Paprika Chicken in a Foil Packet: A Juicy Little Dinner for One (or Two) With No Pans to Scrub

Cooking for one should never mean settling for a sad sandwich.

This little foil packet is my answer for those evenings when it is just me at the table, or me and one other person.

Fold, bake, open. Out comes a cloud of fragrant steam and the juiciest chicken breast you have had in a long time.

Why This Little Packet Works So Well

The French call this technique en papillote, which simply means cooking food sealed in a parcel. As it bakes, the chicken, tomatoes and onion release their juices, the wine turns to steam, and everything cooks gently in its own fragrant little sauna.

The result is chicken that stays moist and tender, which is not always easy with a lean breast. There is no splattering, no smoky kitchen and best of all, no pan to scrub. When dinner is over, you crumple up the foil and you are done.

A generous rub of sweet paprika gives the chicken that beautiful orange-gold color even though it never touches a hot pan. A sprig of fresh thyme perfumes everything, and the cherry tomatoes burst into a sweet, rosy sauce that is perfect for spooning over rice or soaking up with bread.

This recipe is written for one generous chicken breast, which serves one hungry person or two lighter appetites. If family is coming, just make one packet per person. They all bake together on the same sheet pan, and everyone gets their own little gift to unwrap at the table.

It takes 10 minutes of work and about half an hour in the oven. Let me show you what goes inside.