One of the easiest ways to cook while camping is the humble hobo packet. These foil creations are great because there is little to no clean up. Plus this method doesn't require buying any special equipment -- save a roll of foil, which you might already have on hand in your kitchen.
So how do they work? Hobo packets use heat from hot coals or wood fires to steam cook whatever is inside the sealed wrapped foil pockets. I would suggest placing the packets on a grate or slightly away from a fire to get the best results.
This great infographic from The Fix does a great job of illustrating how to make a foil packet. Plus, there are some great general camping hacks for Families
Jo's Basic Hobo
Serves Four I make it in two packets
Ingredients
- 1 medium sweet onion diced
- 2 garlic cloves minced
- 1 large potato diced
- 2 handfuls of baby carrots
- 1 pound ground meat (I use buffalo)
- 1 pound ground beef
- Salt and pepper to taste
Preparing the Fire
Make a nice roaring fire and then place your grate if you have one at the campground overtop of either the coals or the wood to get indirect heat.
Assembling the Hobo Packets
- Layout the heavy duty foil approximately twice the size of the ingredients
- Sprinkle half of the ingredients over each packet ensuring an even mix
- Season generously with salt and pepper (you can also add other spices too)
- Roll the foil so it is tight with the food starting with the top then moving to each of the sides
- Cook for about 25 minutes flipping once
Photo Credit - Jo Stein