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!
Hobo Dinner Foil Packets (Hamburger & Potato)
Ingredients
- 1 pound lean ground beef
- 1 package dry onion soup mix
- 4 small potatoes peeled and sliced
- 2 cups carrots chopped
- 1 large or 2 small onions, sliced
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- salt & pepper to taste
- condensed 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
Cuisine American© SpendWithPennies.com. Content and photographs are copyright protected. Sharing of this recipe is both encouraged and appreciated. Copying and/or pasting full recipes to any social media is strictly prohibited. Please view my photo use policy here.
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Love your recipes !! The cream of mushroom soup adds wonderful flavor–I have tried hobo dinners with steak or either hamburger patties. I’m going to make this again tonight, not sure if I will use the cream of mushroom soup or not. I’ve tried it without before I found this recipe-if I don’t use the soup I add some butter, onions with seasoning (salt, pepper, garlic powder-or sometimes steak rub on the patties) It’s an easy prep. The vegetables tonight will be potatoes and some green beans-sometimes I love carrots, then other days I don’t-depends on the weather or my mood :) thanks for your awesome recipes!!
Can I use canned corn and canned green beans in the hobo dinner packets?
Hi Justine, we have never tried this recipe with canned veggies but it should work well. You will want to drain them before adding to the foil packs. We would love to hear how it turns out for you!
Simple and delicious. I had seen this recipe on a YouTube channel and when the time came that I was looking for something that I can make in advance for when I’m working 12-hour shifts, it really seemed to fit the bill.
I added Worchester sauce to the ground beef with the Onion Soup Mix, and swapped Cream of Chicken for the Cream of Mushroom, since the store was out of the Cream of Mushroom. I wasn’t sure how the chicken flavor would work, but it made a nice gravy for the veggies. I also used minced garlic from a jar, since I had that on hand and omitted the onions. I used extra carrots and potatoes, since I had surplus on hand that I was trying to get rid of.
I cooked for 55 minutes and topped the beef patty with some A1 Thick and Hearty when I plated everything. I will definitely be making this again. Thank you so much for the recipe!
You’re welcome Dawn, so glad you love the recipe! Thank you for sharing your substitutions! This recipe is so versatile as you see!
I haven’t made this recipe yet but I wanted to ask this: I do not like cooked carrots so I was wondering if I could add another vegetable such as broccoli? If this is possible will it change the temperature and cooking time?
While we have not used broccoli in this particular recipe, it should work just the same, and other readers have with success. Let us know how it works for you Renea!
If the packets are frozen but can be put in the oven how long do you cook them and at what temp?
Hi Gail, if freezing we recommend taking them out to thaw in the refrigerator before cooking and then cooking as per recipe instructions.
I made this recipe, just tonigh, while at Mom’s. While both my parents were wild about it, I was not. Its not that its not a good idea – cause it is and everything ‘worked’ ok. I feel the burgers needed alot more seasoning, as did the veggies. I even pre-cooked the carrots, for 3 min. in microwave, and they were still quite tough. And the burger, I guess due to being baked and for such a long time, were chewy. They tasted ok, just chewy. Overall, this recipe wasn’t BAD, it juGaasn’t really exciting.
Glad to hear they enjoyed this recipe Gayle, you will have to spice it up for yourself next time!
I like the idea of a dollop of cream of mushroom soup. I will add that the only proper way to cook a foil dinner is on the coals of a fire!
Can you use cream of chicken soup instead of mushroom due to a mushroom allergy?
Yes, any condensed soup will work in this recipe!
I tried it with Cream of Chicken and it came out quite tasty.
I used ground turkey. This recipe was the bomb-diggity. My family loved it.
Looked good, so gave it a shot, and it was a big hit with the whole family!
Love your foil hobo meals!!!
I liked this blog. I like to eat humburgers. It’s so delicious and yummy!!!!!
Made these this past evening for dinner. Was a definite hit here. I had had foil packets as a child in the Boy Scouts where we roasted them in the cooking fire. Never had thought to transition them from the campfire to the oven for whatever reason. This definitely took me back to the days of my youth! Thank you!
You’re welcome Ted! They’re always fun and tasty, so hope you can enjoy them again!
How long do you cook it and in what temperature?
Barbara, please find the full cooking instructions by clicking Jump to Recipe, or scrolling down.
Can’t wait to start these recipes!!!
I liked this blog. I liked this recipes. It’s yummy!!!!!
For camping, cooking on grill, can I make ahead a freeze the packs?
I haven’t tried it but other readers have said it works well! Let us know how it goes!
I just love your recipes and I can’t wait to try them…
the beef patty is cooked together with the veggies,, right? the video indicates this but the recipe seems to suggest differently.
thx u
Joey from TX
Yes, they are all added in step 4: Place ¼ of the vegetable mixture in the center of the foil. Top with 1 beef patty. I hope this helps!
loves to eats my family did all times.. And likes to trying new foods never hear about it so loves it..
I will be making the Mexican Wedding Cookies
tomorrow!!!