The honey garlic shrimp zucchini foil packet recipe is one of my absolute favorite dishes. There’s just something special about the combination of shrimp, zucchini, and that sweet and savory honey garlic sauce. I’ve made this recipe countless times, and every single time I’m blown away by how easy it is to cook. I love how it looks when it comes out of the foil packet.
One of the things I love most about this recipe is how quickly it comes together. Simply toss the shrimp, zucchini, and some basic pantry staples like olive oil, garlic, and lemon juice into a foil packet, and let the campfire do the rest. The result is a dish that’s both flavorful and healthy. The shrimp are cooked to perfection, and the zucchini comes out tender but still crisp.
But what really takes this recipe to the next level is that honey garlic sauce. The honey, garlic, and a hint of tangy lemon all come together to create this rich, velvety sauce that coats the shrimp and zucchini. It’s ridiculously easy to make – just whisk together some honey, garlic, lemon juice, and olive oil, and you’re good to go!
When I’m out camping, I love that this recipe requires minimal equipment. No need to haul around a bunch of pots and pans – just some basic camping gear and a campfire, and you’re set. And because everything is wrapped up in foil, cleanup is a breeze – just toss the packet in the trash and you’re done!
In this post, I’ll walk you through my tried-and-true method for cooking up the perfect honey garlic shrimp zucchini foil packet recipe. From prep to plate, I’ll share all my tips and tricks for making this recipe a success, even in the great outdoors.
Cooking Instructions For the honey garlic shrimp zucchini foil packet recipe
- The first step of making the honey garlic shrimp zucchini foil packet recipe is to start your fire or charcoals. You will using them for the honey garlic shrimp zucchini foil packet recipe, so you will want to make sure you have plenty on hand.
- If using embers, get a large fire going using (preferably) hardwood and let it slowly burn down. This process from start to finish can take upwards of an hour.
- If using charcoals, fill a large chimney starter and light. This process will take approximately 20 minutes to get all the coals hot and ready. You will likely want to have some charcoals available in reserve.
- Start with 4 pieces of foil paper that are about 12 inches by 18 inces
- In a small bowl, whisk together the honey, garlic, vinegar, tamari, olive oil, and red pepper flakes. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Place about a 1/2 cup of the rice in the center of each x. Divide the zucchini, corn, and tomatoes evenly between the packets. Top with the shrimp. Sprinkle everything with salt and pepper.
- Drizzle the honey glaze evenly over the packets, leaving 1/4 cup to serve. Bring the foil’s sides up over the veggies and shrimp, then fold over to seal. Prick with a fork many times to let steam out.
- Place the foil packets on the grill for 12-15 minutes, or until the shrimp becomes pink and the veggies are cooked. Serve the packets either from the foil or in bowls, drizzled with more glaze and fresh basil.
- To serve cut a large X across each foil packet. Carefully peel the foil back and serve.
Ingredients
honey
garlic
rice vinegar
tamari
olive oil
red pepper flakes
salt
pepper
cooked rice
zucchini
cherry tomatoes
ears corn
shrimp
basil
Why I Love This Honey Garlic Shrimp Zucchini Foil Packet Recipe
Cooking with foil packets is a popular method among campers for several reasons. Here are ten factual reasons why:
Ease of Preparation:
1. Minimal Prep Time: Preparing foil packet meals is usually quick and straightforward, often involving simply chopping ingredients and seasoning them before wrapping in foil.
Simple Ingredients: Many foil packet recipes require basic, readily available ingredients.
2. Convenience:
No Need for Pots and Pans: Foil packets eliminate the need for multiple cooking utensils and dishes.
Portability: Foil packets are easy to transport, making them ideal for camping trips.
3. Versatility:
Variety of Recipes: Almost any meal can be adapted for foil packet cooking, from breakfast to dessert.
Suitable for Various Cooking Methods: Foil packets can be cooked over an open flame, on a grill, or in coals.
4. Flavor Enhancement:
Sealed Cooking: The sealed packets trap steam, helping to retain moisture and enhance the flavors of the ingredients.
Even Cooking: Foil packets promote even cooking by distributing heat uniformly.
5. Easy Cleanup:
Disposable: After cooking, the foil can be disposed of, reducing the need for washing dishes.
Less Mess: The foil contains the food and any cooking juices, minimizing spills and mess.
6. Healthier Cooking:
Less Oil Needed: The steaming effect of foil packets often requires less oil or fat for cooking.
Nutrient Retention: Cooking in foil packets can help retain nutrients in the food since it cooks in its own juices.
7. Portion Control:
Individual Servings: Foil packets can be easily portioned out for individual servings, making it easier to manage meal sizes.
Customizable: Each packet can be customized to accommodate individual dietary preferences or restrictions.
