Bonus: Cleanup is basically nonexistent.
If you're like us, you spend all winter dreaming about how once spring and summer hit, you're going to be eating every meal outside... Then spring rolls around and you get busy, and the idea of pulling out the grill and all its accouterments, not to mention the double cleanup (your kitchen and outside), makes it real easy to fall back on old habits and skip the grill for weeknight dinners. Don’t let another summer season go by without using your grill as much as possible—we’ve got THE hack for you: foil packs. All you need is a little aluminum foil, and you can make basically anything on your grill, with minimal cleanup. Check out our 35 foil pack recipes for ideas–yes, including dessert! Bath Tea Bags
It’s truly incredible what you can stick in a foil packet—we’ve got everything from meaty favorites like surf 'n' turf, Caprese chicken, or honey-chipotle salmon, to carby classics like corn & tomato gnocchi and shrimp, broccoli & rice "stir fry," with desserts like a berry crisp or marshmallow Reese’s cones in between. Interested? Making a foil pack for the grill is also surprisingly easy. Place your ingredients in the middle of a piece of foil, and simply bring the edges of it together in the middle and crimp so that no steam can escape (the key to ultra juicy meat and well-cooked vegetables). There's usually no need to even flip the foil packets during grilling. Once your meal is cooked through, you can serve straight from the packet (less dishes!) or slide each serving onto a plate or bowl.
Want more summertime grilling inspiration? Check out our top grilling recipes and our favorite weeknight dinners you can make on the grill too.
Everything you need for dinner is inside these easy foil packs, including super tender chicken, pineapple and veggies, plus a tangy BBQ sauce. Simply bring the edges of the foil together in the middle and crimp so that no steam can escape (the key to ultra juicy chicken).
Get the Hawaiian Chicken Foil Packs recipe.
We love a good shrimp boil, but sometimes we don't have time for the production. Foil packs turn a shrimp boil into individual parties that are so fun tho throw onto the grill! It's everything you love with way less work.
Get the Grilled Shrimp Foil Packets recipe.
The foil packets trap in steam from the wine and juices from the tomato and corn as everything grills, which in turn cooks the gnocchi to perfectly tender while infusing the pasta with all the flavors of the dish. Bonus: Some of the meal browns a bit on the bottom right before it finishes cooking, adding extra flavor.
Get the Gnocchi Foil Packets recipe.
Not sure about cook time? Feel free to take a peek! The shrimp should be pink and opaque and the steak—depending on how you like it—should be slightly pink in the very middle. Do open the packs carefully and slowly, exercising caution to avoid the steam trapped within!
Get the Surf 'n' Turf Foil Packs recipe.
Cooking the packs over high heat will help to sear the fish while generating enough steam to fully cook the salmon and the asparagus. Your salmon will cook slightly faster if your pieces are thinner, so check for doneness by piercing a sharp knife into the fish in the foil. If the fish is flaking and light pink, then you'll know it's done.
Get the Foil Pack Grilled Salmon With Lemony Asparagus recipe.
Smothered in sweet honey mustard sauce, these chicken breasts are grilled to super-tender and juicy perfection inside foil packets. Honey mustard sauce can be as simple as just two its two titular ingredients, but we amped up its flavor with two mustards (grainy and Dijon) and cooked it slightly to thicken it into a glaze.
Get the Honey Mustard Chicken, Tomato, & Zucchini Foil Packs recipe.
Cooking fish in these foil packs is a total cinch. Take note that if your fish fillets run larger, it might take a bit longer on the grill to cook through completely. If you own a meat thermometer, aim to hit 145° internal temperature before it comes off the grill!
Get the Honey-Lime Tilapia and Corn Foil Pack recipe.
We make these for it when our fridge is stocked from a weekend BBQ, but nothing is really calling to us for weeknight dinner. These are especially GREAT for families with picky eaters, since everyone can make their own personalized packet. Serve these straight from the grill, or add buns and a green salad for a full meal.
Get the Burger Foil Packs recipe.
This recipe combines three things we love—Caprese, chicken, and foil packets—for a SUPER-easy and bright chicken dinner that only takes about 30 minutes to make. Whether you're throwing a BBQ or having a chill family meal, everyone will love them!
Get the Caprese Chicken Foil Packs recipe.
Turns out you CAN make rice on the grill—using instant rice and quick-cooking shrimp and broccoli means you can enjoy all your favorite stir-fry flavors, outdoors!
Get the Shrimp, Broccoli & Rice Foil Packs recipe.
Pop these sausage and peppers on the grill for a quick meal with easy cleanup. These are great on their own, but even better in a bun or alongside pasta.
Get the Sausage & Peppers Foil Pack recipe.
Packed with simple, everyday ingredients, this dish brings together chili-spiced rice, black beans, corn, peppers, and a salsa- and cheese-topped chicken for a complete meal, all neatly wrapped up and grilled.
Get the Santa Fe Chicken Foil Packets recipe.
Grilled pizza is one of our favorite summer foods, but if we're being honest, it's a little annoying to make. (Who actually likes stretching dough?) Pizza bread, on the other hand, is gloriously easy—just top a loaf of bread with all your favorite pizza toppings and toss on the grill!
Get the Grilled Pizza Bread recipe.
This a fresher, summertime take on our famous cheesy baked asparagus. Feel free to sub in any melty cheese for the mozzarella—fontina or Gruyère would be delicious too.
Get the Cheesy Asparagus Foil Packs recipe.
Grilling fish can be intimidating, but with foil packs, there's no need to stress. Rather than worry about the fish sticking to the grates or flipping the flaky flesh, you'll fold the salmon up in tin foil instead. It's not just fish inside, either—there's a medley of zucchini and yellow summer squash with a smoky honey-chipotle sauce. 😍
Get the Grilled Honey-Chipotle Salmon Foil Packets recipe.
This super simple foil pack recipe was MADE for summer. Sweet corn, zucchini, and shrimp come together in a flavorful sauce that would be great served alongside pasta or a summer salad.
Get the Cilantro-Lime Shrimp Foil Packs recipe.
Wrap up chicken and veggies like sweet corn and juicy tomatoes for a fast and super-fresh meal that is the perfect celebration of summer.
Get the Chicken, Tomatoes, & Corn Foil Pack recipe.
In these foil packs, a heap of veggies (there are potatoes, onions, and bell peppers) and tender nuggets of boneless, skinless chicken thighs are all flavored with delicious fajita spices. Though potatoes aren't traditionally served with fajitas, here they're a welcome addition (they help soak up ALL the flavor).
Get the Tex-Mex Chicken Fajita Foil Packets recipe.
There's not a lot better than the flavor combo of chicken, bacon, and ranch dressing (see our chicken bacon ranch poppers, burritos, spaghetti squash boats...). Now you can enjoy it on your grill too! We snuck a little broccoli in there for some greens, but feel free to skip if you're a purist. 😈
Get the Chicken Bacon Ranch Foil Packets recipe.
The only prep needed for these creamy, savory foil-packet potatoes is slicing the potatoes themselves. Then just pile them into a square of foil with spices, ranch dressing, and a heap of shredded cheese. These get amazingly melty as they grill, making them the perfect cheesy side dish.
Get the Melty Loaded Potato Foil Packs recipe.
Camille Lowder is the digital food producer at Delish, otherwise known as our resident queen of recipe galleries. Previously, she attended the Natural Gourmet Institute for culinary school and worked at/managed a number of New York restaurants. She loves anything vegan, foods masquerading as other foods (hello, cauliflower), and a well-used Oxford comma.
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