Campfire Chicken Fajita Foil Packets with Lime Crema
Toss sliced chicken thighs with chili-cumin seasoning and lime, then seal them in foil with peppers and onion. Cook the packets on a grate over medium coals for 15 to 20 minutes, flipping once, until the chicken hits 165°F. Warm tortillas on the grate and serve with lime crema, about 40 minutes from start to finish.
If you're hunting for easy Mexican camp recipes, start here. Fajitas need no special gear, and the foil packet is the pan. Everyone builds, seals and forgets about their packet for 20 minutes. Cleanup is a ball of foil.
The seasoning is plain pantry spices, and the lime crema takes one minute with a spoon. Slice the chicken at home and the camp work is just assembly. Thighs stay juicy over coals, and they forgive a few extra minutes better than breast does.
Campfire Chicken Fajita Foil Packets with Lime Crema
- Prep
- 20 min
- Cook
- 20 min
- Serves
- 4
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Heat
- Medium coals
- Pack weight
- 5 lb
- Campfire
- Camp stove
- Backpacking
- Cooler required
- No stove
- Low water
- One-pan cleanup
- Prep ahead
Ingredients
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Gear you'll need
- Heavy-duty aluminum foil
- Campfire grate
- Long tongs
- Heat-resistant gloves
- Instant-read thermometer
- Cutting board and knife
- Zip bag or mixing bowl
- Small bowl and spoon
Steps
-
Season the chicken
In a zip bag or bowl, toss the chicken with the oil, chili powder, cumin, paprika, garlic powder, salt, oregano and the juice of 1 lime. Wash your hands and the bowl right away after handling raw chicken.
-
Get a good bed of coals
Let the fire burn down to medium coals, with no big flames. Set a grate over the coals. You should be able to hold your hand 5 inches above for about 5 seconds.
-
Build the packets
Tear four 18-inch sheets of heavy-duty foil and brush each with oil. Pile peppers and onions in the center, then top with the chicken in an even layer.
-
Seal them tight
Bring the long edges together and fold over twice. Fold in both ends so nothing leaks. Leave a little air space inside for steam.
-
Cook over coals
Set the packets on the grate and cook 15 to 20 minutes. Flip once at the halfway point with tongs.
-
Check the temperature
Pull one packet and open a corner, keeping your face back from the steam. The chicken must read 165°F in the thickest piece. If not, reseal and cook 3 to 5 more minutes.
-
Warm the tortillas
While the packets rest, warm the tortillas on the grate for 20 to 30 seconds per side. Stack them in a clean towel to stay soft.
-
Mix the crema and serve
Stir the sour cream with the juice of the second lime and a pinch of salt. Open the packets and spoon the fajita mix into tortillas. Top with cheese, cilantro, avocado and crema.
Trail Notes
Slice the chicken, peppers and onion at home. Mix the chicken with the spices and oil (hold the lime until camp) and freeze it flat in a zip bag. It works as an ice pack and thaws in the cooler within a day. Cook it within 24 hours of thawing.
Keep the chicken at 40°F or below on the bottom of the cooler, sealed away from the veggies, cheese and crema. Use a separate cutting board and utensils for raw chicken, or wash them in hot soapy water before they touch anything else.
No fire? Cook the packets in a covered 12-inch skillet over medium heat on a camp stove for about 20 minutes, flipping once. Check the chicken at 165°F.
Use an existing fire ring and let the foil cool before you pack it out. Foil does not burn away in a fire. Drown the coals, stir them and feel for heat before you leave.
Campers ask
What is the easiest Mexican food to make while camping?
Fajita foil packets, quesadillas and burrito bowls need only a fire or one burner and a few pantry spices. Foil packets are the easiest because you cook and serve from the foil.
How long do chicken fajita foil packets take over a campfire?
About 15 to 20 minutes over medium coals, flipping once. Thin 1/2-inch strips cook fast, but always check that the chicken reaches 165°F.
Can I make fajitas at camp without a cast-iron skillet?
Yes. Foil packets on a grate over coals work with no pan at all. You can also use a covered skillet on a camp stove.
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