These Classic Hobo Dinners are filled with hamburger patties, potatoes, savory carrots and onions. This is a great dinner idea when camping or at home. Cook them in the oven or campfire and have a hot, delicious, “meat and potatoes” kind of meal ready in less than 30 minutes.
What You’ll Love About This Recipe:
- Simplicity: Just assemble the ingredients in foil and let the fire or oven do the rest.
- Versatile Cooking: Perfect for outdoor campfires or indoor ovens.
- Easy Cleanup: Minimal dishes required, making post-meal tidying a breeze.
- Childhood Nostalgia: Recreate cherished camping memories or create new ones with every bite.
Ingredients Needed To Make Hobo Dinners:
- Hamburger patties
- Sliced potatoes
- Carrots
- Onions
- Condensed cream of mushroom soup
- Salt and pepper
Recipe Overview:
Veggies
Begin by laying a handful of sliced potatoes in the center of a 20-inch long piece of tin foil. Add a handful of carrots on top, seasoning with salt and pepper.
Meat and Sauce
Place a spoonful of condensed cream of mushroom soup over the vegetables, then add a hamburger patty and some onions. Top with more soup for flavor and moisture, then season again with salt and pepper.
Sealing the Packets
To ensure your hobo dinners are perfectly cooked and mess-free, follow these steps for sealing and double-wrapping (if cooking over the fire):
- Seal the Packet: Begin by bringing the long edges of the foil together above your ingredients. Gently fold these edges down, making a tight seal. Once the center seam is sealed, fold in the sides of the foil, rolling them tightly towards the food to prevent any juices from leaking out.
- Double Wrap for Fire Cooking: If you’re planning to cook your dinner over a campfire, a second layer of foil is crucial. Repeat the wrapping process with another piece of foil, ensuring the entire packet is covered. This extra layer protects your meal from direct flames, reduces the risk of punctures, and helps avoid leakage.
Double-wrapping is not necessary for oven cooking, but it’s a game-changer for campfire meals, providing an additional safeguard against the outdoor elements and help the meal come out mess free and well cooked every time.
Cooking Methods For Hobo Dinners
- Campfire: Double-wrap the foil packs to prevent burning or leaking. Cook over campfire coals, flipping once. This usually takes about 15-20 minutes depending on how hot the coals and fire are.
- Oven: Single-wrap the foil packs. Bake for 20-25 minutes at 350°F.
Frequently Asked Questions:
What can I use if I don’t have cream of mushroom soup?
Cream of chicken or celery soup are great alternatives that still add rich flavor and moisture. Alternatively, if you’re feeling extra adventurous, try making homemade condensed cream of mushroom soup.
Why do I need multiple layers of tin foil?
Double-wrapping when cooking over a fire prevents leaks and burns, ensuring your meal cooks evenly without any mess. There is no need to double wrap if cooking in the oven.
Can I use frozen potatoes and carrots instead of fresh?
Absolutely! Frozen vegetables or even hash browns are fine. Just remember that cooking times may vary if starting from frozen.
This easy, adaptable recipe brings back the joy of childhood campfires and creates minimal cleanup, making it a favorite for any outdoor adventure or a simple home-cooked meal. Enjoy the rich, comforting flavors of a well-loved classic with every bite.
What’s your favorite campfire food?
Other Recipes You May Like:
If you like this recipe, you may also like these Cheese-Stuffed Garlic Red Bell Cheeseburgers OR Lemon Garlic Salmon Tin Foil Dinners.
Classic Hamburger Hobo Dinner Recipe Card:
Classic Hamburger Hobo Dinners
These Classic Hamburger Tin Foil Dinners are filled with meat, potatoes, and savory carrots and onions. This is a great dinner idea when camping or at home. Cook them in the oven or campfire and have a hot, delicious, "meat and potatoes" kind of meal ready in less than 30 minutes.
Ingredients
- 1 lb ground beef, 4 - 1/4 lb patties
- 1 onion, sliced
- 2-3 potatoes, peeled and sliced
- 3-4 carrots, peeled and sliced
- 1 can condensed cream of mushroom soup
- salt and pepper
- 4-8 pieces 20-inch tin foil
Instructions
- Place handful of potatoes in center of tin foil. Add a handful of carrots. Salt and pepper.
- Add a spoonful of soup (straight from the can) on top of the carrots and potatoes.
- Place one ground beef patty to the top. Add a ring of onion and another large spoonful of soup to the top. Salt and pepper.
- Roll tin foil together to seal. Double wrap in a second layer of tin foil if cooking over the fire.
- Bake at 375 degrees F for 20-25 minutes OR cook over coals in a campfire for 15-20 minutes or until meat hits 165 degrees F and veggies are tender.
Notes
To speed up prep time, you may also use frozen cubed hash browns in place of potatoes and frozen carrots in place of fresh. No need to thaw before assembling.
Originally Published: 06.12.2017 Updated: 03.07.2024
Thanks for the recipe. How hot should the oven be set?
Hi Andrew. Thanks for stopping by. You can find full printable recipe here –> https://kitchencents.com/classic-hamburger-tin-foil-dinners/2/
If cooking in the oven, you will cook them at 375’F for about 20-25 minutes or until they reach 165’F internally.