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 carrots
- 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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Soo tasty and so easy, the whole family loved this
I was wondering if the Hobo Foil dinners can be frozen. My son is heading to school and I was trying to stock his freezer with easy meals that can be either tossed in the oven or the mircowave. Thoughts?
Yes these can be frozen. If freezing we recommend taking them out to thaw in the refrigerator before cooking and then cooking as per recipe instructions.
You can’t use the foil in the microwave!!! Unless you want to start a fire! You could however freeze it in microwaveable containers.
How do you “seal” parchment paper?
If using parchment paper, readers have just lined a baking tray with parchment and then baked in the oven. You could also try baking in a covered casserole dish.
I Was looking for a hobo recipe for tonight. Thought it would be fun for the grand kids.. I’m excited to uh see these recipes
Just another really great, simple but flavorful recipe by this website!! So so good, anyone can do it!!! Thank you!!
Can I use beef broth instead of soup?
Hi Sue, I have never tried. The broth isn’t thick enough to sit on top of each patty while cooking. Maybe another reader has tried it and can let you know!
This was so good and easy! I added zucchini in addition to vegetables listed. May add additional veggies next time. I love the veggies! Didn’t have the onion soup packet so I just added some onion powder. Was not too salty at all. Definitely a keeper.
Growing up in California in the 50s we would make hobo dinners in coffee cans…. We also added a half ear of corn on top . Everything else was pretty much the same. Coffee cans were opened with a can opener back then. We used the lid for the cover,
this was so good and super easy. the family loved it
Can I put a portabeller mushroom on top of the beef.
please and thank you.
Julie K.
You can, but it does cook for 35-45 minutes so the mushroom will become quite soft and overcooked. You could add the portobello mushroom closer to the end to prevent that though.
We made these for a camping trip and they were great! Is there a way to make them at home (oven, slow cooker, pot on the stove) that doesn’t use so much foil?
Other readers have wrapped it in parchment paper on a baking sheet when making it in the oven. You could also try making it in a covered casserole dish. We would love to hear how it turns out for you.
I really didn’t like this one. Potatoes, were thinly sliced, but still didn’t cook. The onion flavor in the meat was overpowering. We had to throw this one out altogether. Maybe I did something wrong?
I’m so sorry to hear that Amanda! For flavour, we use one (approx 28g) packet of onion soup mix, you could reduce this to your flavour preferences though. Did you place it on a large baking sheet? If placed directly onto the oven rack it can affect the cooking time.
Absolutely delicious…Big Hit!…super easy to make. wonderful flavor.
This is similar to what my husband and I did on the grill and over a camp fire 40 years ago, and I loved them.
Have you ever tried them in an Air Fryer?
I have not tried this in my air fryer, but other readers have with great success Susan!
this is always a crowd pleaser! this recipe is exceptionally good for around the campfire. thanks for sharing!
I made a mistake in reading the directions. Accidentally added the onion soup packet to the veggies. (meat hasn’t been prepped yet), any thoughts on how to save this?
I would suggest adding additional seasoning to the burger patties.
We’ve made these for years camping & cooking over campfire coals. Can be made up at home & stored in ice chest so dinner just needs to be cooked the first night of camping. Think we cooked 15 min veggie side, flip & cook another 20 min. Use heavy duty foil doubled up & sprayed with pam so good doesn’t stick.
I love this recipe! It’s delicious I use cream of chicken soup and add mushrooms in with the potatoes!
Could these packs be made and frozen to cook later? Or frozen after cooking?
Hi Dottie, yes these can be frozen. If freezing we recommend taking them out to thaw in the refrigerator before cooking and then cooking as per recipe instructions.
absolutely delicious
This recipe is a keeper…… love that it has everyday ingredients and is an easy to make …. The end result is a very tasty filling dinner …..thanks for sharing