How to Cook a Hobo Dinner When Camping

A hobo dinner is cooked over an open fire.

Campfire cooking isn't just about hot dogs on sticks -- and it doesn't have to be as involved as a clambake or a fire pit barbeque. An old-fashioned "hobo dinner" is a complete meal cooked in a foil packet over an open fire. With adult supervision, kids can make their own, as young campers have done for decades. The classic recipe calls for ground beef, but you can also use chicken, freshly caught fish or omit the meat altogether.

Difficulty:

Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need

• Knife
• 1 potato
• 1 carrot
• 1/2 small onion
• Aluminum foil
• Plate
• Paper towel
• 1/4 lb. ground beef or turkey
• Salt and pepper
• Garlic powder
• Metal tongs

1. Wash and slice the potato, carrot and onion.

2. Lay a 12-inch piece of foil on a plate. Cover with a single layer of wet paper towel, then a second layer of foil.

3. Place the vegetables in the center of the foil. Crumble the ground meat over on top, and season with garlic powder, salt and pepper.

4. Lift the far edges of the foil so that they meet, then fold them down and over three times. Fold the sides underneath to make a flat packet.

5. Place the packet on the coals near the edge of the fire -- not in the middle in the flames. Cook for 20 to 25 minutes, turning with metal tongs after 10 minutes.

6. Allow the packet to cool for a few minutes on the plate before you open it.

Tips & Warnings

• You can use almost any combination of vegetables and meat for this dish. Variations include sausage, potato and peppers; fish, potato and spinach; and chicken, onion, pepper and tomato.

• If you want a saucy meal, add ketchup, honey mustard or BBQ sauce to the packet with the seasoning.

• Don't turn the packets with your bare hands.

• Be careful of hot steam when you open the packet.

References

• Boy Scout Trail: Hobo Dinner Recipe
• The Southern Plate; Hobo Packets; Christy Jordan; Oct. 2008