Hobo Dinner in Foil Packets

Friday, August 18, 2017
Hobo Dinner in Foil Packets is so easy and a great way to repurpose those leftovers.

Whenever we have cookouts I have so many hotdogs, steaks, hamburgers, and boneless chicken just to name a few leftovers.

Here are so many new meals to recreate and tailored to your family and you can add whatever you love.

These are so simple to make and the kids absolutely love opening up their surprise packages.

I just love to see their little faces with their little bundles and it is great to see kids love dinner time with enthusiasm.

Adults, there are so many ways to make these, adding just a few surprises in your packets like twice-baked potatoes, leftovers vegetable stir fry.

Shrimp, hamburgers, hotdogs, cube or boneless steaks, Italian sausage, boneless pork chops,  smoked kielbasa sausages, the meat list is endless.

In this post, you will find so many camping indoor ideas or outdoor suggestions and methods of cooking these fun foil hobo packets.

Another great reason to love making these is they virtually have no cleanup and you can use the foil packet as the serving dish!

Scroll down the recipe card and start creating a fun way to have a picnic indoors or outdoors with these delicious suggestions.



foil packets for the bbq with surprise leftovers from another meal inside





sausage, potato and carrots hobo foil packet on a plate


Surprise Packages!


I love creating meals and these can be a surprise every time you make them.

The kids come up with tons of ideas for me of what they like and perfect for camping trips since they're reheatable

These are especially great to prepare ahead of time for an all-in-one package to a cookout they make it so much easier.
If you love grilling, camping and cookouts try our roundup of best Barbecue Recipe Ideas.


a foil packet full of Italian sausage, kielbasa, potatoes, baby corn cobs, Italian beans and chicken


Hobo Medley Suggestions(if these are for cookouts and camping use leftovers and cooked meat and reheat)

  1. vegetables: corn on the cob, peppers,  broccoli or cauliflower florets, fingerling carrots, boiled potatoes, fried or, baked, boiled sweet potato or fries, artichoke hearts, cabbage wedges boiled, sliced onions, baked beans, whole plum tomatoes, boiled brussels sprouts, asparagus, eggplant, zucchini slices
  2. leftovers cooked meats: chicken parts, thighs, breasts, legs, pork chops, hamburger patties, lamb chops, venison, hotdogs, bratwurst, summer sausage, ham steaks, meatballs 
  3. seafood: shrimp, scallops, fish sticks 
  4. seasoning spices to use with a combination of the above: cajun, Italian, barbecue seasoning, seasoning salt, 
  5. bread suggestions: filled pita pockets, filled tortilla wraps, sliced cornbread, leftover pizza
  6. dessert suggestions: a combination of graham crackers or cookies, chocolate squares or Nutella, marshmallows, sliced bananas dipped in lemon juice (wrap in foil and warm on the grill)
  7. breakfast: add a biscuit, home fries, bacon, ham or sausage, and scrambled eggs made ahead of time

Note: hobo packets can be baked in the oven or reheated with or without cooked foods they will just take longer. Also, you can wrap a combination in foil pouches with cooked meat and add them to the slow cooker to reheat to keep the house from heating up in the summertime from your oven. For reheating, at campfires, barbecue cookouts, and picnics, I recommend cooking meats and precooking some of the vegetables before making foil packages and then grilling just to reheat


this is a hobo meal which has a fried pork chop, fanned baked potato, broccoli and carrots.


Tips


  • Pre-cook root vegetables first and large cabbage wedges if using
  • Always oil-spray the foil first
  • You can use parchment paper bags for the oven-style method
  • Use a few tablespoons of olive oil on dryer meats for the fat content (most meats are fatty and you won't need it)
  • If grilling double foil the packets to prevent leaking and also prevents the meat from burning.
  • Try to use fresh herbs for seasoning when available.


this is leftover fried pork chops that have been breaded and fried with broccoli and fanned potatoes


Repurpose Leftovers For Hobo Ideas


  • Leftover burgers
  • Leftover fried pork chops or breaded meats
  • Leftover ham steaks
  • Leftover hotdogs
  • Leftover steak
  • Leftover chicken
  • Leftover sausage links
  • Note: Remember if starting from scratch with raw meats and foods these will need longer cooking times


A recipe and instructions on how to make foil hobo  packets filled with kielbasa for camping outdoors or grilling parties, with  fanned potatoes, carrots,  or any kind of meat with vegetables wrapped in foil grilled or baked for a fun package and surprise all in one dinner foil packets for dinner. This hobo meal is made with pork chops, cinnamon sugared apples and fanned baked potatoes with butter


