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Campfire Cheeseburger Hobo Packets

Campfire cheeseburger packets are an all-in-one hobo dinner baked in foil until the potatoes are tender and the cheese is melted and stretchy. Make campfire foil packets with thin burger patties, onions, tomatoes, and a ketchup-mustard drizzle for an easy handheld meal.
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
rest 5 minutes
Total Time 55 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Course: Main Dish
Cuisine: American
Calories: 820

Ingredients
  

Ground beef
  • 1 lb ground beef
Buns (optional)
  • 4 hamburger buns Serve with or without buns.
Cheddar cheese
  • 4 cheddar cheese Use slices.
Potatoes and vegetables
  • 3 potatoes Thinly sliced.
  • 1 onion Sliced.
  • 2 tomatoes Sliced.
Sauce
  • 4 tbsp ketchup
  • 4 tbsp mustard
Seasoning
  • salt and pepper To taste.
Aluminum foil
  • 4 heavy-duty aluminum foil 4 sheets for packets.

Equipment

  • 1 sheet pan

Method
 

Make the patties and prep the fillings
  1. Form the ground beef into 4 thin patties, then season each with salt and pepper for even flavor.
  2. Slice the potatoes and onion, and slice the tomatoes; keep the slices thin so everything cooks through in the foil.
Build the foil packets
  1. Lay out 4 sheets of heavy-duty aluminum foil and layer sliced potatoes and onions on each sheet.
  2. Place 1 burger patty on top of the potato-onion layer, then add tomato slices over the patty.
  3. Drizzle 1 tablespoon ketchup and 1 tablespoon mustard over each packet, spreading lightly so it cooks into the filling.
  4. Fold the foil into sealed packets and press the edges tightly to prevent leaks while cooking.
Cook campfire-style
  1. Place packets on a campfire grate over medium heat and cook for 25 minutes, checking that the potatoes are tender.
  2. Flip the packets halfway through cooking (about 12–13 minutes total) so the burgers and potatoes heat evenly.
  3. Cook the remaining 5–10 minutes until the packet contents are hot and the potatoes are fully tender.
Melt cheese and finish
  1. Open packets carefully, add 1 slice of cheddar cheese to each, and reseal briefly just long enough to melt the cheese.
  2. Let packets cool for 5 minutes so the filling thickens slightly and is easier to serve.
  3. Serve cheeseburger hobo packets in the foil or on hamburger buns if using.

Notes

Pro tip: make the burger patties thin and keep potato slices uniformly thin for the same doneness time in the foil. Store leftovers in the refrigerator up to 3 days; reheat in a skillet or microwave until hot. Freeze only if tightly wrapped in foil or an airtight container, up to 2 months, and thaw in the fridge before reheating. For a lower-carb option, skip the hamburger buns and serve as-is with extra sliced tomatoes or pickles.