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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.

Other Foil Pack Cheesy Broccoli & Chicken Ingredients

Beyond the rice, here are a few other ingredient notes:

• Sausage. Any smoked sausage works here, and we like smoked chicken sausage best (Aidells Italian Style with Mozzarella is our fave; not sponsored); it keeps things nice and healthy, plus tastes great! Additionally, since it’s smoked, you don’t need to worry about cooking it to a certain temperature before serving.
• Broccoli. To be sure the foil packets don’t end up mushy, avoid frozen broccoli. Fresh, firm broccoli is best in this recipe.
• Yellow onion. The more finely the onion is diced, the better it integrates into the dish, adding a nice flavor to everything. Large chunks of onion won’t cook as nicely and could even remain crunchy after the rest of this dish is cooked.

Foil Pack Cheesy Broccoli & Chicken Ingredients, Continued

• Seasonings. The seasoning line-up is simple, but packs a punch of flavor! Chicken bouillon, garlic powder, onion powder, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper is all you’ll need. Don’t leave out the chicken bouillon; it adds a lot.
• Olive oil. Not only does the oil add flavor, but it’s also great insurance against burnt veggies.
• Cheddar cheese. I recommend sharp or extra-sharp Cheddar cheese; both have a much more robust flavor than regular Cheddar — they’ve been aged longer.

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

Cheesy Broccoli & Chicken

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.

Cheesy Broccoli & Chicken

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.

Ingredients

• 1 cup (102g) Instant (Minute) Rice
• 1 cup (232g) chicken stock or broth (water works in a pinch)
• 1 package (13 oz) smoked sausage Italian chicken
• 3 cups (193g) chopped broccoli (~2-3 florets)
• 3/4 cup (102g) finely diced yellow onion (~1/2 large onion)
• 5 tablespoons (66g) 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.; 85g) freshly grated extra-sharp or sharp Cheddar cheese
• Optional: fresh parsley

Instructions

• SOAK 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.

Recipe Notes

Note 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 Facts

Serving: 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.