Hobo Dinner Foil Packets are so simple to make and everyone raves about them! Comforting veggies including potatoes, carrots, and onions are topped with a seasoned hamburger patty and grilled or baked to tender perfection.
This recipe reminds me of recipes my mother would bring to the field during fall harvest time. A complete and hearty meal made especially for hungry, hard working harvesting folks was always a welcome sight! This Hobo Dinner recipe delivers exactly that! Not only is this a complete meal in one simple packet, but it is so easy to prepare and even easier to clean up making it the perfect meal to serve to your hungry family!
The type of ground beef you choose can be so important to whatever recipe you are making. In this Hobo Dinner Foil Packets recipe I choose lean ground beef (instead of extra lean). My reasoning is two-fold;
- The little bit of extra fat helps to keep everything moist and tender. The last thing you want is for everything to become dried out!
- It adds great flavor to all the veggies and the gravy in the packet!
The patty in this recipe is topped with a dollop of creamy mushroom soup creating a delicious gravy to partner with the veggies.
I love to make these as individual foil packets but this recipe can easily be adapted to suit your appetite or your crowd!
- Larger Packets – if you have guests who have larger appetites, include 2 hamburger patties (side by side, not stacked) on top of the veggies.
- Use fresh veggies that are available in your garden or the local market at this time of year! While carrots, potatoes, and onions are favorites, I do love fresh green beans, bell peppers, and Brussels sprouts!
- You can substitute ground turkey in place of ground beef! In this case, you may need to add a tablespoon of olive oil to the meat patty mixture to help keep it moist.
- The packets can be cooked in the oven or on the grill. If using the grill you can use the second layer of foil to seal your packs and prevent any leaks.
- Parchment paper can be used in place of foil if baking in the oven.
One final note and my favorite thing about this recipe is that it can be prepared ahead of time and stored in the refrigerator until time to bake! Whether you are preparing a harvest dinner for hungry workers in your family, or you simply have a busy week ahead of you, these Hobo Dinner Foil Packets are super convenient, easy and delicious!
Ingredients
- 1 pound lean ground beef
- 1 (1 ounce) packet dry onion soup mix
- 4 small potatoes peeled and sliced
- 2 cups diced carrot
- 1 large onion or 2 small onions, sliced
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- salt and black pepper to taste
- 1 (10.5 ounce) can condensed cream of mushroom soup
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375°F.
- Combine ground beef and dry soup mix in a bowl. Form into four patties and set aside.
- In a large bowl combine all remaining ingredients except mushroom soup. Toss until well mixed.
- Spray a 12″ x 18″ piece of foil with non-stick spray.
- Place ¼ of the vegetable mixture in the center of the foil. Top with 1 beef patty. Add 2 tablespoons of condensed mushroom soup on top of each patty.
- Seal foil packets well. Place beef side up on a large baking sheet and bake 35-45 minutes or until potatoes and carrots are tender.
Notes
Nutrition Information
Nutrition information provided is an estimate and will vary based on cooking methods and brands of ingredients used.
Course Dinner
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What type of potato’s do you use. Also how thick should the potato and carrots be? I have tried so many of your recipes and my family loves them.
Any potatoes work. The potatoes should be cut about ¼” thick.
I use Russet or Idaho potatoes (I usually get Russet potatoes because they’re a bit more economical & it’s what I’m used to). Slice them thin – anywhere between 1/4″ to 1/2″ (I usually stick closer to 1/4″). If you slice them thicker, then they take longer to soften & get cooked through. I’ve seen recipes that say to dice potatoes…you can certainly do that, but you may have to bump up the cooking time if they’re diced really thick. For the timeframe listed in this recipe, definitely go thinner if you want them to get done in that time.
O it looks so good want to try some
I loved this meal! I was drooling just making it. My 93 year old mom has the start of a swallowing problem & she said her hamburg was a little dry. I was thinking that I would add some milk or water to the hamburg mixture like I do when I make meatloaf so it wouldn’t be quite as dry for her. We used Pacific Organic Condensed Cream of Mushroom soup which we love. I will definitely be making this again! Thank you for an easy, yummy, recipe! I am going to pass this one on to my sister because her & her son would love it.
This would be good with cream of bacon soup also
Cooked in my Ninja Foodi, used air fryer setting @350 for 25 min outstanding
Love hobo dinners.
We are doing these in a campfire – looks great – any suggestions – anyone on how to mark the wrapped packets – as to who’s is who’s in the fire??
I would say a sharpie would work best! Write initials on each packet :)
Kroger had a great sale for $1.79/lb ground beef, which is unheard of these days so we rarely buy ground meat now. We got a 3 lb pack with the sale and made a pot of unstuffed pepper soup and this hobo packet and gosh – we will be eating like royalty for the next few days! These turned out SO good. I sliced up extra veggies and put them in. I also had a half pound more beef than the recipe calls for so I made six patties instead of four. Thanks for a great recipe!
We love hobo packets! I don’t make a patty, but put the hamburger in loosely with the other ingredients. Best on the grill, but have done them in the oven when weather doesn’t permit.
Read previous reviews before cooking. I did cook them 60 mins. They are super good n easy. My 85 year old aunt loved them and we have trouble finding things she will eat!! Thank you!!
These recipes all sound delicious and look relatively easy to make.
Enjoy Tracey!
Awesome
I am trying to print the receipt so I can try these. I have not been able to print.
There is a print button located just above the ingredients list. This should open the recipe to the printer. If this is not working, can you please let me know what device you are on (iPhone, computer, tablet) so I can help guide you better.
How far in advance can these be made? We are going camping for a few nights and wondered if I made them, would they be okay kept cool for a day or two before cooking? Or should I bring unassembled ingredients and make at the campsite before cooking?
Hi Bonnie, we haven’t tried making these ahead of time but I think it would be better to bring your unassembled ingredients and then assemble at the campsite. Happy camping!
I make them in advance by a couple of days and take down to camp with us, they come out just fine and yummy!!
I make them a few days ahead and put in fridge and then take them down to camp, they come out just fine and yummy!! But I don’t use the soup and I put the veggies (including thin slice red taters on top of the burger.
Would love anything for camping.
These dinner packets are great for camping Shelly. A few of my other favorites are these Santa Fe Chicken Foil Packets or these Beef Kabobs.
I have not made hobo packets since my girl scout days. I loved it then and it tastes just as good today decades later.
Has anyone tried cooking these in a air fryer? If so how long and what temperature.
Sorry Donna, we have not tried this recipe in an air fryer. Maybe another reader can offer some insight.
awesome recipes
Does it matter what kind of foil? I only use heavy duty, not the thin stuff. We’re planning on having these for supper. Sounds delicious!
That should work just fine Linda!
Delicious! First time ever making this meal and it was a huge hit for my hubby and me. I made a double batch (because I had 2 lbs of beef) and saved 4 packets for later this week. Hubby said he wants it again tomorrow night.
I cooked it for 60 minutes because I was afraid I would have difficulty getting the packet closed back up, since I’ve never made a packet before. We’ll definitely be making these again and again!