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Hamburger Foil Packets are the no fuss, no cleanup dinner that my family devours on busy nights and camping trips alike, and I first threw these together one chaotic weeknight when I wanted a full meal with zero pots to scrub. A seasoned beef patty steams over tender potatoes and carrots in its own little foil pouch, and if you love easy ground beef dinners you have to try our cheeseburger sliders too.
Sealing everything in foil means the beef and vegetables steam in their own juices, so every packet comes out juicy, flavorful, and completely hands off.
Hamburger Foil Packets Quick Look
- 🕐 Prep Time: 15 minutes
- 🍴 Cook Time: 45 minutes
- ⏳ Total Time: 60 minutes
- 🍽 Serving: 6 packets
- ⚡ Calories: 480kcal
- 🌶 Flavor Profile: Savory, hearty beef and veggies with melty cheese
- ✋ Difficulty: Easy, on par with our award winning chili
Quick Answer
Mix ground beef with dried onion soup mix and shape into 6 patties. Toss baby potatoes, carrots, and red onion with olive oil and seasonings. On a greased sheet of heavy duty foil, layer some veggies, top with a patty, and fold into a sealed pouch. Bake the packets on a sheet pan at 350 degrees for about 45 minutes until the veggies are tender and the beef hits 160 degrees, then open, add a slice of Colby Jack, and steam until melty.
Jump to:
- Hamburger Foil Packets Quick Look
- Quick Answer
- Why This Recipe Works
- Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Key Ingredients
- Variations and Substitutions
- How to Make Hamburger Foil Packets
- Recipe Tips & Tricks
- Serving Ideas and Suggestions
- Hamburger Foil Packets FAQs
- Other Recommended Easy Ground Beef Recipes
- Hamburger Hobo Dinner Foil Packets Recipe
Why This Recipe Works
Click to see the technique science
- Foil traps steam and flavor. Sealing the packet lets the beef and veggies cook in their own juices for a moist, flavorful result.
- Onion soup mix seasons the beef perfectly. One packet adds savory, oniony depth without measuring a dozen spices.
- Coating the veggies helps them roast. Tossing potatoes and carrots in oil and seasoning ensures they cook up tender and seasoned through.
- Layering veggies under the patty matters. The beef drippings season the vegetables as everything cooks.
- Adding cheese at the end keeps it gooey. Melting the Colby Jack after baking gives you a perfect melty finish.
- Individual packets mean easy serving. Everyone gets their own portion with no dishes to wash.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Almost zero cleanup. The foil is the cooking vessel and the serving dish, so there are no pots to scrub.
- Perfect for camping or weeknights. Cook them in the oven, on the grill, or over a campfire, like our smoked kielbasa.
- A complete meal in one packet. Protein and vegetables together, with no sides to plan.
Key Ingredients
- Lean Ground Beef: The hearty base; shape it into patties so it cooks evenly in the packet.
- Dried Onion Soup Mix: An easy shortcut for deep, savory, oniony flavor.
- Baby Gold Potatoes and Carrots: They roast up tender right alongside the beef.
- Red Onion and Seasonings: Olive oil, garlic powder, salt, pepper, and smoked paprika tie it all together.
- Colby Jack Cheese: Melted on top at the end for a gooey, cheesy finish, just like our easy meatloaf comfort.
See recipe card for exact quantities.
Variations and Substitutions
- Swap the veggies. Green beans, corn, bell peppers, or mushrooms all work great.
- Change the cheese. Cheddar, pepper jack, or American melt beautifully too.
- Use a different protein. Ground turkey, sausage, or even chicken work in place of beef.
- Add a sauce. Tuck in a spoonful of barbecue sauce or a pat of garlic butter.
- Make it a feast. Serve alongside our spaghetti and meatballs for a hungry crowd.
How to Make Hamburger Foil Packets
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
- In a large bowl, combine the ground beef and dried onion soup mix.
- Divide the beef into 6 equal portions and shape into patties, then set aside.
- In another bowl, toss the potatoes, carrots, red onion, olive oil, garlic powder, salt, pepper, and smoked paprika until the veggies are coated.
- Lay out a 12 by 18 inch sheet of heavy duty foil, spray it with cooking spray, and place one sixth of the veggies in the center.
- Top the veggies with a patty and fold the foil into a sealed pouch. Repeat for all 6 packets.
- Place the packets on baking sheets and bake about 45 minutes, until the veggies are tender and the patties reach 160 degrees.
- Carefully open each packet, top the burger with a slice of Colby Jack, loosely re-cover, and steam about 5 minutes until melty. Serve as is or with your favorite sauce.
Recipe Tips & Tricks
- Use heavy duty foil. It holds up to the juices and is less likely to tear; double wrap with regular foil.
