These foil packets with hamburger, potatoes, carrots and mushrooms (aka “hobo dinner”) are the ultimate campfire comfort food. They are a wonderful summer dinner you can cook on the grill, open fire or even in the oven!

close up view of hobo dinner foil packet

There was a time we all called these foil packet dinners… Hobo dinners? Probably not the most appropriate name for these easy and delicious meals anymore, but this doesn’t change the fact that wrapping your dinner in aluminum foil to be cooked over the fire or grill is the best way to cook while camping!

This foil packet dinner is…

… super easy to prep
… a wonderful campfire meal
… kid-friendly and easy to customize

Watch the recipe video

Ingredients you’ll need

Here is a visual overview of the ingredients in the recipe. Scroll down to the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post for quantities!

ingredients to make hobo dinner with text labels — Ingredients for hamburger foil packets: Potatoes, carrots, mushrooms, onion, ground beef, oil, Worcestershire sauce, salt, pepper, garlic powder and dried parsley.

Ingredient notes

Potatoes: I used larger new potatoes for this recipe. They tend to cook better in foil packets due to their thinner skin. Whichever you use, make sure to slice them fairly thin (around ¼ of an inch thick) or they won’t cook through.
Onions and mushrooms: Can replace these with other vegetables you like, for example slim asparagus stalks or sliced green beans. Can also skip in individual foil packets, eg for picky eaters.
Beef: I do not recommend extra-lean ground beef for this recipe, it tends to dry out.

A note about the hamburger patties:

The hamburger patties can turn out kind of dry if you overcook these foil packets. I kept the main recipe as simple as possible with minimum ingredients. But if you’re very concerned about too-dry meat, you can top each patty with a slice of butter OR with 1-2 tablespoons condensed cream of chicken soup before sealing the foil packets.

How to make a foil packet dinner

This recipe is incredibly easy to prep! Make the patties, slice the vegetables, assemble the foil packets – and dinner is almost done!

collage of steps to make hobo dinners with text overlay — Steps to make hamburger foil packets: 1) Add ingredients for beef patties to a bowl and 2) combine well. 3) Shape into patties. 4) Place potatoes and carrots on lightly oiled pieces of aluminum foil and season. 5) Place patties on top, then 6) top with onions and mushrooms and season some more. 7) Fold foil over ingredients and 8) seal pouches. 9) Cook your preferred way.

overhead view of baking sheet with six hobo dinner foil packets

Recipe tips

Make sure you slice the carrots and potatoes fairly thin (around ¼ of an inch thick), or they won’t cook through at the same speed as the meat.
Seal the foil packets well, or juices will leak out during cooking and your meal will come out dry.
Do not under-season the foil packets, or they come out quite bland. You can salvage a too-bland hobo dinner by serving ketchup, seasoned sour cream and/or honey mustard on the side.

Make ahead tips

If you want to assemble this campfire dinner before heading on your trip (to cook as you arrive), you can do so – as long as you keep the ground beef chilled right up until prepping the patties. You’ll also need to keep the foil packets in a well-chilled cooler at all times for a maximum time of 4 hours before cooking them.

Serving suggestions

This is a great all-in-one camping dinner. We usually have a variety of dipping sauces like ketchup or seasoned sour cream on the side. And I always make sure there’s dessert after so even the biggest eater doesn’t have to go hungry ?

hamburger patty on carrots with mushroom and onions

More campfire recipes

PS If you try this recipe, please leave a review in the comment section and add a star rating in the recipe card – I appreciate your feedback! Follow along on Pinterest, Facebook or Instagram.

Printable recipe

Hamburger foil packet recipe from Unfussy Kitchen.

Hobo Dinner Foil Packets