Simple ingredients, big flavor, and hardly any cleanup ~ my collection of easy packet dinners is weeknight cooking at its best, with recipes for chicken, meat, fish, shellfish, and veggies.
If you haven’t made dinner in a bag, a packet, or a pouch, you’re totally missing out on one of the best ideas ever. It’s got everything I love in a great meal: easy prep, easy cook, gorgeous colors, healthy ingredients, and a fun presentation!
- NO MESS | EASY CLEAN UP: Everything gets wrapped up and baked right in the packet. No pans to clean.
- MAKE AHEAD: The packets can be assembled ahead of time and baked off when needed.
- HEALTHIER WAY TO COOK: Everything cooks in its own steam and the nutrients are locked in.
- THE FUN FACTOR: With a dinner packet everybody opens their own special ‘gift’ to a poof of aromatic steam!
jump links for packet dinners
- Different types of dinner packets
- How does dinner cook in a packet?
- How to wrap a dinner packet
- Curried Couscous Salmon Packets | get the recipe here
- Sausage and Veggie Grill Packets | get the recipe here
- Greek Shrimp Packets | get the recipe here
- Pasta Primavera Packets | get the recipe here
- Fish with Blood Orange and Thyme in Parchment | get the recipe here
Different types of dinner packets
Parchment paper ~ a long strip of parchment paper that gets wrapped and folded around your dinner (no origami skills needed, lol.)
Parchment paper bags ~ readymade baking bags allow you to slide your ingredients in and simply fold up the opening to seal. Like folding up a lunch bag.
Aluminum foil ~ use heavy duty foil and wrap just like parchment. This allows you to cook in the oven or on the grill if you like.
How does dinner cook in a packet?
Sealing food in a packet creates a mini oven ~ heat circulates, moisture is trapped, and everything cooks gently in its own flavorful steam. Think of it as a little dinner cocoon that turns dinner into a self-basting, flavor-trapping bundle of delicious! Once you get the hang of it you’ll find thousands of ways to make these hands off dinner packets for your family.
How to wrap a dinner packet
- Tear off a long sheet of parchment or foil.
- Place your dinner ingredients in the center.
- Fold up the long ends and fold down like a lunch bag.
- Fold or crumple each side to seal the bag completely.
- Place flat side down on a baking sheet for cooking.
- Depending on the contents your packet will be done in 30 minutes or less.
But there are no hard and fast rules. Just make sure the packet is secure so the steam stays in. You can also gather and tie into a pouch like I did with mushrooms and polenta, below.
Curried Couscous Salmon Packets | get the recipe here
This meal, or a variation of, is one of my all time favorite meals to cook, and to eat. Fish is quick cooking so I surround it with quick cooking couscous and veggies. It’s lovely, and clean up is a simple matter of crumpling up your packet dinner and tossing it in the trash. Win-win-win!
Variations to try:
- tilapia
- cod
- shrimp
- clams in shell
- mussels in shell
Sausage and Veggie Grill Packets | get the recipe here
This one can go in the oven or right on the grill, so it’s super versatile and great for summer. I go crazy with colorful veggies, cut small enough to cook quickly with the sliced sausage. Smoked sausage works great.
Variations to try:
- hot dogs
- sliced bratwurst
Greek Shrimp Packets | get the recipe here
Quick cooking shrimp is perfect for this Mediterranean packet dinner. Year round cherry tomatoes and a visit to your supermarket’s olive bar finishes it off!
variations to try:
- clams in shell
- mussels in shell
Pasta Primavera Packets | get the recipe here
This is a fabulous family dinner ~ the pasta needs to be cooked to al dente first, but you can do that ahead, and even use leftover pasta.
Variations to try:
- Penne with marinara and little frozen meatballs
- Pasta Alla Norma
- Pasta Puttanesca
- Pesto Pasta with Blistered Tomatoes
Fish with Blood Orange and Thyme in Parchment | get the recipe here
Elegant enough for a dinner party, easy enough for a weeknight. Many different types of thin fish fillets can be cooked this way. Serve everyone their own fish packet and serve sides family style.
Variations to try:
- tilapia
- salmon
- flounder
- sole
