Campfire Cheeseburger Hobo Packets (Print version)
Ground beef patties with seasonal vegetables sealed in foil and cooked over open flames for a hearty outdoor meal.
# What you'll need:
→ Meats
01 - 1 lb ground beef (80/20 blend preferred)
→ Vegetables
02 - 2 medium russet potatoes, thinly sliced
03 - 1 small red onion, thinly sliced
04 - 1 green bell pepper, sliced
05 - 1 cup sliced mushrooms
06 - 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved (optional)
→ Dairy
07 - 4 slices cheddar cheese
→ Pantry & Condiments
08 - 2 tbsp ketchup
09 - 2 tbsp yellow mustard
10 - 2 tbsp mayonnaise (optional)
11 - 2 tbsp olive oil
12 - Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
13 - 1 tsp garlic powder
14 - 1 tsp smoked paprika
→ To Serve
15 - 4 hamburger buns (optional)
# Method:
01 - Build your campfire or preheat a grill to medium-high heat.
02 - In a large bowl, combine ground beef with salt, pepper, garlic powder, and smoked paprika. Mix until evenly seasoned, then divide into 4 equal portions and shape into flat patties.
03 - Lay out 4 large sheets of heavy-duty aluminum foil. Drizzle the center of each sheet with olive oil.
04 - Arrange potato slices on the oiled center of each foil sheet. Top with red onion, bell pepper, mushrooms, and cherry tomatoes. Season the vegetables with salt and pepper.
05 - Place one seasoned beef patty on top of each vegetable pile.
06 - Drizzle each patty with ketchup and yellow mustard.
07 - Fold the foil tightly around the contents to form fully sealed packets, ensuring no gaps for steam to escape.
08 - Place the sealed packets directly on hot coals or grill grates. Cook for 25 to 30 minutes, flipping once halfway through, until the potatoes are tender and the beef is cooked through.
09 - Carefully open each packet, watching for hot steam. Place a slice of cheddar cheese over each patty and reseal the packets for 1 to 2 minutes to allow the cheese to melt.
10 - Serve hot directly from the foil packets or transfer to hamburger buns with additional condiments as desired.
# Expert advice:
01 -
- Zero dishes to wash means more time sitting around the fire telling terrible stories.
- Everything cooks together in one packet so the flavors marry in a way a stovetop never achieves.
02 -
- Thin potato slices are the difference between tender and crunchy after 30 minutes so slice them no thicker than a quarter inch.
- Never skip the oil drizzle or you will be scraping burnt potato off foil while everyone else eats.
03 -
- Double wrapping your packets is cheap insurance against tears and leaks that will save your dinner more often than you expect.
- Press patties slightly thinner in the center than the edges so they cook evenly and do not puff up into meatballs inside the foil.