8. Safety:
Reduced Risk of Contamination: Cooking food in sealed packets reduces the risk of cross-contamination, especially important when dealing with raw meat.
Controlled Cooking Environment: The packets help control the cooking environment, reducing the risk of food falling into the fire or grill.
9. Fuel Efficiency:
Shorter Cooking Times: Foil packets often require less cooking time, conserving fuel.
Efficient Heat Use: The packets make efficient use of the heat source, whether it’s a campfire, grill, or portable stove.
10.Fun and Interactive:
Group Activity: Making foil packets can be a fun group activity, allowing everyone to assemble their own meals.
Creative Cooking: Campers can get creative with their recipes, trying different ingredient combinations and cooking techniques.
These reasons make foil packet cooking a favored method among campers, providing practicality, efficiency, and enjoyment.
Campfire Foil Packet Cooking Tips
Use heavy-duty aluminum foil. This will help prevent tearing as you handle the packs and flip them over the campfire/grill.
Take advantage of indirect heat. When cooking over a campfire, you’ll want to use embers/coals, rather than placing the packets right over a roaring fire.
Flip the packets. Turn the packets over every once in a while to make sure they cook evenly.
Protect your hands: We like to use heat-resistant gloves or extra-long BBQ tongs when handling hot foil packets.
Use a meat thermometer. When it comes to foil pack recipes, we highly recommend using an instant-read thermometer to ensure that the meat is cooked through. Take a packet off the fire, carefully open it (it will be full of steam!), and check the temp of a few pieces. If the meat needs more time, re-seal the packet and put it back on the fire to cook for a while longer.
What Are Foil Packets and How Do I Use Them
Campfire foil packets are dishes prepared on a campfire or grill packaged in foil and served all at once. You might have tried them previously or seen others camping with food wrapped in tinfoil and thrown on a grill to cook together.
Like a one-pot dinner, all of the ingredients cook altogether within the foil, resulting in a steaming, tender, and wonderful all-in-one dish. Foil packages can be prepared over a campfire, on a grill, or in the oven.
This dish is extremely adjustable, so if someone doesn’t like onions, for instance, you may substitute it with green beans, making it ideal for a group. These are a few typical items found in foil packs.
It’s simple to switch out ingredients! Choose asparagus, zucchini, broccoli, snap peas, or sweet peppers. To replace fresh potatoes, use frozen cubed hashbrowns or thinly chopped sweet potatoes. Instead of Italian spice, use lemon pepper, Cajun seasoning, or your favorite barbecue sauce. In addition, instead of chicken breasts, use chicken thighs, chicken sausage, or ground chicken in chicken foil packets.
What Exactly is a Foil Pack Meal?
A foil pack dinner, also known as a hobo package or foil packet dinner? is a complete meal composed of vegetables, meats, carbohydrates, and spices wrapped in many layers of aluminum foil. It’s cooked over campfire embers, on the grill, or in the oven. The tight closure retains moisture while steam cooks the food within the package.
Additionally, there are several vegetable and protein combos that may be used to create quick foil pack camping dinners. For example, in this package, I combine asparagus, chicken, and potatoes with garlic flavor.
It’s simple to switch out ingredients! Choose asparagus, zucchini, broccoli, snap peas, or sweet peppers. To replace fresh potatoes, use frozen cubed hashbrowns or thinly chopped sweet potatoes. Instead of Italian spice, use lemon pepper, Cajun seasoning, or your favorite barbecue sauce. In addition, instead of chicken breasts, use chicken thighs, chicken sausage, or ground chicken in chicken foil packets.
How To Make Foil Packets
- Tear out a 16-inch piece of tinfoil.
- Place the meal onto the foil sheet.
- Fold up both long edges of the foil until the ends touch above the meal.
- Double fold both ends, allowing heat circulation inside.
- To close the packet, double fold the two short ends.
Make Ahead Tips For the Honey Garlic Shrimp Zucchini Foil Packet Recipe
Start The Coals / Prepare Your Fire
The first step is to start your fire or charcoals. You will using them a lot so you will want to make sure you have plenty on hand.
If using embers, get a large fire going using (preferably) hardwood and let it slowly burn down. This process from start to finish can take upwards of an hour.
If using charcoals, fill a large chimney starter and light. This process will take approximately 20 minutes to get all the coals hot and ready. You will likely want to have some charcoals available in reserve.
Campfire Cooking Tools
Kitchen Twine
Mixing Bowl
Cast Iron Skillet
Grill Grate
Knives
Campfire Cooking Utensils
Campfire Serving Utensils
Campfire Fork or Tongs
Fire Proof Cooking Gloves
Cast Iron Dutch Oven
Foil Paper Non Stick
FAQ For the Honey Garlic Shrimp Zucchini Foil Packet Recipe
Q: What is the honey garlic shrimp zucchini foil packet recipe, and what makes it special?
