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Grilled Hawaiian BBQ chicken foil packets are a great idea if you’re looking for inspiration for campfire meals. Succulent chicken breasts are paired with vegetables, pineapple and tasty seasonings to make these campfire pineapple BBQ chicken foil packs, along with some BBQ sauce and lime juice. They’re really tasty and they are easy to cook on a campfire or on the grill.
You will want to enjoy these pineapple BBQ chicken foil packs all summer long. Their sweet, savory and sour appeal is magical and they boast bold Hawaiian flavors.
Fans of Hawaiian food might also like to try this Hawaiian macaroni salad, Hawaiian pork tenderloin or slow cooker Hawaiian ribs.
Why You’ll Love It
Easy: This recipe is very simple. You just have to combine the ingredients, wrap them in foil packets and grill until done.
So tasty: Juicy sweet pineapple, a tangy sweet and sour sauce and succulent chicken offer wonderful flavors.
Campfire-friendly: Not every recipe is a good candidate for cooking on a campfire but this one is well-suited for this fun cooking method.
Hawaiian Chicken Foil Packets Ingredients
A complete list of ingredients and amounts can be found in the recipe card below
Chicken breasts: I like to use boneless skinless chicken breasts, but if you prefer thighs you can use those instead.
Vegetables: Juicy bell pepper and red onion (green onions if you prefer) are great with the chicken in these foil packets.
Seasonings: Garlic, onion, paprika, and lime juice (lemon juice if you prefer) are just some of the tasty, tangy seasonings. You can add extras if you like, such as soy sauce or fresh minced garlic.
BBQ sauce: Use sweet or spicy, as you prefer. This adds plenty of flavor as well as sweetness. You can substitute teriyaki sauce if you prefer.
Pineapple: Canned pineapple is the easiest type to use in this recipe, and adds a delicious sweet taste to each campfire chicken foil packet.
How to Make Pineapple Chicken Foil Packets
For more detailed instructions with weights and measurements, jump to the printable recipe card
Prepare the campfire: Heat the campfire or grill to 375 degrees F.
Combine the ingredients: Toss the chicken pieces with the oil and veggies, then add the salt, pepper and garlic, and then you can add the remaining seasonings, pineapple, lime juice, and BBQ sauce.
Assemble the foil packs: Divide the chicken mixture between 4 (12-inch) squares of heavy duty foil.
Cook them: Close them tightly and place chicken packets on the campfire for 17 to 20 minutes, or until the chicken is 165 degrees F in the center. Carefully open packets and serve hot.
Substitutions and Variations
Gluten-free option: If you want a gluten-free version, just make sure you’re using gluten-free BBQ sauce.
More veggies: Optional vegetables for these campfire foil packs include mushrooms, zucchini, summer squash, corn, and cherry tomatoes. Add whatever you like – delicious summer veggies are ideal in these.
Optional additions: You might like to serve these with melted cheese or add some chopped jalapenos to spice them up. Spinach goes well, or you might like to add fresh tomatoes and avocado just before serving for extra color and nutrients.
Serving Suggestions
Appetizers: If you’re hungry before dinnertime, consider making something to munch on during the day such as strawberry trail mix or ranch and jerky trail mix.
Side dishes: Smoked asparagus would be really tasty with these pineapple BBQ chicken foil packs, or perhaps you’d rather have one of these Italian salad recipes.
Desserts: Try these campfire banana boats or apple crisp foil packets!
How to Store Hawaiian Chicken Foil Packets
Store: Keep leftovers refrigerated and eat within 3 days.
Freeze: You can freeze this in portions for up to 3 months.
Thaw: Thaw overnight in the refrigerator.
Reheat: Use the microwave to reheat this or, if you’re still camping, the campfire!
Top Tips
How to Serve: You can eat pineapple BBQ chicken straight from the foil packs or serve in a bun or over rice or mashed potatoes. It’s also nice over noodles or pasta.
Leftovers: Make a wrap with leftovers or add them to a salad. Another idea is to make camp toast (toast some bread on the campfire) and drizzle olive oil over it, before adding the Hawaiian chicken leftovers – voila: bruschetta!
Check the temperature: The best way to tell if the chicken is done is to use a thermometer. Chicken breast should reach 165 degrees F in the thickest part to be considered safe to eat. If you’re using bone-in chicken thighs or drumsticks instead, it’s best to get them to 175 degrees F.
Chicken & Pineapple Foil Packets FAQs
Yes, you can sub extra-firm tofu for the chicken or else maybe some button mushrooms or your favorite meat alternative. If you’re using tofu, you might like to marinate it in some of the BBQ sauce and lime juice first, so it can soak up some flavor.
There is an enzyme in fresh pineapple that is a natural tenderizer. For this reason, it’s best to use canned pineapple slices or pineapple chunks (the process used for canning destroys the tenderizing enzyme). The enzyme can make the chicken go mushy and that, of course, isn’t what you’ll want from this recipe.
If you’re using boneless chicken pieces, make sure they’re 165 degrees F in the center. With bone-in cuts (drumsticks, thighs etc) an internal temperature of 175 degrees F is best. Keep in mind the larger the chicken pieces, the longer they’ll take to cook through, so adjust the cooking time accordingly.
Pineapple BBQ Chicken Foil Packet Recipe
Pineapple BBQ Chicken Foil Packs
Ingredients
- 1½ Pounds chicken Breasts, boneless, skinless (4 small chicken breasts), cut into 1-inch pieces
- 2 Cups bell peppers, any colors, diced
- 1 Cup red onion, sliced
- 3 Tablespoons olive oil
- 1 Teaspoon salt
- 1 Teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1 Teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 Teaspoon onion powder
- 1 Teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1 Teaspoon smoked paprika
- ¼ Teaspoon chili powder
- 20 Ounces canned pineapple, tidbits or chunks, drained
- Juice of one lime
- 2 Tablespoons BBQ sauce, sweet or spicy
Instructions
- Preheat the BBQ to 375 degrees F.
- Cut 4 pieces of aluminum, 12 inches wide.
- In a large mixing bowl, add the diced chicken breasts, bell peppers, red onion, and olive oil. Mix well to combine and coat all ingredients with oil.
- Add salt, ground pepper and garlic powder. Mix well.
- Add the onion powder, Italian seasoning, smoked Paprika, and chili powder. Mix until all ingredients are well coated with spices.
- Add the pineapple tidbits, juice of a lime, and BBQ sauce. Mix well.
- Divide the mixture equally on the 4 foil packs and close tightly.
- Place on the BBQ grill and cook for 17 to 20 minutes. The chicken will be at 165 degrees F when cooked. Serve hot.
Notes
Nutrition
This BBQ chicken recipe is absolutely delicious. Like other foil packet recipes, it’s easy to make and you can expect some truly mouthwatering results. The prep time for these pineapple BBQ chicken foil packs is minimal and they don’t take long to cook either. When you’re ready to serve carefully open packets avoiding the steam and enjoy the incredible aroma and then the wonderful flavor in every mouthful.
Other Recipes to Try
Bella Bucchiotti
Bella Bucchiotti is a Canadian-based syndicated food, travel, and lifestyle writer, photographer, and creator at xoxoBella. She founded xoxoBella in 2015, where she shares her love for food, dogs, sustainability, fitness, crafts, outdoor adventures, travel, and philanthropy to encourage others to run the extra mile, try new recipes, visit unfamiliar places, and stand for a cause. Bella creates stress-free and family-friendly recipes for weeknight dinners and festive feasts.
These grilled Hawaiian BBQ chicken foil packets are a campfire game changer! So tasty and easy!
This one exceeded my expectations! So flavorful!