10+ Easy No-Mess Foil Packet Dinners for Indoor and Outdoor Cooking

If you’re looking for dinners that are flavorful, fuss-free, and leave almost no dishes behind, foil packet meals are the answer. Whether you’re firing up the grill, baking in the oven, or cooking over a campfire, foil packets lock in moisture, flavor, and nutrients—all while keeping cleanup to a minimum.

These 10+ easy foil packet dinners are perfect for both indoor weeknight meals and outdoor adventures. Think juicy chicken and veggie packets seasoned with herbs, hearty beef and potato foil packs that cook up tender, or zesty shrimp and sausage packets inspired by a low-country boil. Each packet is its own self-contained meal, which means everyone gets a perfectly portioned dish that’s hot, delicious, and ready to eat straight from the foil.

One of the best things about foil packet cooking is its flexibility—you can mix and match proteins, vegetables, and seasonings to suit your tastes. Want something light and fresh? Try a salmon and asparagus foil pack with lemon butter. Craving comfort food? A cheesy BBQ chicken and potato foil dinner will hit the spot.

Not only are these dinners convenient, but they’re also perfect for family meals, camping trips, or summer cookouts. Just assemble, wrap, and cook—no pans, no stress, and no mess.

Ocean Packets

Corn and cherry tomatoes combine with fresh seafood to make a juicy and vibrant supper. Recipe creator TerryWilson says “If you can’t find clams, use mussels. If someone doesn’t care for clams, double up on the shrimp and/or scallops. Baking times may vary according to the ingredients you select.”

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Foiled BBQ Chicken with Corn on the Cob and Pinto Beans

A true summertime treat, fresh corn on the cob, beans, and barbecue chicken are cooked in individual packets in the oven. Recipe reviewer Paula says, “This recipe was so easy to throw together, required no attention to cooking, and husband said it was good.”

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Baked Salmon in a Foil Packet

An unusual mixture of marjoram and star anise flavor salmon cooked in foil on a bed of onions. Recipe creator NT Bella says “Baking salmon in a foil packet it a very healthy way of preparing fish, because you don’t need to use any fat for the baking process.”

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Hobo Dinner

Ground beef patties, carrots, potatoes, and onions are baked together for an easy dinner. “My mother-in-law has made these for years,” says reviewer Allana. “She makes them in individual foil packets and sprinkles them liberally with Worcestershire sauce and Heinz 57 sauce.”

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Foil Barbecued Trout with Wine

A perfect recipe for your next catch, whole trout are cooked with wine, butter, lemon, and parsley in a foil packet on the grill. Recipe reviewer Kat Lacroix says, “I don’t have a BBQ so I baked the trout in the oven instead.”

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Pot Roast in Foil

A tightly sealed foil packet ensures that the pot roast stays moist. Recipe creator L Beech says, “You can add cubed potatoes and sliced carrots to the roast before sealing it in foil, but I like to serve it over mashed potatoes and gravy.”

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Fish in Foil

Cooking fish in a foil packet in the oven is not only simple and easy to clean, it also minimizes cooking odors. Recipe creator Denyse says, “The ‘no smell’ fish recipe that is the ONLY one I make for my family.”

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Baked BBQ Baby Back Ribs

This recipe has a foolproof method. Rub ribs with a spice rub, slowly cook them in a sealed foil packet, then open the packet and coat the ribs in barbecue sauce and continue cooking them. Recipe creator Chef John says, “This works with literally any dry rub and barbecue sauce combo.”

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Tin Foil Stew

Chunks of beef, potato, carrots, and onion all come together in a foil packet and are seasoned with garlic, salt, and pepper. Just a tablespoon of each butter and water help the food to cook and keep everything juicy and moist.

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Grilled Mediterranean Salmon in Foil

Recipe creator Paola Albanesi says “These salmon foil parcels are quick and easy to make on the grill, perfect for a nice summer evening meal.” The packets may be prepared hours ahead of time and stored in the refrigerator and can be cooked in the oven or the grill.

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