- Cut potatoes small. Smaller pieces cook through in the same time as the beef.
- Do not skip the cooking spray. It keeps the food from sticking to the foil.
- Seal the packets well. A tight pouch traps the steam that cooks everything.
- Use a meat thermometer. Oven times vary, so check that the beef hits 160 degrees.
- Open carefully. The trapped steam is hot, so unwrap away from your face.
Serving Ideas and Suggestions
Hamburger Foil Packets are a full meal on their own, with the beef, potatoes, and carrots all tucked inside, so I love serving them right in the foil for a fun, mess free dinner. They are perfect for camping, tailgating, or a hands off weeknight.
If you want to round out the table, add a simple green salad, some crusty bread, or a scoop of our award winning chili on the side. For a heartier spread, pair them with our easy meatloaf or a batch of cheeseburger sliders for a true comfort food feast.
These are also a fantastic camping and tailgating meal because there are no dishes to pack out, just toss the foil when you are done. Prep the packets at home, keep them cold in the cooler, and cook them right over the coals or grill at the campsite for a hot, hearty dinner anywhere.
However you serve them, set out a few sauces for dipping, because everyone loves customizing their own packet.
Hamburger Foil Packets FAQs
Yes, these are a camping classic. Place the sealed packets on hot coals (not direct flames) and cook about 15 to 20 minutes per side, using tongs to flip. Cooking time varies with the heat, so check that the beef reaches 160 degrees and the potatoes are fork tender.
Absolutely. Grill the sealed packets over medium heat for about 25 to 30 minutes, flipping halfway through. Keep the lid closed to trap the heat, and check for doneness before serving.
You can. Smoke the packets at 225 to 250 degrees for about an hour, or until the beef is cooked through. The low smoke adds incredible flavor to the beef and vegetables.
Yes. Assemble the packets up to a day ahead and keep them sealed in the fridge, then bake when ready. They are perfect for prepping before a camping trip or a busy weeknight, and you can even freeze the assembled raw packets for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge before cooking and add a few minutes to the bake time.
Definitely. A drizzle of barbecue sauce, steak sauce, or even a pat of garlic butter inside the packet before sealing adds great flavor. You can also serve them with your favorite sauce on the side. Worcestershire sauce or a spoonful of cream of mushroom soup tucked in are popular additions that keep everything extra moist.
Store cooled leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. Reheat in the oven, air fryer, or microwave until warmed through. The flavors meld nicely, so leftovers are delicious, and you can repurpose the filling into a breakfast hash by chopping everything and crisping it in a skillet the next morning.
Other Recommended Easy Ground Beef Recipes
If you make these Hamburger Foil Packets, I would love to hear how they turned out! Leave a star rating and a comment below, and tag us in your photos. Happy cooking!
Hamburger Hobo Dinner Foil Packets Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 pounds lean ground beef
- 1 packet dried onion soup mix
- 1 & 1/2 pounds baby gold potatoes quartered
- 12 ounces frozen crinkle-cut carrots
- 1 medium red onion large diced
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 6 slices Colby Jack cheese
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the lean ground beef and dried onion soup mix.2 pounds lean ground beef, 1 packet dried onion soup mix
- Separate the meat mixture into six portions of equal size, do your best. Shape them into hamburger patties and set them aside.
- In another large bowl, add the cut baby gold potatoes, frozen carrots, red onion, olive oil, garlic powder, salt, pepper, and smoked paprika. Stir everything well to combine making sure the veggies are coated.1 & 1/2 pounds baby gold potatoes, 12 ounces frozen crinkle-cut carrots, 1 medium red onion, 1 tablespoon olive oil, 1 teaspoon garlic powder, 1 teaspoon kosher salt, 1/2 teaspoon black pepper, 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
- Lay a 12×18 (or similar-sized) piece of heavy duty aluminum foil on the counter. Spray the foil with cooking spray.
- Place ⅙ of the veggies in the middle of the foil. Add a hamburger patty on top of the veggies. Close the foil around the ingredients to form a little pouch.
- Place the foil packet dinners on baking sheets, and bake for about 45 minutes. The veggies should be tender and the burger patties reach at least 160°F. Oven cooking time may vary, so use a meat thermometer to check.
- Very carefully, open the foil packs. Place a slice of Colby jack cheese on top of the burger. Again, loosely cover with foil and allow to steam until cheese is melty about 5 minutes. Serve as-is or with your favorite sauce.6 slices Colby Jack cheese
Notes
- This makes a large batch, but you can easily double it to feed more or halve the recipe as needed.
- Tons of custom options, see my tips above on that.
- Great for a make-ahead meal.
- This freezes well, see my tips above on how to store.
- See above for how to cook over a campfire, grill, or smoker.
Nutrition
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