Campfire Greek Chicken Foil Packets with Zucchini, Tomatoes and Feta
Toss 1-inch chicken thigh pieces with lemon, garlic and oregano, then seal them in four heavy-duty foil packets with zucchini, cherry tomatoes, red onion and olives. Cook on a grate over medium coals for 15 to 18 minutes, flipping once, until the chicken reads 165°F. Top with feta and parsley and serve with grate-warmed pitas, about 35 minutes start to finish once the coals are ready.
These packets are a good lunch for a day when you don't want to cook for long. The chicken is cut small, so it cooks fast. The zucchini and tomatoes give off juice that turns into a lemony sauce you'll want to scoop up with pita.
Each person gets their own packet, which makes serving easy and cleanup almost nothing. Fill them at the picnic table, set them on the coals, and use the wait to get the pitas and lemon wedges ready.
Campfire Greek Chicken Foil Packets with Zucchini, Tomatoes and Feta
- Prep
- 15 min
- Cook
- 18 min
- Serves
- 4
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Heat
- Medium coals
- Pack weight
- 5 lb
- Campfire
- Camp stove
- Backpacking
- Cooler required
- One burner
- Low water
- One-pan cleanup
- Prep ahead
Ingredients
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Gear you'll need
- Campfire grate
- Heavy-duty aluminum foil (18-inch wide)
- Long tongs
- Heat-resistant gloves
- Instant-read thermometer
- Cutting board and knife
- Large mixing bowl or zip bag
- Small bowl for vegetables
Steps
-
Burn down the coals
Build your fire about 30 minutes ahead and let it burn to glowing, medium coals with no big flames. Set a grate over the coals, or push the coals into an even bed.
-
Marinate the chicken
In a bowl or zip bag, mix the chicken with the olive oil, lemon juice, garlic, oregano, salt and pepper. Let it sit in the cooler for at least 15 minutes. Wash your hands, the knife and the board with hot soapy water after handling raw chicken.
-
Prep the vegetables
Slice the zucchini and onion and halve the tomatoes on a clean board. Keep them in a separate bowl from the raw chicken.
-
Fill the foil
Tear four 18-inch sheets of heavy-duty foil and rub each lightly with olive oil. Pile the vegetables in the middle, then top with chicken and olives. Fold the long edges over twice, then crimp the ends, leaving a little air space inside.
-
Cook over coals
Set the packets on the grate over medium coals. Cook 15 to 18 minutes, flipping once halfway with tongs. Rotate any packet that sits over a hotter spot.
-
Check the temperature
Wearing gloves, pull one packet off and open a corner away from your face, since the steam is hot. Poke an instant-read thermometer into the thickest chicken piece. It must read 165°F. If it doesn't, reseal and cook 3 to 5 more minutes.
-
Warm the pitas
While the packets rest for 2 minutes, put the pitas on the edge of the grate for about 30 seconds per side. Watch them closely so they don't scorch.
-
Top and serve
Open each packet wide and scatter on the feta and parsley. Squeeze a lemon wedge over the top and eat from the foil with the warm pitas.
Trail Notes
Cut and marinate the chicken at home, then freeze it flat in a zip bag. It works as an ice pack and thaws in the cooler by the next day. Cook it within 24 hours of thawing and keep the cooler at 40°F or below.
No fire? Set the packets in a 12-inch skillet with a lid over medium-low heat on a camp stove. Cook 18 to 22 minutes, flipping once, and still check for 165°F.
Keep raw chicken in the bottom of the cooler, sealed. Never put cooked chicken back on a plate or board that held raw chicken, and don't leave it out longer than 1 hour in warm weather.
Use an existing fire ring and let the coals burn down completely. Once the foil has cooled, pack it out with your trash, since it won't burn away. Drown the fire and stir it until it is cold to the touch.
Round out your camp day
Picked to work with the same kit as this recipe.
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DinnerVegan Campfire Foil Packet Dinner with Smoky Maple Tofu, Potatoes and Peppers
Snack or treatCampfire Chili-Lime Sweet Potato Wedge Foil PacketsMore one-burner camping meals →Planning a trip? Get the free 3-day meal plan →
Campers ask
How long do chicken foil packets take over a campfire?
Chicken cut into 1-inch pieces takes 15 to 18 minutes over medium coals, flipping once. Larger pieces or a cooler fire can add 5 to 10 minutes, so always check for 165°F.
Can I use regular foil for campfire packets?
Heavy-duty foil is better because it resists tearing and holds in steam. If you only have regular foil, use a double layer.
How do I keep foil packets from burning on the bottom?
Cook over glowing coals, not open flames, and rub the foil with a little oil first. Flip the packets halfway and move any that sit over a hot spot.
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