Hobo Dinner Foil Packets

Hobo dinner in a foil packet opened on a plate.

5 from 1 vote

This Hobo Dinner recipe combines juicy barbecue-seasoned beef patties, tender potatoes, carrots, and onions in easy foil packets. A simple, hearty meal that's perfect for busy weeknights, camping trips, cookouts, or anytime you want a complete dinner with almost no cleanup.

Prep Time15

Cook Time45

Total Time1

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: American

Keyword: Foil Packets, Hobo Dinner, Hobo Dinner Foil Packets

Servings: Foil Packets

Calories: 609kcal

Author: Ryan Allen

Equipment

Ingredients

Ground Beef Patties

1 pound ground beef
1 large egg
2 teaspoons garlic minced
3 tablespoons barbecue sauce
½ cup Italian bread crumbs

Foil Packets

4 small russet potatoes peeled and sliced into ¼-inch thick pieces
3 medium carrots peeled, halved, and cut into 1-inch pieces
½ medium yellow onion sliced
1 teaspoon black pepper
1 teaspoon onion powder
1 teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon garlic powder
½ teaspoon paprika
½ teaspoon dried rosemary
4 tablespoons butter

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 375℉ and cut four pieces of heavy-duty foil 12" x 18".
In a small bowl, whisk together black pepper, onion powder, salt, garlic powder, paprika, and rosemary. Set aside.
Lay out 4 pieces of foil on a sheet pan. Evenly divide the potatoes, carrots, and onions among the pieces of foil. Season with half of the prepared seasonings.
In a bowl, add ground beef, egg, garlic, barbecue sauce, and bread crumbs. Mix until just combined, then form four equal-sized patties.
Place the beef patties on the vegetables and season with the remaining seasonings. Place 1 tablespoon of butter on each patty. Seal the foil packets tightly.
Cooking in the Oven: Place them beef side up on a large sheet pan and bake for 40 to 45 minutes on the center rack, or until the potatoes and carrots are tender and the internal temperature of the beef patties reaches 160℉.
Cooking on the Grill: Preheat the grill to 400℉, place the foil packets on the grill over indirect heat for 30 to 40 minutes. Flip the packets halfway through. They will be done when potatoes and carrots are tender, and the internal temperature of the beef patties reaches 160℉.
Cooking Over Campfire Coals: Place the foil packets over gray-white coals and not directly in the fire. Cook for 30-45 minutes, flipping every 5-10 minutes. Cooking times will vary depending on how hot and how many coals you have. They will be done when potatoes and carrots are tender, and the internal temperature of the beef patties reaches 160℉.

Notes

Seal the foil packets tightly but leave a small air pocket so steam can circulate and cook everything evenly. If cooking on a grill or over campfire coals. Make sure to double wrap the foil packets with heavy-duty aluminum foil. This will help the juices from leaking out and prevent the veggies and meat from burning. It also makes it easier to move around on the grill or over the coals without ripping the foil.
Slice the potatoes evenly so they finish cooking at the same time as the beef and carrots.
Mix the beef just until combined to keep the patties tender instead of dense. I have found that using 80/20 ground beef and forming it into ¾-inch thick patties helps keep them juicy and cook all the way through.
Place the vegetables on the bottom and the patty on top so everything cooks in the right order and stays juicy.
You can substitute ground chicken or turkey. Cooking times will vary, and the internal temperature of the chicken or turkey should reach 165℉.

Nutrition