This hobo dinner foil packets recipe is the best way to have a satisfying dinner with no cleanup! Think of it as a one-pot meal made of ground beef, potatoes, and carrots. You’ll get all the meat and potatoes you need, without any dirty pots and pans to wash.
This dinner is the ultimate in convenience! Whether it’s a busy weeknight or a relaxing weekend at the campsite, it only requires very few ingredients that really just cook for you. Plus, each person can put whatever veggies they want in their own foil pouch before cooking it.
This dinner is easy to make whether you’re baking it in the oven or grilling it outside. All you have to do is chop up your vegetables, make some patties with the ground beef, and let the trapped heat do the rest of the work. You will love how easy dinner can be!
Why You Will Love This Recipe
What I love most about this dinner is that it provides a well-rounded meal in individual portions and eliminates the need to clean anything after. Since everything steams in its own little foil pouch, the juices from the ground beef help season the potatoes and carrots. The veggies become incredibly tender and get the best flavor without having to add extra sauce or gravy.
Even more great is the ease of preparation. This is perfect for a night when you don’t feel like doing any dishes. You can prepare them in the morning and refrigerate them until it’s time to put them in the oven. When dinner is done, you just toss the foil away and your kitchen is clean again.
The Ingredients
Here are the simple ingredients you’ll need to create your custom foil packet dinners:
Lean Ground Beef
I recommend starting with a slightly leaner ground beef, such as 85/15, to ensure there is enough fat for good flavor but not too much that the veggies end up swimming in grease. Form the beef into small patties and place them on top of the vegetables. As they cook, the juices will drip onto the vegetables below. You can also use ground turkey or even slices of smoked sausage instead of ground beef. They will both take about the same amount of time to cook.
Russet Potatoes
Russet potatoes are a great choice for this dish because they stand up well to all the steam inside the packet. Make sure you cut the potatoes into fairly small pieces, as evenly as possible, so that they will cook in the same amount of time as the beef. For a slightly sweeter taste, sweet potato cubes or Yukon golds would also be great here and give a nice color to your meal.
Baby Carrots
Baby carrots save you the peeling step, but you still need to cut them in half so they aren’t too thick. They offer a nice natural sweetness to balance out the salty, peppery beef and earthy potatoes. If you don’t like carrots, fresh green beans or thick-cut zucchini rounds are great options and steam nicely inside the foil.
How to Make It
Here are the easy steps to making these easy, no-mess dinners.
Prep the Foil
First, preheat the oven to 400°F and tear off 4 large pieces of heavy duty aluminum foil. Lightly coat the center of each foil sheet with nonstick cooking spray so the potatoes don’t stick to the bottom of the foil.
Chop the Vegetables
In a large bowl, combine the potatoes, carrots and onions. Drizzle with some olive oil and season well with salt, black pepper and garlic powder. Stir to coat.
Form the Patties
Divide the beef into 4 equal portions and form each into a flat, round patty. Season both sides of the patties well with salt, pepper and garlic powder.
Assemble the Packets
Divide the vegetable mixture evenly between the 4 sheets of foil and mound in the center. Place one seasoned patty on top of each vegetable pile and top with a small pat of butter.
Seal and Bake
Fold the long side of the foil together and fold again to make a tight seal, then do the same for the short sides. Bake on a baking sheet for 30-35 minutes or until the potatoes are fully tender.
My Top Tips for Success
Use only heavy duty aluminum foil when making these dinners. Regular foil is too thin and tears when you’re trying to wrap it around the beef and potatoes, allowing the cooking steam to escape.
Make sure to cut your potatoes and carrots into uniform, bite-size pieces. If they’re too large, the beef will dry out before the potatoes are done.
Be very careful when you open the first packet after baking because lots of steam builds up inside the foil while it’s baking. Use a fork to carefully lift the edge away from you.
Hobo Dinner Foil Packets Recipe (Easy)
Equipment
- Heavy duty aluminum foil
- Baking sheet
- Large mixing bowl
Ingredients
- 1 pound lean ground beef
- 2 russet potatoes medium, peeled and diced
- 1 cup carrots baby, halved
- 1/2 medium yellow onion thinly sliced
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 teaspoon salt divided
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder divided
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper divided
- 2 tablespoons butter cut into 4 slices
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400°F. Tear 4 sheets of heavy duty foil, 12 inches each, and lightly spray with non-stick cooking spray.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine diced potatoes, sliced carrots, and sliced onions. Add olive oil.
- Add 1/2 teaspoon salt, 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder, and 1/4 teaspoon black pepper. Mix well to coat vegetables.
- Divide the ground beef into 4 equal portions and flatten into patties.
- Sprinkle both sides of the patties with the remaining 1/2 teaspoon salt, 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder, and 1/4 teaspoon black pepper.
- Divide the seasoned vegetables among the 4 sheets of foil, placing them in the middle.
- Add a beef patty to the center of each pile of vegetables. Top each patty with a slice of butter.
- Bring the edges of the foil together over the vegetables and fold twice to seal. Bring the short edges in to seal completely.
- Place the foil packets on a baking sheet in a single layer.
- Bake 30 to 35 minutes, or until vegetables are tender and beef is cooked through.
- Carefully open packets and serve. Watch out for the hot steam!
Nutrition
Storage and Reheating
- Cooked foil packets can be stored in the fridge for up to 3 days in the foil or an airtight container.
- To freeze, allow the packets to cool, then transfer to a heavy-duty freezer bag and freeze for up to 2 months. Thaw in the fridge overnight before reheating.
- To reheat, place individual portions in a 350°F oven for 15 minutes, or microwave (if you’ve removed the foil).
What to Serve it With
- Serve the foil packet meals straight out of the foil for a fun, casual meal with no dishes to clean.
- Serve with a side salad dressed with a simple vinaigrette.
- Serve with a piece of crusty French bread for dipping in the beef juices.
- Serve with a dollop of ketchup or BBQ sauce.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I cook these on the grill instead of the oven?
Yes, just place the foil packets on a preheated medium-high grill for 20 to 25 minutes, flipping once.
Can I prep these ahead of time?
Yes, just assemble the foil packets completely and refrigerate for up to 24 hours before cooking.
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