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12 Easy Foil Packet Recipes You Need To Try This Camping Season

This post was updated on March 15th, 2024

No one wants to spend hours slaving over the hot stove while they’re camping. Even if you have a giant gourmet RV kitchen, chances are you would rather be outside enjoying nature than inside chopping and sautéing.

But unless you plan on eating cereal three times a day, some food preparation is necessary.

Lucky for you, I have a solution. Years ago I discovered that you can cook nearly anything over a hot fire by wrapping it in a piece of foil.

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The concept is simple. Wrap meat, veggies, fruit, or any combination of the three, along with some spices and oil in a piece of foil. Place it on a grill or in some hot coals, and let it cook. That’s it!

Easy Foil Packet Recipes
All photos by Amanda Watson

Over the years I have cooked many dishes, from basic potatoes seasoned with salt and pepper to a triple berry cake—all in foil. I’ve gathered together twelve of my favorite easy foil packet recipes for you to try. Let’s get cooking!

How to make a foil packet

Flat Pack: Best for foods that you want to brown, like meat

  • Lay a large piece of heavy-duty foil, or a double layer of regular foil, on a flat surface. Make sure it is at least twice as long as the food you’re wrapping.
  • Place the ingredients in the middle of the foil. Bring the long sides of the foil together in the center and fold them together. Fold over and over until the foil is flat next to the food. Tightly roll up the short ends until they reach the food.

Steam Pack: Best for foods you want steamed, like vegetables, fruits, or meat/veggie combinations

  • Tear off a large piece of foil just as you would for a flat pack.
  • Place the ingredients in the middle of the foil. Bring the long sides together in the center and begin folding towards the food. Stop before you get to the food, leaving at least an inch of space for the steam to gather. Roll in the short ends, again leaving an inch or so of space between the end of the fold and food.

Foil packets can be cooked on top of a grill or in hot coals. The recipes below give instructions for a grill, so you may need to adjust the cooking time if you’re putting them in coals.

1. Lemony Chicken with Zucchini & Scallions

Easy Foil Packet Recipes
Amanda Watson
  1. Drizzle ½ tbsp of oil on two large pieces of foil.
  2. Slice 1 boneless, skinless chicken breast lengthwise and place one on each foil.
  3. Season with salt and pepper, top with sliced zucchini and scallions.
  4. Drizzle ½ tbsp olive oil and 1 tbsp lemon juice over each chicken & veggie combo.
  5. Season with a little bit more salt and pepper. Fold the foil to make a steam packet.
  6. Grill over medium-high heat for 12-15 minutes.

2. Fruity Glazed Pork

  1. Stir together 1/4 cup peach or apricot preserves, 1 tbsp whole grain mustard, and 1/2 tsp hot sauce.
  2. Season a 1 lb pork tenderloin with salt and pepper and slather with the preserves mixture.
  3. Place the pork on a single sheet of foil and fold to make a flat pack.
  4. Grill over high heat for 18 minutes, turning once.

3. Italian Meatballs

  1. Mix together 1 lb ground beef, 1 egg, 1/4 cup breadcrumbs, 1/4 cup parmesan cheese, 1 tbsp Italian seasoning, 1 minced garlic clove, and 1/2 tea salt.
  2. Form the mixture into 1-inch balls.
  3. Divide among two pieces of foil.
  4. Pour 1/2 cup of your favorite pasta sauce over top.
  5. Fold the foil to form a steam pack.
  6. Cook over medium heat for 18-20 minutes.
  7. Serve with toasted bread or pasta.

4. Santa Fe Chicken

  1. Combine 1 can drained black beans, 2 cups frozen corn, and 1 can tomatoes with chilis.
  2. Place 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts on four separate pieces of foil.
  3. Season with salt and pepper.
  4. Spoon the bean mixture over the chicken.
  5. Fold the foil to make a steam pack.
  6. Cook over medium-high heat for 15-20 minutes.
  7. Carefully fold the foil back and sprinkle the a few tbsp of shredded cheese on top.
  8. Close the foil and let the cheese melt for 2 minutes.

