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Hobo Dinner Cheeseburgers

Hobo cheeseburgers cook in sealed foil packets for tender potatoes, soft onions, and melted American cheese. Campfire-ready foil packet burgers with thin beef patties and colorful bell pepper.
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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: 690
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Ground beef patties
  • 1 lb ground beef
  • 0.25 salt and pepper to taste
  • 4 American cheese slices 4 slices total; add after packet cook time.
  • 1 tbsp butter Total 4 tbsp, used as 1 tbsp per packet.
Vegetables for foil packets
  • 2 potatoes, thinly sliced Slice thin for faster, even cooking in the packet.
  • 1 onion, sliced
  • 1 bell pepper, sliced
  • 4 heavy-duty aluminum foil sheets Use 4 sheets for 4 packets.

Equipment

  • 1 sheet pan

Method
 

Make the patties
  1. Divide the ground beef into 4 portions and form each into a thin patty, then season all sides with salt and pepper.
  2. Set the patties aside while you prep the vegetables and foil packets.
Assemble foil packets
  1. Lay out 4 heavy-duty aluminum foil sheets and layer sliced potatoes, onions, and bell peppers on each sheet.
  2. Place a beef patty on top of the vegetables, then dot the patty with 1 tablespoon butter on each packet.
  3. Fold the foil up and over to seal into packets, leaving no major gaps for steam to escape.
Cook the burgers
  1. Place packets on a campfire grate over medium heat for 20-25 minutes, flipping halfway so both sides cook evenly.
Melt cheese and serve
  1. Carefully open each packet and add 1 slice of American cheese to the burger.
  2. Reseal the packets briefly just long enough to melt the cheese.
  3. Let the packets cool for 5 minutes before serving directly from the foil.

Notes

Tip: slice potatoes thin and keep the patties thin so everything finishes at the same time inside the sealed foil. Store leftovers in the refrigerator up to 3 days; reheat packets in the oven at 350°F until hot. Freezing: no—potatoes can turn mealy after thawing. Dietary swap: use lean ground turkey or a plant-based ground alternative in the same foil-packet method for a lighter option.