Can I use uncooked rice?

Unfortunately, no. There isn't enough liquid to cook the rice in these packets. You could take a shortcut and buy packages of cooked rice at the store. Or this is a great time to use up frozen cooked rice .

Can I use other veggies besides broccoli?

Sure. Just remember that broccoli cooks pretty quickly compared to other veggies so you may need to microwave or saute veggies depending on your desired texture. Other ideas include cauliflower or onions and bell peppers.

Can I make these dairy-free?

Yes! Just sub olive oil for the butter and leave out the cheese or use dairy-free "cheese". If I was omitting the cheese, I'd personally add a lot more bacon. :)

Chicken, Broccoli, & Rice Foil Packets {Make Ahead & Freeze!}

Name: Chicken, Broccoli, and Rice Foil Packets
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 35 min
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 1 1/2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts; 1 teaspoon salt; 3/4 teaspoon ground black pepper; 3 cups cooked brown rice (Shortcut: Two Uncle Ben’s Ready Brown Rice 8.8-ounce packs); 6 tablespoons salted butter; 4 cups broccoli florets, cut into bite-sized pieces (Shortcut: One 12-ounce package of pre-cut Hy-Vee Broccoli Florets); 1 1/2 cups shredded Cheddar cheese; 12 ounces bacon, cooked and chopped into bite-sized pieces (Shortcut: Hy-Vee Fully-Cooked Bacon)

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Chicken, Broccoli, and Rice Foil Packets

Chicken, broccoli, cheddar cheese, and bacon are served over brown rice in these ooey, gooey chicken foil packets. Grill, bake, or cook over the campfire! You can even make them ahead and freeze for later with our instructions.

Yield: 6 packets 1x

Prep: 15 minutesCook: 20 minutesTotal: 35 minutes

Units:

Scale:

Ingredients

1 1/2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts
1 teaspoon salt
3/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
3 cups cooked brown rice (Shortcut: Two Uncle Ben’s Ready Brown Rice 8.8-ounce packs)
6 tablespoons salted butter
4 cups broccoli florets, cut into bite-sized pieces (Shortcut: One 12-ounce package of pre-cut Hy-Vee Broccoli Florets)
1 1/2 cups shredded Cheddar cheese
12 ounces bacon, cooked and chopped into bite-sized pieces (Shortcut: Hy-Vee Fully-Cooked Bacon)

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Instructions

Make It Now:

Preheat a grill to medium-high heat or the oven to 400°F.
Tear off 6 pieces of heavy-duty foil that measure roughly 12×12 inches and set aside.
On a cutting board, dice the chicken into bite-sized pieces. Season with the salt and pepper on all sides. (If you want, you could add a little onion powder and garlic powder too, but totally optional.)
Assemble the Foil Packets: To each piece of foil, scoop 1/2 cup of the cooked rice and top it with 1 tablespoon of the butter. Add about 1/2 cup of chicken, 2/3 cup broccoli, 1/3 cup cheese, and about 2-3 tablespoons of the chopped bacon. Fold up the sides of the foil and seal. (Freezing instructions begin here.)
Cook the Foil Packets: You have two options for cooking the foil packs. Either place the foil packs directly on the grill (do not close the lid) or in the oven and cook for 20-25 minutes. (The chicken is done when a thermometer inserted in the chicken registers 165°F or no longer is pink in the middle. The broccoli should be tender, as well.)
Remove the foil packs from the heat (using tongs) and let stand for about 5 minutes. Carefully open each pack to release the steam and enjoy!

Freeze For Later: Follow Steps 2-4. Place the foil packets in a large freezer bag or container. Seal and freeze.

Prepare From Frozen: Thaw completely in the refrigerator. Follow Step 1 and then Steps 5-6.

Notes/Tips

How to Make Over a Campfire: When camping, keep them cold in a cooler with ice until you’re ready to cook them. Set them out to warm slightly while you build a campfire in a fire pit. Place a grate over the fire. Once the fire has burned down a little and is nice and hot, you can cook your foil packets on the grate for about 20-30 minutes. Make sure the chicken is completely cooked through.
Dairy-Free Option: Sub olive oil for the butter and leave out the cheese.
Other ideas you could use in place of broccoli include cauliflower, onions, and/or bell peppers.

Cuisine: American Method: Grill

Find it online: https://thrivinghomeblog.com/chicken-foil-packets/