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Home / Holiday Recipes / BBQ & Grilling / Hobo Dinner Foil Packets

Hobo Dinner Foil Packets

55 minutes mins
| Leave a Comment |
5 from 3 votes
Jump to Recipe 06/22/20 | Updated: 06/22/20 | by Nora

These foil packets with hamburger, potatoes, carrots and mushrooms (aka “hobo dinner”) are the ultimate campfire comfort food. They are a wonderful summer dinner you can cook on the grill, open fire or even in the oven!

close up view of hobo dinner foil packet

There was a time we all called these foil packet dinners… Hobo dinners? Probably not the most appropriate name for these easy and delicious meals anymore, but this doesn’t change the fact that wrapping your dinner in aluminum foil to be cooked over the fire or grill is the best way to cook while camping!


This foil packet dinner is…

  • … super easy to prep
  • … a wonderful campfire meal
  • … kid-friendly and easy to customize

Watch the recipe video

Ingredients you’ll need

Here is a visual overview of the ingredients in the recipe. Scroll down to the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post for quantities!

ingredients to make hobo dinner with text labels
Ingredients for hamburger foil packets: Potatoes, carrots, mushrooms, onion, ground beef, oil, Worcestershire sauce, salt, pepper, garlic powder and dried parsley.

Ingredient notes

  • Potatoes: I used larger new potatoes for this recipe. They tend to cook better in foil packets due to their thinner skin. Whichever you use, make sure to slice them fairly thin (around ¼ of an inch thick) or they won’t cook through.
  • Onions and mushrooms: Can replace these with other vegetables you like, for example slim asparagus stalks or sliced green beans. Can also skip in individual foil packets, eg for picky eaters.
  • Beef: I do not recommend extra-lean ground beef for this recipe, it tends to dry out.

A note about the hamburger patties:

The hamburger patties can turn out kind of dry if you overcook these foil packets. I kept the main recipe as simple as possible with minimum ingredients. But if you’re very concerned about too-dry meat, you can top each patty with a slice of butter OR with 1-2 tablespoons condensed cream of chicken soup before sealing the foil packets.

How to make a foil packet dinner

This recipe is incredibly easy to prep! Make the patties, slice the vegetables, assemble the foil packets – and dinner is almost done!

collage of steps to make hobo dinners with text overlay
Steps to make hamburger foil packets: 1) Add ingredients for beef patties to a bowl and 2) combine well. 3) Shape into patties. 4) Place potatoes and carrots on lightly oiled pieces of aluminum foil and season. 5) Place patties on top, then 6) top with onions and mushrooms and season some more. 7) Fold foil over ingredients and 8) seal pouches. 9) Cook your preferred way.
overhead view of baking sheet with six hobo dinner foil packets

Recipe tips

  • Make sure you slice the carrots and potatoes fairly thin (around ¼ of an inch thick), or they won’t cook through at the same speed as the meat.
  • Seal the foil packets well, or juices will leak out during cooking and your meal will come out dry.
  • Do not under-season the foil packets, or they come out quite bland. You can salvage a too-bland hobo dinner by serving ketchup, seasoned sour cream and/or honey mustard on the side.

Make ahead tips

If you want to assemble this campfire dinner before heading on your trip (to cook as you arrive), you can do so – as long as you keep the ground beef chilled right up until prepping the patties. You’ll also need to keep the foil packets in a well-chilled cooler at all times for a maximum time of 4 hours before cooking them.

Serving suggestions

This is a great all-in-one camping dinner. We usually have a variety of dipping sauces like ketchup or seasoned sour cream on the side. And I always make sure there’s dessert after so even the biggest eater doesn’t have to go hungry ?

hamburger patty on carrots with mushroom and onions

More campfire recipes

  • Steak and Potato Foil Packets
  • Campfire Potatoes
  • Sausage and Vegetable Foil Packets

PS If you try this recipe, please leave a review in the comment section and add a star rating in the recipe card – I appreciate your feedback! Follow along on Pinterest, Facebook or Instagram.

Printable recipe

Printable Recipe Card
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Hobo Dinner Foil Packets

These foil packets with hamburger, potatoes, carrots and mushrooms (aka "hobo dinner") are the ultimate campfire comfort food.
Recipe by Nora from Savory Nothings
made it? tap the stars to add your rating!
5 from 3 votes
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Recipe details

Prep 15 minutes mins
Cook 40 minutes mins
Total 55 minutes mins
Difficulty Easy
Servings 6 servings
Nutrition 369 kcal

Ingredients
 

For the hamburger patties

  • 2 pounds ground beef
  • 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 teaspoon dried parsley
  • ½ teaspoon garlic powder
  • ½ teaspoon salt or more to taste
  • ⅛ teaspoon ground black pepper or more to taste

For the vegetables

  • 1 ½ pound potatoes sliced
  • 4 large carrots peeled and thinly sliced
  • 1 cup sliced mushrooms
  • 1 onion thinly sliced
  • olive oil to taste
  • salt & black pepper to taste
  • dried parsley to taste
  • garlic powder to taste

Instructions
 

  • Combine ground beef, Worcestershire sauce and seasoning in a bowl. Mix well and shape into 6 evenly-sized patties.
  • Divide potatoes and carrots between 6 large pieces of lightly oiled heavy-duty aluminum foil. Season with salt, pepper, dried parsley and garlic powder.
  • Place hamburger patties on vegetables, then top with sliced onions and mushrooms. Season with more salt/pepper/parsley/garlic. Generously drizzle with olive oil, then seal foil packets.
  • Grill packets over medium heat, OR cook on hot campfire coals, 15 to 20 minutes per side. Alternatively, bake packets on a baking sheet at 375°F for 45-60 minutes, or until beef patties are done.
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Notes

The hamburger patties can turn out dry if you overcook these foil packets. I kept the main recipe as simple as possible with minimum ingredients. But if you’re very concerned about too-dry meat, you can top each patty with a slice of butter OR with 1-2 tablespoons condensed cream of chicken soup before sealing the foil packets.

Nutrition

Serving: 1servingCalories: 369kcalCarbohydrates: 27gProtein: 36gFat: 13gSaturated Fat: 4gCholesterol: 94mgSodium: 386mgPotassium: 1254mgFiber: 4gSugar: 4gVitamin A: 6794IUVitamin C: 27mgCalcium: 51mgIron: 5mg
Nutrition is an estimate.

More recipe information

Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American

Hamburger foil packet recipe from Unfussy Kitchen.

Nora Rusev from Savory Nothings
About Nora 
When I got married to my professional chef husband, I realized I had to step up my game in the kitchen. Now I share my favorite foolproof family recipes here on Savory Nothings: Chef-approved, kid-vetted and easy enough for everyday home cooks like you and me!   Learn more.

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Nora Rusev from Savory Nothings

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Hi, I'm Nora! I wasn't always a good cook, but then I fell in love with a professional chef and learned my way around the kitchen. Now I share all my secrets to effortlessly great food here on my blog, bite-sized for home cooks just like me and you.

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