Foil Pack Cheesy Broccoli and Chicken is a summer staple loaded with smoky sausage, gooey cheese, and broccoli that soaks up all the flavor.
Try some other favorite foil pack meals like Tin Foil Sausage and Veggies or Hobo Foil Packets.
Foil Pack Cheesy Broccoli & Chicken
My family loves being outdoors and camping as much as possible during the summer. I’m always testing new campfire meal ideas, and these Cheesy Broccoli & Chicken foil packs were a huge hit on our last trip!
These foil packs are incredibly easy to assemble with minimal ingredients and no pre-cooking required. Thanks to some store-bought shortcuts, you can even add uncooked rice directly to the foil packs!
Uncooked Rice… Will It Cook in Time?
Yes! The rice will cook to be nice and tender.
Use Minute® (instant) rice for this recipe. Regular white rice or other types won’t work; it must be instant rice.
While you prep the other ingredients, soak the instant rice in chicken broth to soften it and add lots of flavor.
Quick Tip
Use leftover instant rice in other foil pack recipes like Tin Foil Jambalaya or Salsa Verde Chicken & Rice.
Ingredients
- Instant rice: This is simply rice that has been partially cooked then dehydrated — it doesn’t have any weird ingredients added.
- Chicken broth: Adds rich flavor to the rice.
- Smoked sausage: Adds a smoky, rich flavor. I like Aidell’s Italian Style chicken sausage. Regular smoked sausage also works great.
- Vegetables: Use fresh, chopped veggies, not frozen here.
- Seasonings: Mix garlic powder, onion powder, salt, pepper, chicken bouillon, and Italian seasoning for loads of flavor.
- Olive Oil: Adds flavor, helps ensure even cooking, and stops ingredients from sticking.
- Cheese: Use sharp or extra-sharp Cheddar for the most flavor.
How To Make Cheesy Broccoli & Chicken
- Soak the Rice: Mix instant rice with chicken broth and let sit for 10 minutes.
- Prep: Finely dice the onion, chop broccoli, and slice the sausage into rounds.
- Mix: Combine onion, broccoli, sausage, oil, and seasonings in a bowl. Add the rice.
- Assemble: Divide the mix on foil sheets, seal them tightly, but leave space for steam.
- Cook: Bake at 400°F for about 25 minutes, or grill for 15-20 minutes, until cooked.
- Finish with Cheese: Open the packs, sprinkle cheese on top, reseal to melt the cheese, then serve.
Foil Pack Cheesy Broccoli & Chicken Tips
- Fully seal the foil packets, but leave room for steam.
- Spray the foil with nonstick coating to keep the rice from sticking.
- Season to taste. After cooking, let the packets cool for a few minutes, then check if they need more salt or pepper.
More Easy Campfire Meals:
Cheesy Broccoli and Chicken
Foil Pack Cheesy Broccoli and Chicken dinners are perfect for campfire cooking! Just combine smoked chicken sausage, rice, and broccoli in foil for a delicious, easy meal. This versatile recipe also works on the grill or in the oven.
Video
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 cup Instant (Minute) Rice
- 1 cup chicken broth or water
- 1 (13-ounce) package smoked chicken sausage
- 3 cups chopped broccoli
- 3/4 cup finely diced yellow onion
- 5 tablespoons olive oil
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/2 teaspoon pepper
- 2 teaspoons chicken bouillon powder see note 1
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1 cup freshly shredded sharp Cheddar cheese or extra-sharp
- Fresh parsley optional
Instructions
- Mix uncooked instant rice and chicken broth in a bowl. Let it stand for about 10 minutes. No need to pre-cook or drain the rice.
- Preheat oven to 400°F or the grill to medium-high heat (400–425°F). Tear off four sheets of heavy-duty foil, about 2 feet long each. Spray with cooking spray.
- Finely dice the onion, coarsely chop the broccoli into small pieces, and slice the sausage into 1/2-inch-thick coins.
- In a large bowl, mix the onion, broccoli, sausage, olive oil, and all the seasonings. Add the soaked rice with any remaining liquid and gently stir until combined.
- Divide the mixture evenly among the four foil sheets, about 1-1/2 cups per packet. Seal the foil packs tightly, leaving room for steam to circulate. To seal, bring the short sides together and fold down, then roll up the ends.
- Bake in the oven on a sheet pan for 23–29 minutes, or grill for 15–20 minutes until rice is cooked and veggies are tender. For campfires, cooking time varies; check after 7 minutes. When grilling, flip packets halfway through.
- Carefully open foil packs, expecting steam. Add 1/4 cup cheese to each pack and tent the foil over the veggies. Let stand for 3–4 minutes to melt the cheese. Top with fresh parsley if desired. Let cool slightly, taste, and adjust seasoning if needed. Depending on sausage used, you may need an extra pinch of salt. Enjoy hot.
Final step! Please let us know how it was by leaving a review.
Recipe Notes
Note 1: This adds a lot of flavor and saltiness, which will vary depending on the saltiness of the sausage and whether you’re soaking the rice in broth or water. Add slowly; you can always sprinkle more on top after baking if needed.
Foil: Do not double wrap the foil. Use one sheet per pack or adjust cooking time if using regular foil.
Nutrition Note: The nutrition information is based on using chicken sausage; other varieties may change the values.
Storage: Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. Reheat in the oven or microwave until warmed through.
Nutrition
Serving: 1serving | Calories: 511kcal | Carbohydrates: 23.8g | Protein: 33.1g | Fat: 32g | Cholesterol: 101.7mg | Sodium: 366.5mg | Fiber: 2.3g | Sugar: 3.5g
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Can frozen broccoli be used in cheesy broccoli chicken?
I haven’t ever tested frozen broccoli in this recipe, but I don’t see why it wouldn’t work. Cook time might be slightly longer.
Can this be made and assembled a day ahead of time?
Yes, you can prep all the ingredients in a bowl, but I recommend leaving out the chicken broth or water so the rice doesn’t absorb it and get bloated. The next day, just add the broth and assemble everything into the foil packs. Hope that helps!
Can you cook in an air fryer? Would these reheat well the next day?
Sorry I’ve never experimented in the air fryer with foil packs!
Hi 👋🏼
Can you please email me the full
recipe for the foil pack cheesy
broccoli and chicken…..Thank you
It’s in this recipe, if you scroll down or click the skip to recipe button you’ll find it! 🙂 Hope this helps!
This Foil Pack Cheesy Broccoli & Chicken recipe looks absolutely delicious and perfect for a fun outdoor cooking experience! I love the idea of using smoked chicken sausage and uncooked rice for an easy and flavorful meal. I’m definitely going to give this a try, and to enhance the taste even more, I’ll be using Artem Oliva’s high-quality olive oil. Not only will it add a rich flavor to the dish, but it also offers numerous health benefits. I can’t wait to enjoy this meal during our next camping trip!
I am so excited for you to try this! Thanks for your comment! 🙂