Foil Pack Creamy Pesto Chicken Rice Recipes

FOIL-PACK CREAMY PESTO CHICKEN & RICE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 400°F.
• Spoon rice onto centers of 4 large sheets heavy-duty foil. Top each with a chicken breast.
• Combine cream cheese spread, pesto, tomatoes and milk until blended. Add artichokes; spoon over chicken. Fold to make packet. Place in rimmed baking sheet.
• Bake 30 min. or until chicken is done (165°F). Let stand 5 min. Cut slits in foil to release steam before opening each packet. Sprinkle with Parmesan before serving.

30-MINUTE PESTO-PARMESAN CHICKEN & RICE SKILLET

Steps:

• Melt butter in large skillet on medium heat. Add onions; cook and stir 3 to 5 min. or until crisp-tender. Add chicken, spinach and pesto; cook 5 min. or until heated through, stirring frequently.
• Add broth and milk; stir. Bring to boil. Stir in rice; simmer on medium-low heat 5 min.
• Remove from heat. Stir in cheese; cover. Let stand 5 min.

CHICKEN AND RICE CASSEROLE FOIL PACKS

Steps:

• Heat gas or charcoal grill. Cut 4 (18x12-inch) sheets of heavy-duty foil. Spray with cooking spray.
• Measure 1/2 cup of the condensed soup, and reserve. In 4-cup glass measuring cup, mix remaining condensed soup, the chicken broth and 1 teaspoon of the seasoning; beat with whisk to blend. Add instant rice; stir and let stand about 8 minutes or until most of the liquid is absorbed. Stir in carrots and peppers.
• Season chicken with remaining 2 teaspoons seasoning; place on center of each sheet of foil. Dividing evenly, spoon rice and vegetable mixture around each chicken breast. Divide any remaining soaking liquid over tops of breasts. Spread 2 tablespoons reserved soup over each breast; evenly top with bacon.
• Bring up 2 sides of foil so edges meet. Seal edges, making tight 1/2-inch fold; fold again, allowing space for heat circulation and expansion. Fold other sides to seal.
• Place packs on grill over medium heat. Cover grill; cook 10 minutes. Rotate packs 1/2 turn; cook 9 to 10 minutes longer or until juice of chicken is clear when center of thickest part is cut (at least 165°F). Remove packs from grill; cut large X across top of each pack. Carefully fold back foil, and garnish with green onions.

FOIL PACKED PESTO CHICKEN

Steps:

• Place 1 chicken breast half, 2 sliced tomatoes and 1 sliced zucchini in each packet.
• Spoon 2 Tablespoons of basil pesto over each chicken.
• You can use 8 18 x 12 inch sheets of heavy duty foil if you don't want to purchase the foil packets.
• Make sure you double fold ends by folding 1/2 inch and then repeating the 1/2 inch fold.
• Remember to leave space on sides for circulation and expansion.
• Cover and grill packets 4 to 5 inches from medium heat.
• Cook 20 to 25 minutes or until juice of chicken is no longer pink.
• To serve, cut a large"X" across top of packet to let steam escape.
• This also can be cooked in a 375 degree oven for 25 minutes or until juices run clear.

FOIL-PACKET RICE WITH CHORIZO AND CHICKEN

Steps:

• Preheat a grill to medium. Toss the rice, bell pepper, chorizo, olives, tomato sauce, 2 tablespoons olive oil, 1/2 teaspoon salt and a few grinds of pepper in a large bowl. Add the scallions, reserving 2 tablespoons of the green parts for topping.
• Tear off four 18-inch-long sheets of heavy-duty foil. Divide the rice mixture among the foil sheets. Add the chicken to the empty bowl along with the remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil, the paprika, oregano, garlic powder, 1 teaspoon salt and a few grinds of pepper. Toss to coat.
• Put the chicken on top of the rice mixture (3 pieces per packet). Bring the short ends of the foil together and fold twice to seal, then fold in the sides to form packets.
• Grill the foil packets, flipping occasionally, until the chicken is cooked through, about 25 minutes. Remove from the grill and let stand 5 to 10 minutes.
• Carefully open the packets. Sprinkle with the chopped parsley and reserved scallion greens.

LAZY PESTO CHICKEN AND RICE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease a 9x13-inch baking pan with cooking spray.
• Spread rice in the bottom of the baking pan. Layer chicken on top.
• Mix cream of chicken soup, milk, and cheese wedges together in a bowl until smooth. Stir in chicken broth and pesto. Pour over chicken and rice. Cover baking pan tightly with aluminum foil.
• Bake in the preheated oven until most of the liquid has been absorbed, about 45 minutes. Remove from oven carefully; stir. Replace aluminum foil cover. Continue baking until rice is tender, about 15 minutes more. Remove from oven; uncover and sprinkle Parmesan cheese on top.
• Set oven rack about 6 inches from the heat source and preheat the oven's broiler.
• Broil until Parmesan cheese is melted and browned, about 5 minutes.

PESTO CHICKEN AND RICE

Steps:

• Heat 3 tablespoons of the oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the fennel and cook, stirring frequently, until it begins to become translucent, 3 to 4 minutes. Add the chicken and season with salt and pepper. Add the shallots and continue to cook until the chicken is browned on all sides, about 3 minutes.
• Add the rice and cook, stirring, until it is toasted, about 2 minutes.
• Stir in the broth and bring the mixture to a boil. Reduce the heat so the broth simmers; cover the skillet and simmer until the rice is tender, 15 to 20 minutes.
• Bring a medium saucepan of water to a roaring boil.
• Meanwhile, fill a small bowl with ice water. Set aside.
• Cook the pine nuts in a medium skillet over medium heat, shaking frequently, until lightly toasted, 3 to 5 minutes. Keep an eye on them, as they can burn quickly.
• When the water is boiling, add a handful of salt (you want the water as salty as the ocean), then add the basil leaves. Use a slotted spoon, small strainer or spider to press down the leaves, making sure they're fully submerged in the water. Count to five, remove the leaves with the slotted spoon and immediately plunge them into the ice water for 1 to 2 minutes.
• Remove the basil from the ice water and squeeze out excess water.
• Put the toasted pine nuts in a food processor. (If you don't have a food processor, a blender is fine.) Pulse to chop the nuts. Add the garlic and basil and pulse. Once a creamy, green paste forms, with the motor running, slowly pour in the remaining 1/2 cup of olive oil, processing until the oil is fully incorporated. Transfer the paste to a medium bowl and fold in 1 cup of the Parmesan with a rubber spatula. Season with salt and pepper. Set aside.
• Remove the skillet from the heat and stir in the pesto and butter, if using. Serve the chicken and rice topped with fresh basil and the remaining 1/2 cup Parmesan.