Burger Hobo Packets

These delicious and easy to make campfire foil packet dinners are the perfect weeknight family meal. Make Burger Hobo Packets in the oven, over a campfire, on the grill or in a smoker. The best part is that clean up is a breeze!

Hobo dinners are a hearty meal filled with hamburger patties, fresh veggies and seasonings They are an entire meal in one convenient package.

I remember my grandma calling them tin foil dinners. This kind of meal reminds me of cooking because it’s hearty, delicious and stick-to-your-bones kind of comfort food.

I personally love them because they are an easy meal for me to make and loved by all my family members – picky eaters included! They are great camping food, but you can make them in the comfort of your own home, too. Bring the camping experience indoors!

Why You’ll Love Hobo Foil Packets

• Easy way to get an entire dinner on the table with minimal effort
• Prepare ahead of time and bring on a camping trip
• Versatile and can be made on an open fire, grill, oven, or in a smoker
• Fun way to get kids involved in meal prep
• Incredibly delicious recipe packed full of savory flavor
• Little work to make this simple recipe
• Perfect for summer nights
• Hardly any clean-up because you can use the foil packet to eat out of
• Simple ingredients that can be customized to suit your family’s tastes

Ingredients

• Lean ground beef
• Dried onion soup mix
• Baby gold potatoes
• Frozen crinkle cut carrots
• Red onion
• Extra virgin olive oil
• Garlic powder
• Kosher salt
• Black pepper
• Smoked paprika
• Colby Jack cheese slices

How to Make Hobo Packs

• Step One: Preheat the oven to 350°F. 
• Step Two: Place the ground beef with onion soup mix into a large bowl and mix to combine. 

• Step Three: Separate the ground beef into 6 equal-sized portions. Shape into patties and set aside. 
• Step Four: Place the cut potatoes, carrots, onion, olive oil, garlic powder, salt, pepper, and paprika into a large bowl and stir to combine so the veggies are coated. 

• Step Five: Lay a 12×18″ piece of heavy-duty foil on the counter. Spray with cooking spray. Place ¼ of the veggies in the middle of the foil sheets. Add a hamburger patty on top. Close the foil around the ingredients to form a little foil pouch.
• Step Six: Place packs on sheet trays and bake for 45 minutes or until the veggies are tender and the burger patties reach at least 160°F. 

• Step Seven: Open the foil packets and place a slice of cheese on top of the burger patty. Loosely cover with foil again for about 5 minutes until the cheese is melted. Serve.

Equipment Needed

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• Sheet pan
• Meat thermometer
• Heavy duty aluminum foil
• Mixing bowls

What to Serve with Hobo Dinner Foil Packets

• Macaroni Dill Salad
• Cucumber Salad
• Italian Pasta Salad
• Pesto Chicken Pasta Salad
• Ranch Potato Salad

Variations and Substitutions

• Substitute the ground beef for ground chicken or ground turkey.
• Use baby red potatoes or Yukon Gold or red potatoes cut up into smaller chunks.
• Use baby carrots instead of crinkle cut carrots.
• Try a yellow onion instead of red onions.
• Add whatever seasonings you like. Some ideas include Montreal steak spice, lemon pepper, Old Bay seasoning, BBQ seasoning or blackening seasoning.
• Use regular paprika if you don’t have smoked paprika or leave it out completely.
• Add a little butter at the end of cooking time to stir into the veggies.
• Use another variety of sliced cheese like cheddar or mozzarella.
• Switch up the veggies. Some other options are green beans, chopped sweet potatoes or green peppers.
• Add a dash of Worcestershire sauce to kick up the flavor.

Storage Instructions

Store any leftovers in the fridge in an airtight container for up to 3 days.

You can also freeze leftovers for up to 3 months if stored properly.

You also have the option to make these foil packs up to 1 day in advance. Store in the fridge until ready to cook.

Dipping Sauce Ideas

• Ketchup
• BBQ Sauce
• Steak Sauce
• Burger Sauce
• Mustard
• Chili Sauce
• Cheese Sauce
• Mayonnaise
• Ranch Dressing

Alternative Cooking Methods

To Cook Over a Campfire

Place on hot coals from a campfire and cook for 20 to 30 minutes. It might take longer if the coals are not super hot so keep an eye on them. They are ready to enjoy when the burger reaches 160°F and the veggies are tender.

To Cook On a Grill

Preheat grill over medium heat to 400°F. Cook for 30 to 40 minutes. They are ready to eat when the burger reaches 160°F and the veggies are tender.

To Cook on a Smoker

Preheat the smoker to 400°F. Cook for 30 to 40 minutes. They are ready to eat when the burger reaches 160°F and the veggies are tender.

Why Is It Called a Hobo Dinner?

Call them hobo dinners or foil packs, it doesn’t matter. The name “Hobo Dinner” dates back to the Great Depression when many were homeless and lived together in camps. 

They didn’t have much to eat, and would gather together what they could and cook over an open fire. 

Can You Use Other Meats?

Definitely! You could try other types of ground meat like ground turkey or chicken and still have the same homemade cheeseburger vibe.

You can also use beef or pork sausage to make sausage foil packets.

Chicken breasts are also another yummy idea.

Foil Packet Meals

• Chicken Fajita Foil Packets
• Grilled Sesame Shrimp and Veggies

You’ll also like Ginger Lime Chicken, Cheeseburger Salad and Blackened Steak.

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