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Hobo Dinner Cheeseburgers

Hobo cheeseburgers cook in foil packets with tender potatoes and vegetables under a thin beef patty, then melt American cheese right in the packet. This camping dinner method uses sealed aluminum foil packets for even cooking and easy cleanup.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
rest 5 minutes
Total Time 45 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Course: Main Dish
Cuisine: American
Calories: 820
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Ground beef patties
  • 1 lb ground beef
  • 0.25 salt and pepper to taste
Cheese topping
  • 4 American cheese slices
Vegetables and potatoes
  • 2 potatoes thinly sliced
  • 1 onion sliced
  • 1 bell pepper sliced
Packet butter
  • 4 tbsp butter divided, 1 tbsp per packet
Aluminum foil packets
  • 4 heavy-duty aluminum foil sheets

Equipment

  • 1 sheet pan

Method
 

Make patties and prep packets
  1. Divide ground beef into 4 portions and form into thin patties; season with salt and pepper to taste.
  2. On each foil sheet, layer sliced potatoes, onions, and bell pepper.
  3. Place a burger patty on top of the vegetables and add 1 tablespoon butter.
  4. Fold foil into sealed packets, keeping the seal tight so juices stay inside.
Cook on medium heat
  1. Place packets on a campfire grate over medium heat for 20–25 minutes, flipping halfway for even cooking.
  2. Open packets and add 1 slice of American cheese to each burger; reseal briefly just until the cheese melts.
Rest and serve
  1. Let packets cool for 5 minutes before serving directly from the foil for best texture.

Notes

Pro tip: keep the packets tightly sealed and use thin-sliced potatoes so everything finishes cooking at the same time. Refrigerate leftovers up to 3 days; reheat in a covered pan until hot. Freezing isn’t recommended because potatoes can turn grainy after thawing. For a lighter option, use reduced-fat American cheese while keeping the butter amount the same for proper melting.