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Campfire Cheeseburger Hobo Packets

Campfire cheeseburger packets with thin ground beef, sliced potatoes, and onions cooked in foil for a one-pan hobo dinner. Open the foil at the end to add cheddar so it melts right over the beef and vegetables.
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Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
rest time 5 minutes
Total Time 55 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Course: Main Dish
Cuisine: American
Calories: 620
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Ground beef patties
  • 1 lb ground beef
  • salt and pepper to taste
Packet layers
  • 3 potatoes thinly sliced
  • 1 onion sliced
  • 2 tomatoes sliced
Cheeseburger sauce and cheese
  • 4 tbsp ketchup
  • 4 tbsp mustard
  • 4 cheddar cheese slices
Serving and wrapping
  • 4 hamburger buns optional, for serving
  • 4 heavy-duty aluminum foil sheets

Equipment

  • 1 sheet pan

Method
 

Make the patties
  1. Form ground beef into 4 thin patties and season with salt and pepper. Keep them thin so they cook through inside the packets.
Build the foil packets
  1. Lay out 4 sheets heavy-duty aluminum foil. Fold-free, wide foil helps you seal the packets tightly.
  2. On each foil sheet, layer sliced potatoes and onions. Aim for even coverage so everything finishes cooking at the same time.
  3. Place a burger patty on top of the potato-onion layer for each packet. Press lightly so the patty sits flat.
  4. Add tomato slices over each patty. This creates moisture and keeps the vegetables tender.
  5. Drizzle each packet with ketchup and mustard. Use an even drizzle so the flavor distributes throughout.
  6. Fold the foil into sealed packets. Crimp edges tightly to prevent juices from leaking.
Cook over the campfire
  1. Place the packets on a campfire grate over medium heat. Arrange them evenly with space so heat circulates around each packet.
  2. Cook for 25-30 minutes total, flipping halfway through at 12-15 minutes. The packets should be actively steaming when opened for the cheese step.
Finish with cheese and serve
  1. Open the packets and place cheese slices on top of the burgers. Add cheese while hot so it melts quickly.
  2. Reseal the packets briefly to melt the cheese, about 2-3 minutes. Look for melted cheese edges that start to stretch.
  3. Let the packets cool for 5 minutes before serving. This firms up the juices slightly so the layers hold together.
  4. Serve the cheeseburger hobo packets as-is or on hamburger buns. If using buns, spoon contents directly into each one.

Notes

Pro tip: Slice potatoes thinly for faster, more even cooking inside the foil. Store leftovers in the fridge up to 3 days in an airtight container; reheat in a covered pan or microwave until hot. Freezing isn’t recommended because potatoes can soften too much after thawing. For a lighter option, use lean ground beef (or swap to ground turkey) to reduce fat while keeping the same foil-packet method.