Skip to content

Dinner Β· Beef

Foil-Packet Hamburger Dinners

The classic campfire supper: a seasoned beef patty on sliced potatoes, carrots and onion, sealed in foil and cooked in the coals.

⏱ 55 min (20 min prep, 35 min cooking) 🍽 Serves 4 · 1 packet kid friendlymake aheadfreezer friendly gluten free

In our collection Camping and campfire cooking: menu and shopping list β†’

πŸ“… Add to my plan

ContainsMilk. Check the labels on what you buy; brands differ.

Ingredients

Make 4 servings
  • 1Β½ lb Ground beef, 85% lean
  • 1 tsp Table salt, divided
  • Β½ tsp Ground black pepper
  • 1 tsp Garlic powder
  • 2 Russet potatoes, sliced thin
  • 2 Carrots, sliced thin
  • 1 Yellow onion, sliced
  • 2 tbsp Butter, unsalted, in small pieces
  • 4 tbsp Ketchup, for serving (optional)

Make it yourself

Make the butter yourself β†’

In the planner, Make it on the shopping list swaps the store item for these ingredients and puts the work on your prep day.

Nutrition

Nutrition coming: the USDA numbers for these ingredients are being added.

Steps

You’ll need: heavy-duty foil, long tongs, heat-proof gloves, food thermometer, campfire grate or camp grill.

  1. At home or at camp: mix the beef with half the salt, the pepper and garlic powder, and shape 4 patties about ΒΎ inch thick. Wash your hands before and after handling raw meat; bring soap and water, or wipes, if there’s no tap (USDA).
  2. Tear four sheets of heavy-duty foil about 18 inches long. (Or double up regular foil.) Divide the potatoes, carrots and onion among them, sprinkle with the rest of the salt and dot with butter. Lay a patty on top.
  3. Bring the long sides of the foil together and fold them down twice, then fold the ends in tightly, so the steam stays in.
  4. Cook over a bed of glowing coals in an established fire ring or on a camp grill, not over tall flames. Use long tongs and heat-proof gloves, and open packets away from your face: the steam is very hot. Cook 30 to 40 minutes, turning the packets over halfway.
  5. Open one packet carefully and check: the potatoes should be tender and the beef should read 160Β°F in the center (USDA). If not, reseal it and cook 5 minutes more.

🌑 Safe temperaturesGround beef 160°F. Check the thickest part with a food thermometer (USDA). More on food safety.

Make aheadShape the patties and slice the vegetables at home; assemble the packets and keep them flat in the cooler, below everything else, for up to 1 day.
❄️ FreezerFreeze assembled packets flat; they help keep the cooler cold and thaw by the second night. Thaw in the cooler, not on the table.
β†Ί LeftoversLeftovers are safe only while the cooler still has ice; otherwise throw them out (USDA). Pack out all trash and food scraps (Leave No Trace).
πŸ§’ With kidsKids can layer their own packets with clean hands and help fold the edges. A grown-up handles the coals.
Stove swapNo fire? Cook the packets on a camp grill over medium heat, or in a covered skillet on the camp stove.
Turkey swapUse ground turkey and cook to 165Β°F.

Goes well with

🌽 Buttered Corn on the Cob🍌 Campfire Banana Boats

Good to know

Ground beef: 80/20, 85/15, 90/10 and up Table salt vs. kosher salt vs. sea salt Cooking Fats Compared Salted vs. unsalted butter Food Safety Basics

An original Teddy Rook Book recipe, written for our Camping and campfire cooking collection; safety steps follow USDA. Nutrition is estimated from USDA FoodData Central and changes with brands and portions.