Whether you are eating at home or on a camping trip, these chicken packets are an easy, fun way to make dinner. There isn't a lot of preparation and clean up is minimal but the outcome is phenomenal. It's healthy and really delicious.
2 large (1 lb. total) chicken breasts, sliced horizontally to get 4 even 4-oz. pieces
2 c. baby potatoes, halved or quartered
1 green bell pepper, thinly sliced
1 yellow onion, cut into rings
1 large carrot, cut into matchsticks
1 T. minced garlic
1/4 c. olive oil
Seasonings:
1/2 T. EACH: dried basil, dried oregano, dried parsley, garlic powder
1/2 t. EACH onion powder, dried thyme
1/2 t. red pepper flakes, optional
1/2 t. salt
1/4 t. pepper
fresh lemon, fresh Italian flat-leaf parsley, freshly grated Parmesan cheese, optional
Preheat grill on High or oven to 425 degrees.
Slice chicken breasts horizontally to make 4 pieces; pound the pieces to get even thickness. Each piece should be 4 oz.
Prepare the veggies: half or quarter baby red potatoes (make small pieces so they cook in the same time as everything else). Thinly slice the green bell pepper, cut onion into rings, and cut the carrots into 1/8th inch thick matchsticks.
In a very large bowl, add chicken, potatoes, bell pepper, onion rings, carrots, and minced garlic; pour olive oil over everything; sprinkle on all of the seasonings. Add salt and pepper.
Toss all ingredients together until everything is well coated.
Set out 4 large heavy duty sheets of foil. Evenly divide and distribute mixture evenly among the foil sheets. Seal foil packets.
Grill on High heat for 15-25 minutes (depending on different grills/heat) or in the oven for 30-45 minutes (depending on oven temperature and how ingredients) or until chicken is completely cooked through (registering 165 degrees).
If grilling, you may want to open the foil packs just a tiny bit at the top, and if oven baking, open the foil packs at the end and broil for 1-2 minutes. (This is optional.)
Remove the foil packets from grill or oven. Open carefully, allowing the steam to escape.
If desired, garnish with fresh parsley, a squeeze of freshly squeezed lemon juice and freshly grated Parmesan cheese.
Serve.
4 servings.
*Avoid removing the packets from the oven and checking too often; when you open the foil packets, all of the steam escapes, so and it will take a lot longer to fully cook when being placed back into the oven.