots, pans, and plates, all you need are a few of your favorite ingredients and a large piece of tin foil, seal it up into a tight little package and cook in the oven or on the grill whenever you’re ready. 

And these delicious chicken foil packets are one of my favorite summertime meal prep options.

Filled with my favorite seasonal veggies including sweet tomatoes and fresh zucchini and lean chicken breasts smothered a sweet and tangy whole-grain honey dijon sauce, these foil packets burst with flavor.

Enjoy right out of the packet or serve with a scoop of brown rice or boiled noodles, and homemade peach and strawberry lemonade.

Ingredients

There are two main ingredient parts – the filling and the sauce. Fortunately, all parts are flexible, so if you don’t like one part, feel free to trade it for something you do. For example, if you really dislike tomatoes or asparagus, swap it out and add vegetables you actually love. The same can be said about the honey dijon sauce. You can always use these other sauces instead – buffalo ranch sauce, buffalo sauce, or chimichurri sauce.

How to Fold a Foil Packet

To start, grab your heavy-duty aluminum foil and cut it into sheets that are approximately 12 x 18 inches. Measurements do not need to be exact, but it’s easy to get carried away with the stuff.

With this in mind, however, if you know you’ll be cooking on a campfire, or packing them away in an ice chest, I highly recommend that you double the size, 12 x 36, and fold it in half, so that you have a double layer.

Next, place your ingredients in the center, with the ingredients that take the longest to cook on the outside so that they are exposed to more direct heat.

Once all ingredients are set, bring together the two long edges (in this case the 18-inch sides) in the center of the food, creating a sort of hammock should you decide to pick it up (don’t pick it up). Fold the edges together and down twice, taking care not to fold things too tight- you need room for air to circulate and steam to build.

Once the top seal has been formed, fold the side edges together 2 (maybe three) times, creating a secure packet. Again, be careful not to fold too tightly.

How to Prepare

To get started, whisk together all of the ingredients for the honey dijon sauce in a medium mixing bowl. Season to taste then divide the sauce in half and place in two separate bowls. One bowl will be for cooking while the other will be for later use (it’s important that we don’t confuse the two).

Next, cut 4 sheets of heavy-duty foil into sheets that are approximately 12 x 18 inches each.

Place 3 orange slices in a line directly in the middle of each sheet of foil and place one chicken breast directly on top of the oranges. Divide the vegetables into four equal portions and arrange them on both sides of the chicken breasts. Sprinkle with salt and pepper, to season.

Spread approximately 1 tablespoon of Honey Dijon Sauce over the top of each chicken breast followed by 1 tsp olive oil.

Fold the foil over the chicken and vegetables to close off the pack. Fold in the sides.

in the Oven

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
2. Transfer prepared foil packets to a large baking sheet and bake for approximately 25-35 minutes, or until nearly cooked (cooking time will vary depending on thickness).
3. Carefully remove the baking sheet from the oven, peel back the top of the foil so that the chicken is exposed, and set the oven to BROIL.
4. Return chicken packets to the oven and broil for 2-3 minutes, or until the internal temperature of the chicken registers 160 degrees F with a digital meat thermometer.
5. Remove from the oven and allow to rest for 5 minutes before serving.

on the Grill

1. Preheat grill to medium-high heat.
2. Very carefully transfer each foil pack directly to your grill. Grill for approximately 20-25 minutes, or until or until the internal temperature of the chicken registers 160 degrees F with a digital meat thermometer (cooking time will vary depending on the thickness of your chicken). Carefully peel back the top of the foil so that the chicken is exposed. Continue to cook for an additional 2-3 minutes, and carefully remove from the grill.
3. Allow the chicken to rest for 5 minutes before serving.

How to Serve

Where you plan to serve these yummy chicken foil packs will likely influence what you want to serve with them. They’re great on their own or with any of the following:

• Easy Fruit Salad Recipe
• Brown Rice
• Mashed Potatoes
• Baked Potatoes
• Instant Pot Mac and Cheese
• Baked Mac and Cheese

Looking for more easy summertime recipes? Try these reader favorites:

• Orzo Arugula Salad with Feta and Grapes
• Mango Salsa Recipe
• Three Bean Salad Recipe
• Fruit Salad Recipe
• Greek Chicken Recipe
• Lettuce and Tomato Salad Recipe
• Jamaican Jerk Chicken Recipe
• Creamy Pea Salad Recipe with Bacon