Cooking in parchment paper packets, aka "en papillote", is a long-standing French technique. These recipes are perfect make-ahead dinners you can pop in the oven for a mess-free meal anytime (although you should cook fish recipes no more than one day after prepping, and chicken no more than two).
Tin foil can be substituted for any of these recipes, but parchment is the classic choice. Foil sometimes reacts with the acid in foods (like marinades), which can make the food taste off. Learn how to pull off the classic "en papillote" fold below, and get your crimp on with these 16 recipes!
1. Mango-Ginger Boneless Chicken Breasts in Parchment
This recipe adds serious flavor to (sometimes sad) boneless, skinless chicken breasts. Sweet mango, spicy jalapeño and fresh ginger steam this chicken in a flavor-packed pouch.
Get the recipe here.
2. Parchment-Baked Salmon With Miso Butter
This recipe uses a secret ingredient (miso butter) to steam salmon in a savory sauna of umami goodness. Bonus: The parchment packet keeps your house from smelling like fish.
Get the recipe here.
3. Spring Vegetables and Potatoes Baked in Parchment
Unwrap a rainbow of veggies that coincidentally are Whole-30-friendly after just 18 minutes in the oven.
Get the recipe here.
5. Chicken and Vegetables in Parchment
Opening this present is like unwrapping a burst of delicious springtime flavors.
Get the recipe here.
6. Parchment Pouch Zucchini Spaghetti With Clams
This recipe is everything you love about clam linguine wrapped into a low-carb, mess-free package.
Get the recipe here.
7. Classic Parchment-Baked Salmon
This classic stunner only has eight ingredients and can be made in less than 30 minutes.
Get the recipe here.
8. Mediterranean Chicken Packets
This tiny pouch brightens up simple chicken thanks to the trio of lemon, oregano, and feta.
Get the recipe here.
9. Shrimp, Bok Choy, and Noodles in Parchment
Pro tip: use soaked rice noodles for an even quicker variation of this easy to make dinner.
Get the recipe here.
10. Wild Salmon, Asparagus, and Shiitakes in Parchment
If asparagus isn't your thing, feel free to substitute with sliced zucchini or eggplant.
Get the recipe here.
11. Shiitake Mushrooms and Brown Rice in Parchment
Shiitake mushrooms add serious earthiness to this easy and vegan-friendly dinner made with only seven ingredients.
Get the recipe here.
12. Lemon Garlic Chicken in Parchment
Remembering to marinate the chicken in garlic and lemon at least 10 minutes before baking is so, so worth it.
Get the recipe here.
13. Lemon Butter Salmon in Parchment
A little lemon butter adds extra pop to this peppy packet.
Get the recipe here.
14. Eggs With Mushroom and Spinach
Breakfast without dirty dishes sounds like the perfect morning to me.
Get the recipe here.
15. Perfect Parchment-Baked Salmon
Use whatever vegetables you have on hand as the bed of this succulent salmon.
Get the recipe here.
16. Mediterranean Cod in Parchment
Artichokes, olives and, capers steam this cod to a flavorful, flaky perfection.
Get the recipe here.
Now go stock up on parchment and get cooking!
