Campfire Cheeseburger Hobo Packets (Printable)
Classic cheeseburger flavors wrapped in foil with seasoned beef, potatoes, veggies, and melted cheddar for outdoor cooking.
# What You'll Need:
→ Meats
01 - 1.1 lb ground beef (80/20 blend recommended)
→ Vegetables
02 - 1 large russet potato, thinly sliced
03 - 1 medium yellow onion, thinly sliced
04 - 1 red bell pepper, thinly sliced
05 - 3.5 oz button mushrooms, sliced
06 - 2 dill pickles, sliced (optional)
→ Cheese
07 - 4 slices sharp cheddar cheese
→ Seasonings & Pantry
08 - 2 tablespoons ketchup
09 - 1 tablespoon yellow mustard
10 - 1 teaspoon garlic powder
11 - 1 teaspoon onion powder
12 - 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
13 - Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
14 - 2 tablespoons olive oil
→ Optional Toppings
15 - Chopped iceberg lettuce
16 - Sliced fresh tomatoes
17 - Additional ketchup and mustard for serving
# Steps:
01 - Preheat your campfire, grill, or oven to medium-high heat, approximately 400°F.
02 - In a mixing bowl, combine the ground beef with garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, salt, and black pepper. Mix gently just until the seasonings are evenly distributed, being careful not to overwork the meat.
03 - Divide the seasoned beef mixture into 4 equal portions and set aside.
04 - Tear 4 large sheets of heavy-duty aluminum foil, approximately 12 inches per side. Brush the center of each sheet with olive oil to prevent sticking.
05 - Arrange thinly sliced potatoes in the center of each oiled foil sheet. Layer onion slices, red bell pepper strips, and sliced mushrooms evenly over the potatoes. Season the vegetables lightly with salt and pepper.
06 - Flatten each portion of seasoned ground beef into a patty and place one on top of the vegetable bed in each foil packet.
07 - Drizzle approximately 1/2 tablespoon of ketchup and a small squeeze of yellow mustard over each beef patty.
08 - Fold the foil tightly around each packet, crimping the edges firmly to create a sealed enclosure that will trap steam and prevent any juices from leaking during cooking.
09 - Place the sealed packets on the campfire grate, grill grates, or in the oven. Cook for 20 to 25 minutes, flipping once halfway through, until the beef is fully cooked through and the vegetables are fork-tender.
10 - Carefully open each packet, watching for hot steam. Place a slice of cheddar cheese on each patty, then reseal the packets and let them rest for 2 minutes to allow the cheese to melt.
11 - Serve the packets directly from the foil or transfer to plates. Garnish with sliced dill pickles, chopped lettuce, fresh tomato slices, and additional condiments as desired.
# Expert Tips:
01 -
- Everything cooks inside sealed foil, so cleanup is basically tossing aluminum into the fire pit and wiping your hands on your jeans.
- The vegetables steam in beef juices and condiments, creating a sauce you could never replicate on a stovetop.
- They are endlessly adaptable and forgiving, meaning even the most disaster prone cook in your group will pull off something delicious.
02 -
- Overworking the ground beef makes the patties dense and rubbery, so mix the seasonings in with a light touch and stop as soon as everything looks even.
- If the foil packets are not sealed tightly, juices leak out and the vegetables steam dry instead of cooking in that flavorful burger liquid.
03 -
- Double wrap each packet with a second layer of foil if you are cooking over an open campfire, because one layer can puncture on a grate and you will lose your dinner to the coals.
- Ground turkey or plant based crumbles work beautifully with the same seasonings, just add a small drizzle of extra olive oil to compensate for the lower fat content.