Home > Dinner > Cheesy Broccoli & Chicken (Foil Pack) Cheesy Broccoli & Chicken (Foil Pack) June 1, 2021 | 2 Comments SAVE TO RECIPE BOX Jump to Recipe This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy. Ridiculously quick prep time makes these Foil pack Cheesy Broccoli & Chicken dinners perfect for campfire cooking! We’re combining smoked chicken sausage, uncooked rice, and broccoli in one foil packet and letting the coals do all the work! Don’t have a camping trip scheduled but still want to try this recipe? We’ve also tested it on the grill and in the oven! Try some of our other favorite foil pack meals — like this Tin Foil Sausage and Veggies or Hobo Foil Packets. Foil Pack Cheesy Broccoli & Chicken My family loves being outside and the more we can camp during the summer — the better! This means I’ve always got new ideas to test out for our campfire meals. These Cheesy Broccoli & Chicken meals were a huge hit during our last trip — the whole family was obsessed! Additionally, these foil packs couldn’t have been easier to assemble. Thanks to some store-bought shortcuts, they only require minimal ingredients and NO cooking beforehand. That’s right, we add uncooked rice to these foil packs! Uncooked Rice…Are You Sure It Will Cook In Time? Yes! I promise the rice cooks to a nice tender consistency. In order for this to work, we need Minute® (instant) rice. These foil packs do not work with regular white rice or any other variety of rice; it must be instant. While you’re prepping the rest of the ingredients for these foil packs, soak the instant rice in chicken broth or stock–this softens it and infuses it with loads of flavor. I highly recommend Swanson’s® chicken stock (not sponsored) which I’ve found to have the most robust flavor for a store-bought stock. QUICK TIP Use the rest of the instant rice in some other foil pack recipes — this Tin Foil Jambalaya or Salsa Verde Chicken & Rice in foil packs. Ingredients Base Ingredients: Instant rice, chicken stock, and smoked sausage (Aidells Italian Style with Mozzarella is our fave; not sponsored) form the dish’s foundation. The rice soaks up flavors from the stock, enhancing its taste, while the sausage adds a smoky, rich flavor. Pre-soaking the rice in chicken stock boosts its flavor more than using water. Vegetables: Fresh, evenly chopped veggies cook better and taste great in the dish. Seasonings: Mix garlic powder, onion powder, salt, pepper, chicken bouillon, and Italian seasoning for a flavorful punch. Chicken bouillon enhances the flavor. Adjust seasonings to taste. Olive Oil: Olive oil not only enhances taste but also ensures even cooking and prevents sticking. Cheese and Garnish: I recommend sharp or extra-sharp Cheddar cheese; both have a much more robust flavor than regular Cheddar — they’ve been aged longer. Fresh parsley can garnish for an added fresh touch. How To Make Cheesy Broccoli & Chicken Soak the Rice: Mix instant rice with chicken stock and let it sit for 10 minutes. Prepare Ingredients: Dice onion finely and chop broccoli into small pieces. Slice the sausage into rounds. Mix: In a bowl, combine onion, broccoli, sausage, olive oil, and seasonings. Add the soaked rice and mix. Assemble Foil Packs: Divide the mixture onto foil sheets, seal them tightly but allow space for steam. Cook: Bake in an oven at 400°F for about 25 minutes, or grill for 15-20 minutes, until everything is 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 to circulate. Generously spray the foil with a nonstick coating to keep the rice from sticking. Season to taste. After pulling the packets from the oven or grill, let them cool for a few minutes and then taste for seasoning — the packets might need a pinch more of salt and/or pepper to make the flavors come alive. More easy campfire meals Garlic Butter Sausage & Veggies with corn on the cob Foil Pack Italian Sausage and Veggies with an Italian seasoning blend Philly Cheesesteak Foil Packs with Provolone cheese Pesto and Sausage with sun-dried tomatoes Foil Pack Garlic Herb Sausage, Shrimp, Veggies with zucchini and corn FOLLOW ALONG! Subscribe to my newsletter and follow along on Facebook, Pinterest and Instagram for the latest updates, recipes and content. Cheesy Broccoli & Chicken 5 from 2 votes - Review this recipe Ridiculously quick prep time to make these Foil Pack Cheesy Broccoli & Chicken dinners perfect for campfire cooking! We're combining smoked chicken sausage, uncooked rice, and broccoli in one foil packet and letting the coals do all the work! Don't have a camping trip scheduled but still want to try