5. Lumber Jack Breakfast

Easy Foil Packet Recipes
Amanda Watson
  1. Place 3 breakfast sausage links on a piece of foil.
  2. Top with 1 cup frozen hash browns, 2 eggs, 1/2 diced tomato, & 2 sliced scallions.
  3. Season with salt and pepper.
  4. Fold the foil to make a steam pack.
  5. Cook over medium-high heat for 15 minutes.
  6. Carefully open the foil and add 2 tbsp grated cheese.
  7. Close and cook for another 2 minutes.

6. Thyme Potatoes

  1. Toss 2-3 medium diced potatoes with 1/2 of sliced yellow onion, 1 tea salt, 1/2 tea black pepper, 2 tbsp fresh thyme (or 1 tablespoon dried), and 2 tbsp olive oil.
  2. Arrange in a single layer on a large piece of foil and fold to make a flat pack.
  3. Grill over medium-high heat for 25 minutes, flipping once.

7. Dilly Baby Carrots

  1. Lay out 1 large piece of foil.
  2. Arrange in a single layer 1 small bag (8 ounces) peeled baby carrots, 1 chopped shallot, 1 tbsp chopped fresh dill (or ½ tbsp dried), 1 or 2 pats of butter, salt & pepper.
  3. Fold to make a steam pack.
  4. Grill over medium-high heat for 15 minutes.

8. Italian Green Beans & Tomatoes

Easy Foil Packet Recipes
Amanda Watson
  1. Lay out 1 large piece of foil.
  2. In the middle of the foil place 1 generous handful of green beans, 1 chopped tomato, 2 minced garlic cloves, 1/2 tbsp olive oil, 1 tbsp chopped fresh basil (or 1 tea dried), salt & pepper.
  3. Fold to make a steam pack.
  4. Grill over high heat for 10 minutes.
  5. Serve with grated parmesan.

9. Spicy Garlic Broccoli

  1. Lay out 1 large piece of foil.
  2. Arrange in a single layer on the foil 1 chopped head of broccoli, 2 sliced garlic cloves, 1 tbsp olive oil, 1/2 tea crushed red pepper flakes, and 1 tea salt.
  3. Fold to make a steam pack and cook over medium-high heat for 10-12 minutes.

10. Berry Bread Pudding

  1. In a bowl, whisk together 2 eggs, 1 cup milk, 2/3 cup sugar, and 1/2 tsp vanilla.
  2. Add 4 cups cubed Italian bread and 1 cup berries; let soak for 30 minutes.
  3. Place the mixture on a buttered nonstick piece of foil.
  4. Fold the foil to form a steam pack.
  5. Grill over indirect heat, turning 3 or 4 times for even cooking, for 30-35 minutes.

11. Banana S’mores

Easy Foil Packet Recipes
Amanda Watson
  1. Peel one side of a banana and cut a slit in the fruit.
  2. Tuck 2 tbsp mini marshmallows, 2 tbsp chocolate chips, and 1 crushed graham cracker into the banana.
  3. Wrap foil around loosely around the banana and grill for 8-10 minutes.

12. Caramel Peaches with Toasted Pecans

  1. Spread 1 teaspoon butter on a large piece of foil.
  2. Top with 2 tbsp caramel sauce, and 1/4 cup pecan halves.
  3. Place 2 halved and pitted peaches cut-side down on top of the pecans.
  4. Fold the foil to form a steam pack and grill over low heat for 25 minutes.

I hope you enjoy these recipes as much as I do. If you have your own recipes you’d like to share with others, please leave a comment below.

See also: 4 Secrets Of Successful RV Cooking




1 thought on “12 Easy Foil Packet Recipes You Need To Try This Camping Season”

  1. Amanda, every one of these looks pretty darned good. In fact, I’m gonna try some of them at home instead of having meals from more processed foods. Thank you for publishing this!

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