Cooking Methods

  1. Gas Grilling
  2. Oven-Baked
  3. Use in the Toaster Oven
  4. Place the packets in a slow cooker on low for a 4 to 6  hours


A recipe and instructions on how to make foil hobo  packets filled with kielbasa for camping outdoors or grilling parties, with  fanned potatoes, carrots,  or any kind of meat with vegetables wrapped in foil grilled or baked for a fun package and surprise all in one dinner foil packets for dinner. This hobo meal is made with pork chops, cinnamon sugared apples and fanned baked potatoes with butter


Try Some Of My Other Fun Recipe Ideas



Baked Barbecued Pork Chops

Barbecued Salmon


Hobo Dinner in Foil Packets Pin for later



pin for later hobo packets


Here are a few favorites combinations


All of these can be grilled, baked, or in a slow cooker!

  1. Pineapple teriyaki sauce with Shrimp foil packets add veggies, and shrimp Asian-style sauces and pour over fluffy white rice.
  2. Pork Chop with apple packets: boneless pork chops, fresh tarragon, fresh basil, sweet potatoes pre-cooked in the microwave, and sliced apples.
  3. Parmesan Chicken add zucchini slices, sliced plum tomatoes with bread crumbs, chicken breasts then grill. 5 minutes before cooking, open the packet and sprinkle with Parmesan grated cheese and shredded mozzarella cheese.
  4. Eggplant Parmesan Sandwiches or Any kind of Cooked meat sandwich. Make the sandwiches with leftovers, wrap them in foil, and keep in the refrigerator until needed. Take on a camping trip and reheat any style of cooking method you have.
  5. My personal favorite, is Italian sausage, Italian bread crumbs, sliced peppers, slices of tomatoes, drizzled with olive oil, pre-cooked wedges of russet potatoes, and pre-boiled sweet cabbage seasoned with butter, granulated garlic powder, all packed into a nice foil packet. Baked, grilled, or slow cooker methods.
  6. Fried breaded pork or steak even venison reheated in foil packets with leftover potatoes and vegetables.
  7. Pasta Packets: any cooked pasta with sausage, meatballs, or another meat wrapped tight
  8. Mac and Cheese Packets: add vegetables or ham (whatever you prefer)
  9. Scalloped Potato Packets: add meat to your potato packet
  10. Taco Packets: add broken-up tortilla chips or fritos, leftover chili, shredded cheddar cheese


foil packets, hobo meals, hobo grill packets, hobo baked meals, baked meals in foil, fun foil meals, picnic foil meals
one pan meals, easy meals, foil meals, outdoor meals, grill meals, oven baked meals
American
Yield: 4
Author: Claudia Lamascolo
Hobo Dinner in Foil Packets

Hobo Dinner in Foil Packets

This is a creative fun little packet or sides dishes and meats all in one packet. You build and choose the kinds your family loves. You can choose your own combinations. I come up with whatever my leftovers are and pair them up with things I have on hand. Also, kids find these lots of fun to get a surprise package or even help make them!
Prep time: 10 MinCook time: 15 MinTotal time: 25 Min

Ingredients

  • Hobo Medley Suggestions(if these are for cookouts and camping use leftovers and cooked meat and reheat)
  • vegetables: corn on the cob, peppers, broccoli or cauliflower florets, fingerling carrots, boiled potatoes, fried or, baked, boiled sweet potato or fries, artichoke hearts, cabbage wedges boiled, sliced onions, baked beans, whole plum tomatoes, boiled brussels sprouts, asparagus, eggplant, zucchini slices
  • leftovers cooked meats: chicken parts, thighs, breasts, legs, pork chops, hamburger patties, lamb chops, venison, hotdogs, bratwurst, summer sausage, ham steaks
  • seafood: shrimp, scallops, fish sticks
  • seasoning spices to use with a combination of the above: cajun, Italian, barbecue seasoning, seasoning salt,
  • bread suggestions: filled pita pockets, filled tortilla wraps, sliced cornbread
  • dessert suggestions: a combination of graham crackers or cookies, chocolate squares or
  • breakfast: add a biscuit, home fries, bacon, ham or sausage, and scrambled eggs made ahead of time
  •  Nutella, marshmallows, sliced bananas dipped in lemon juice (wrap in foil and warm on the grill)
  • Note: hobo packets can be baked in the oven or reheated with or without cooked foods they will just take longer. Also, you can wrap a combination in foil pouches with cooked meat and add them to the slow cooker to reheat to keep the house from heating up in the summertime from your oven.
  • For reheating, at campfires, barbecue cookouts, and picnics, I recommend cooking meats and precooking some of the vegetables before making foil packages and then grilling just to reheat

