139 packet recipes

Pompano en papillote: New Orleans classic of Gulf pompano baked in foil packets over a sherry-spiked béchamel studded with shrimp and crab. Antoine's-style fine dining at home.

Pasta with zucchini and roasted garlic tossed with thyme and rosemary. The garlic roasts in a foil packet while the pasta cooks, then gets mashed into a creamy sauce. Simple and vegan.

Rich homemade hot chocolate made from scratch with real cream, milk, cocoa, and sugar, no powdered packet in sight. A thick, deeply chocolatey cup that puts the instant stuff to shame.

Hidden Valley Ranch quiche Lorraine uses sour cream and a packet of ranch-style Italian dressing mix for a tangy, herby custard loaded with cheddar, bacon, and ham. A retro shortcut that actually delivers.

White fish fillets baked in a foil packet with green pepper, tomato, scallions, lemon, and fresh basil. A 30-minute, low-fat, low-calorie dinner that steams its own sauce.

Onion meatloaf uses a packet of dry onion soup mix as the seasoning shortcut, topped with a tangy brown sugar, ketchup, and mustard glaze. Classic mid-century American comfort food.

Red snapper en papillote: snapper fillets baked in foil packets with scallops, shrimp, mussels, garlic marinara, and Cafe de Paris sauce. A dinner-party seafood feast unwrapped at the table.

Mary's chili for wimps is a four-ingredient crockpot chili with ground beef, kidney beans, crushed tomatoes, and a seasoning packet. Dump it all in and walk away. Mild and easy.

Florida-style shrimp baked en papillote in a tangy blue cheese, cream cheese, and sour cream sauce with garlic, parsley, and sauterne wine. Wrapped in foil packets for easy cleanup and maximum flavor.

Zesty chili seasoning mix, a make-ahead blend of chili powder, cumin, garlic, onion, and red pepper flakes with a little flour to thicken. Skip the packet and season a pot of chili from scratch.

Best corned beef cures your own brisket from scratch in a spiced salt brine, then simmers it tender. Real-deal homemade corned beef with garlic and pickling spice, far better than anything from a packet.

Sea bass fillets soaked in cumin-spiced milk, topped with a cilantro and green chile sauce, then baked in foil packets. Mexican-style fish that stays flaky and moist every time.

Simple taco filling made with lean ground beef and homemade taco seasoning. Skip the store-bought packets and control the spices yourself. Makes enough saucy meat for 8 to 10 tacos.

A 25-minute ground beef chili with kidney beans and zesty tomato sauce served over rice. Uses a chili seasoning packet for speed, making it the fastest chili for busy weeknights.

Parchment-wrapped potato parcels: microwave papillote packets of sliced ham, potato, zucchini, winter squash, and red pepper with lemon and basil. A 15-minute single-serve dinner, no dishes to wash.

Not so meaty bean soup uses a dried bean mix simmered with seasoning packet, then partially blended for a creamy-yet-chunky texture. Plant-based and pantry-friendly, no meat needed.