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Campfire Cheeseburger Hobo Packets

Campfire cheeseburger packets are an all-in-one foil packet dinner with thin beef patties, tender sliced potatoes, and melty cheddar. Cook on a grate over medium heat, then open, add cheese, and let it stretch before serving.
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Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
rest 5 minutes
Total Time 55 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Course: Main Dish
Cuisine: American
Calories: 650
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Ground beef
  • 1 lb ground beef Use 80/20 or similar so the patties stay juicy in the packets.
Hamburger buns (optional)
  • 4 hamburger buns Serve on buns if you want the classic cheeseburger feel.
Cheddar cheese
  • 4 cheddar cheese Use 1 slice per packet for easy melting.
Potatoes and vegetables
  • 3 potatoes Thin slices help them cook through within the 25–30 minute window.
  • 1 onion Sliced so they soften and flavor the packet steam.
  • 2 tomatoes Sliced to keep tomato pieces in the packet.
Condiments and seasoning
  • 4 tbsp ketchup Adds tang and helps brown the edges inside the foil.
  • 4 tbsp mustard Balances ketchup for a classic cheeseburger profile.
  • 0.25 tsp salt and pepper to taste Season the patties and use more as needed.
Aluminum foil
  • 4 sheet heavy-duty aluminum foil Heavy-duty sheets hold up to heat and help prevent leaks.

Method
 

Make the patties
  1. Form ground beef into 4 thin patties and season with salt and pepper.
Pack the foil packets
  1. On each foil sheet, layer sliced potatoes and onions.
  2. Place a burger patty on top of the potato-onion layer.
  3. Add tomato slices over the patty so they steam as the packet cooks.
  4. Drizzle ketchup and mustard over the contents until evenly distributed.
  5. Fold foil into sealed packets and place on campfire grate over medium heat, with the seams facing up.
Cook and melt cheese
  1. Cook packets for 25-30 minutes over medium heat until potatoes are tender and beef is cooked through.
  2. Flip packets halfway through cooking so the bottom and top steam evenly.
  3. Open packets and add cheese slices directly on top of the hot beef.
  4. Reseal packets briefly to melt the cheese, watching for visible melt and slight bubbling.
Rest and serve
  1. Let packets cool for 5 minutes so the juices thicken slightly and the foil stays safer to handle.
  2. Serve in packets or on hamburger buns for a classic cheeseburger bite, using the opened packet contents.

Notes

Pro tip: cut potatoes very thin (or even shave them) so they cook in the 25–30 minute packet window. Refrigerate leftovers in a sealed container for up to 3 days; reheat until hot throughout. Freezing: yes, freeze the cooked packet filling without the buns for up to 2 months, then thaw and reheat. Dietary swap: use a plant-based ground beef alternative to keep the same packet cook time and get a similar texture.