this recipe? We've also tested it on the grill and in the oven. SAVE TO RECIPE BOX Print Recipe Cheesy Broccoli & Chicken 5 from 2 votes - Review this recipe SAVE TO RECIPE BOX Print Recipe Ridiculously quick prep time to make these Foil Pack Cheesy Broccoli & Chicken dinners perfect for campfire cooking! We're combining smoked chicken sausage, uncooked rice, and broccoli in one foil packet and letting the coals do all the work! Don't have a camping trip scheduled but still want to try this recipe? We've also tested it on the grill and in the oven. Course Dinner, lunch, Main Course Cuisine American Keyword Cheesy Broccoli & Chicken Prep Time 15 minutes minutes Cook Time 25 minutes minutes Rice Soaking 10 minutes minutes Total Time 50 minutes minutes Servings 4 servings Chelsea Lords Calories 511kcal Author Chelsea Lords Cost $8.87 Ingredients▢ 1 cup Instant (Minute) Rice▢ 1 cup chicken stock or broth (water works in a pinch)▢ 1 package (13 oz) smoked sausage Italian chicken▢ 3 cups chopped broccoli (~2-3 florets)▢ 3/4 cup finely diced yellow onion (~1/2 large onion)▢ 5 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil▢ 1/2 teaspoon EACH: garlic powder, onion powder, fine sea salt, pepper▢ 2 teaspoons chicken bouillon powder▢ 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning▢ 1 cup (3 oz.) freshly grated extra-sharp or sharp Cheddar cheese▢ Optional: fresh parsleyUS - Metric USMetric InstructionsSOAK INSTANT RICE: Mix together the uncooked instant rice and chicken stock or broth in a bowl and let stand for about 10 minutes. You do not need to pre-cook or drain the rice. OVEN/GRILL PREP: Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F or the grill to medium-high heat (400-425 degrees F). Tear off four sheets of heavy-duty foil (about 2 feet long each) and generously spray with cooking spray.INGREDIENT PREP: Very finely dice the onion and coarsely chop broccoli into small bite-sized pieces. Slice the sausage into 1/2-inch thick coins. COMBINE: Add the onion, broccoli, and sausage to a large bowl. Add in the olive oil and all the seasonings. Gently stir until all ingredients are well combined. Add in the soaked rice along with any liquid. Again, gently stir until ingredients are incorporated.ASSEMBLE FOIL PACKS: Divide the mixture evenly among the four prepared sheets of foil. (This comes out to a heaping 1 and 1/2 cups (215g) per packet.) Seal the foil packs tightly so no air escapes, but there is still room for steam to circulate. (See Note 1) To seal the foil packet, bring the short sides together in the middle and gently fold down to completely seal. Then, roll up the ends. COOK: Place in the oven (on a sheet pan) and bake for 23-29 minutes (we like them best at 26 minutes) or on the grill for 15-20 minutes (17 mins is perfect on our grill), until rice is cooked through and veggies are crisp-tender. (Test only 1 packet at a time; every time the packets are opened, the steam is released so it will take longer to cook.) When grilling, flip packets halfway through cook time. Campfire temperatures vary tremendously and they can be done in as little as 7 minutes, depending on the heat of the coals.GARNISH: Carefully open the foil pack, expecting steam to be released. Immediately add 1/4 cup cheese to each foil packet and then gently tent the foil pack over the veggies (don't let foil touch the cheese). Let stand for 3-4 minutes, allowing the cheese to melt. Open back up and, if desired, top with fresh parsley. Let cool slightly, taste, and add additional seasoning as needed. Enjoy hot. Video Recipe NotesNote 1: Do not double wrap the foil. Use only one sheet of foil per pack or the cooking time will be off. However, If you don't have heavy-duty foil, you will need 2 sheets of regular foil. Add a few minutes to cooking time, and check for doneness. Nutrition information is calculated based on using chicken sausage. Other varieties will affect the numbers. Nutrition FactsServing: 1serving | Calories: 511kcal | Carbohydrates: 23.8g | Protein: 33.1g | Fat: 32g | Cholesterol: 101.7mg | Sodium: 366.5mg | Fiber: 2.3g | Sugar: 3.5g We do our best to provide accurate nutritional analysis for our recipes. Our nutritional data is calculated using a third-party algorithm and may vary, based on individual cooking styles, measurements, and ingredient sizes. Please use this information for comparison purposes and consult a health professional for nutrition guidance as needed. DID YOU MAKE THIS RECIPE? 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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! Reply
