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You know those nights when everyone’s hungry and you’re one eye twitch away from serving cereal? My easy Hobo Dinner Foil Packets, packed with hearty veggies and juicy beef, are the answer!
A Reader’s Review
I love foil cooking. At my age 73, in bad health. This is so good & no mess or worry. Thank you. I appreciate all your recipes.
Why You’ll Be Obsessed with This Foil Dinner
- One-Pan Energy: No skillet, no casserole dish, no sink full of dirty dishes. Just foil, flavor, and five minutes of feeling like you’ve got it together.
- Super Customizable: Whether your kid only eats potatoes or your partner wants double meat, you can build each packet exactly how they like it!
- Oven, Grill, or Campfire: These bad boys go wherever you go. Bake them at home or toss them on the fire at your next camping trip!
Hobo Dinner Foil Packet Ingredients
- Swap the Beef: You can substitute ground turkey, chicken, or sausage for a tasty twist.
- Fresh Veggie Fun: Use veggies you have on hand. Mushrooms, bell peppers, or Brussels sprouts would add extra flavor and texture.
- Creamy Upgrade: Stir in some cream of mushroom soup before cooking for a creamy, savory surprise.
How to Make Hobo Dinner Foil Packets
I’m a huge fan of simple and delicious, and these foil packet dinners are just that! They are customizable and so fun to take on a camping trip. Here’s how to put them together.
- Combine Veggies: Cut four sheets of heavy-duty aluminum foil. In a medium-sized bowl, toss together baby potatoes, carrots, onion, olive oil, and Italian seasoning. Divide evenly between the four packets.
- Meat Mixture: Combine lean ground beef, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper, then shape into four patties and place them on top of the vegetables.
- Fold and Cook: Fold the foil over and seal each packet. Place the packets on the grill or over the coals of a fire. Cook for about 30-45 minutes or until the potatoes are tender. Carefully open the foil packets and top with shredded Colby Jack cheese.
Hobo Dinner Foil Packet FAQ’s
- How Do I Prevent Them From Leaking? Use heavy-duty aluminum foil to ensure your packets stay intact during cooking.
- What Size Should I Make My Packets? Make sure the packets are roughly the same size for even cooking.
- How Can I Tell When They’re Done? To check doneness, insert a meat thermometer through the foil to ensure the burger reaches 160°F and the veggies are tender, then remove from the grill, oven, or fire.
Oven and Campfire Instructions
- Oven Baked Foil Packets: Cook packets at 375 degrees Fahrenheit on a baking sheet for 40-45 minutes until the potatoes are tender and the meat reaches 160 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Campfire Foil Packets: Use a double layer of foil for this method to prevent the flames from burning through. Add the packets to the fire right over the coals and avoid the direct flames. This will take 30 to 45 minutes to cook, depending on the size of the packet.
How to Store Leftover Foil Dinners
A great thing about this recipe is that you can assemble it ahead of time and store it in your fridge until you are ready to cook it!
- In the Fridge: Store leftover foil packets in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. Let them cool completely before sealing to keep everything fresh.
- To Reheat: Reheat in the oven at 350°F until warmed through, or toss in the air fryer for a quick option that crisps up the edges.
More Foil Dinner Ideas
I’m telling you, these foil dinners are a total lifesaver! They’re easy to clean up, taste amazing, and your kids can help put them together—so they’re way more likely to eat them, too!
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Hobo Dinner Foil Packets
Ingredients
- 1 pound lean ground beef
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- salt and pepper to taste
- 1 pound baby potatoes cut in half
- 3 sliced large carrots sliced into one inch cubes
- ½ sliced onion
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
- 1 cup shredded Colby Jack cheese
Instructions
- Cut four sheets of heavy-duty aluminum foil. In a medium-sized bowl, toss together 1 pound baby potatoes cut in half, 3 sliced large carrots, ½ sliced onion, 2 tablespoons olive oil, and 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning. Divide evenly between the four packets.
- Combine 1 pound lean ground beef, ½ teaspoon garlic powder, ½ teaspoon onion powder, and salt and pepper. Shape into four patties and place them on top of the vegetables. Fold the foil over and seal each packet.
- Place the packets on the grill or over the coals of a fire. Cook for about 30-45 minutes or until the potatoes are tender. Carefully open the foil packets and top with 1 cup shredded Colby Jack cheese.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Isn’t cooking in foil toxic? That is what I have been reading.
Great question! I know there’s been some concern about cooking with foil lately. Most experts agree it’s generally safe for recipes like this, especially when baked or grilled at moderate temperatures. That said, if you’d rather avoid foil, I have a Hobo Casserole version you can try instead. It’s made in a baking dish, no foil needed! Totally up to your comfort level.
I am going to use the Hobo Dinner Foil Packets soon. I know you can use several different kinds of meat. Can you use Fish as well? If so, What Fish would pair well with this recipe?
If you are wanting to make a fish foil packet, you can try my butter herb garlic salmon foil packet! The vegetables and herbed butter will complement the fish much better than this hobo dinner recipe.