Campfire Cheeseburger Hobo Packets (Printable Version)
Ground beef patties with cheddar, potatoes, and veggies cooked in foil packets over a campfire.
# What You Need:
→ Meat
01 - 1 pound 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 and Condiments
08 - 2 tablespoons ketchup
09 - 2 tablespoons yellow mustard
10 - 2 tablespoons mayonnaise (optional)
11 - 2 tablespoons olive oil
12 - Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
13 - 1 teaspoon garlic powder
14 - 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
→ For Serving
15 - 4 hamburger buns (optional)
# How To Make:
01 - Build a campfire with hot coals or preheat an outdoor grill to medium-high heat.
02 - In a large bowl, combine the ground beef with salt, pepper, garlic powder, and smoked paprika. Mix gently, then divide into 4 equal portions and shape each into a flat patty.
03 - Lay out 4 large sheets of heavy-duty aluminum foil and drizzle the center of each with olive oil.
04 - Arrange sliced potatoes 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. Drizzle each patty with ketchup and mustard.
06 - Fold the foil tightly around the contents to form sealed packets, ensuring no gaps for steam to escape.
07 - 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.
08 - Carefully open each packet, watching for hot steam. Place a slice of cheddar cheese over each patty, reseal the foil, and let rest for 1 to 2 minutes until the cheese melts.
09 - Serve hot directly from the foil or transfer to hamburger buns with additional condiments as desired.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- Everything cooks in its own little foil pouch, which means zero dishes and maximum flavor sealed inside.
- The combination of smoky paprika, melting cheese, and fire kissed vegetables tastes like a burger joint materialized in the woods.
02 -
- Thin potato slices are nonnegotiable because thick ones stay crunchy while everything else overcooks waiting for them.
- Resist the urge to check the packets early because every time you open the foil, you lose the trapped steam that cooks the vegetables.
03 -
- A dash of Worcestershire sauce mixed into the beef adds a savory depth that people will notice but never quite be able to identify.
- Double wrap your packets if your foil is thin, because a single tear means lost juices and a dry dinner.