A: The honey garlic shrimp zucchini foil packet recipe is a quick and easy seafood dish that combines succulent shrimp, flavorful garlic, and nutritious zucchini in a convenient foil packet. What makes it special is the perfect balance of sweet and savory flavors, along with the ease of preparation and cleanup. This recipe is perfect for a weeknight dinner or a summer barbecue.
Q: Can I customize the recipe to suit my taste preferences?
A: Absolutely! The honey garlic shrimp zucchini foil packet recipe is highly customizable. You can adjust the amount of garlic and honey to your taste, add other seasonings or herbs like paprika, thyme, or parsley, or even substitute the zucchini with other vegetables like bell peppers or carrots. Feel free to experiment and make it your own!
Q: How do I ensure the shrimp are cooked properly in the foil packet?
A: To ensure the shrimp are cooked properly, make sure to follow the recommended cooking time and temperature. Typically, the foil packets should be cooked in a preheated oven at 400°F (200°C) for 12-15 minutes, or until the shrimp are pink and opaque. You can also check for doneness by inserting an instant-read thermometer into the thickest part of the shrimp; it should read at least 145°F (63°C). If you’re unsure, it’s always better to err on the side of caution and cook for a few more minutes.
Q: Can I make the honey garlic shrimp zucchini foil packet recipe ahead of time?
A: Yes, you can prepare the ingredients and assemble the foil packets ahead of time, but it’s best to cook them just before serving. You can prepare the shrimp, zucchini, and garlic mixture up to a day in advance and store it in the refrigerator. Then, simply assemble the foil packets and cook them when you’re ready. This recipe is perfect for meal prep or making ahead for a party or gathering.
Q: Are there any variations of the recipe that I can try?
A: Yes, there are many variations of the honey garlic shrimp zucchini foil packet recipe that you can try! Some ideas include adding other protein sources like chicken or scallops, using different types of vegetables like asparagus or mushrooms, or even adding some heat with red pepper flakes. You could also try using different seasonings like lemon juice or soy sauce to give the dish an Asian-inspired flavor. The possibilities are endless, so don’t be afraid to experiment and come up with your own unique variations!
Other Foil Packet Recipes to Try
Grilled Honey Chipotle Salmon Foil Packets Recipe
Tex Mex Chicken Fajita Foil Packets Recipe
Honey Lime Tilapia and Corn Foil Pack Recipe
Honey Mustard Chicken Tomato Zucchini Foil Packs Recipe
Campfire Surf and Turf Foil Packs Recipe
Honey Garlic Shrimp Zucchini Foil Packet Recipe
Equipment
- Kitchen Twine
- mixing bowl
- Cast Iron Skillet
- Grill Grate
- knives
- Campfire Cooking Utensils
- Campfire Serving Utensils
- Campfire Fork Or Tongs
- fire proof cooking gloves
- Cast Iron Dutch Oven
- Foil Paper Non Stick
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup honey
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 2 tbsp rice vinegar
- 2 tbsp tamari or soy sauce
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1/8 tsp red pepper flakes
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp pepper fresh ground
- 2 cups cooked rice
- 2 zucchini medium (sliced into strips)
- 8 oz cherry tomatoes halved
- 3 cup corn (kernels removed from the cob)
- 1 lb shrimp peeled and deveined shrimp
- fresh basil
Instructions
- The first step of making the honey garlic shrimp and zucchini foil packet recipe is to start your fire or charcoals. You will using them for the honey garlic shrimp and zucchini foil packet recipe, so you will want to make sure you have plenty on hand.
- If using embers, get a large fire going using (preferably) hardwood and let it slowly burn down. This process from start to finish can take upwards of an hour.
- If using charcoals, fill a large chimney starter and light. This process will take approximately 20 minutes to get all the coals hot and ready. You will likely want to have some charcoals available in reserve.
- Start with 4 pieces of foil paper that are about 12 inches by 18 inces
- In a small bowl, whisk together the honey, garlic, vinegar, tamari, olive oil, and red pepper flakes. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Place about a 1/2 cup of the rice in the center of each x. Divide the zucchini, corn, and tomatoes evenly between the packets. Top with the shrimp. Sprinkle everything with salt and pepper.
- Drizzle the honey glaze evenly over the packets, leaving 1/4 cup to serve. Bring the foil's sides up over the veggies and shrimp, then fold over to seal. Prick with a fork many times to let steam out.
- Place the foil packets on the grill for 12-15 minutes, or until the shrimp becomes pink and the veggies are cooked. Serve the packets either from the foil or in bowls, drizzled with more glaze and fresh basil.
- To serve cut a large X across each foil packet. Carefully peel the foil back and serve.
1 comment
Did you like the honey garlic flavor?
Comments are closed.