Instructions

  1. Oil spray a large piece of aluminum foil.
  2. Here is how I layer the foods:
  3. Place the cabbage wedge on first.
  4. A few carrots on the cabbage.
  5. Add the leftover meat of choice, then place the potato on the foil.
  6. Melt some butter. Pour evenly over the tops of everything.
  7. Sprinkle with granulated garlic, Italian herb seasoning, and salt, and pepper to taste. If you have fresh herbs, basil, parsley, or rosemary you can add that as well.
  8. Fold up tightly. There are several ways to cook these.
  9. 1. Throw whole packages in a slow cooker for 6 to 8 hours on low, you can stack them.
  10. 2. Place on a grill on medium heat for approximately 25 minutes with pre-cooked potatoes in the microwave for 5 minutes if using. Check them with a fork to see if they are done first.
  11. 3. Bake at 350 degrees until the cabbage is fork-tender around 25 minutes.
  12. 4. Tip: when adding the vegetables if they weren't leftover, microwave them for just a few minutes to speed up the process.
  13. Condiments: You can add a few tablespoons of soy sauce or hoisin sauce for Asian style or any kind of salad dressing for flavorings.
  14. Other suggestions to add in combination also refer to notes for more tips:
  15. Leftover ham, steak, chicken, pork chops, cob corn cut in quarters, green beans, onions cut in half, broccoli, cauliflower, green pepper slices, zucchini, eggplant slices, whole plum, whole mushrooms, Brussels sprouts, any kind of squash or any kind of greens, tomatoes, pineapple or any other fruit

Notes

Tips


  • Pre-cook root vegetables first and large cabbage wedges if using
  • Always oil-spray the foil first
  • You can use parchment paper bags for the oven-style method
  • Use a few tablespoons of olive oil on dryer meats for the fat content (most meats are fatty and you won't need it)
  • If grilling double foil the packets to prevent leaking and also prevents the meat from burning.
  • Try to use fresh herbs for seasoning when available.


Repurpose Leftovers For Hobo Ideas


  • Leftover burgers
  • Leftover fried pork chops or breaded meats
  • Leftover ham steaks
  • Leftover hotdogs
  • Leftover steak
  • Leftover chicken
  • Leftover sausage links
  • Note: Remember if starting from scratch with raw meats and foods these will need longer cooking times


Cooking Methods

  1. Gas Grilling
  2. Oven-Baked
  3. Use in the Toaster Oven
  4. Place the packets in a slow cooker on low for a 4 to 6 hours


Here are a few favorites combinations


All of these can be grilled, baked, or in a slow cooker!

  1. Pineapple teriyaki sauce with Shrimp foil packets add veggies, and shrimp Asian-style sauces and pour over fluffy white rice.
  2. Pork Chop with apple packets: boneless pork chops, fresh tarragon, fresh basil, sweet potatoes pre-cooked in the microwave, and sliced apples.
  3. Parmesan Chicken add zucchini slices, sliced plum tomatoes with bread crumbs, chicken breasts then grill. 5 minutes before cooking, open the packet and sprinkle with Parmesan grated cheese and shredded mozzarella cheese.
  4. Eggplant Parmesan Sandwiches or Any kind of Cooked meat sandwich. Make the sandwiches with leftovers, wrap them in foil, and keep in the refrigerator until needed. Take on a camping trip and reheat any style of cooking method you have.
  5. My personal favorite, is Italian sausage, Italian bread crumbs, sliced peppers, slices of tomatoes, drizzled with olive oil, pre-cooked wedges of russet potatoes, and pre-boiled sweet cabbage seasoned with butter, granulated garlic powder, all packed into a nice foil packet. Baked, grilled, or slow cooker methods.
  6. Fried breaded pork or steak even venison reheated in foil packets with leftover potatoes and vegetables.
  7. Pasta Packets: any cooked pasta with sausage, meatballs, or another meat wrapped tight
  8. Mac and Cheese Packets: add vegetables or ham (whatever you prefer)
  9. Scalloped Potato Packets: add meat to your potato packet
  10. Taco Packets: add broken-up tortilla chips or Fritos, leftover chili, shredded cheddar cheese




Hobo Dinner in Foil Packets Pin for later





Don't forget to try my summer favorite recipes!


Best Grilling Recipes
Best Salmon Recipes
Kofta Lamb Kebobs
Summer Dessert Recipes
This is an affiliate link and I do make a small commission See Disclosure Policy




20 comments

  1. YUM! The sausage must give great flavor to whatever else is in the packet. Fun dinner idea!

    ReplyDelete
  2. great and tasty dinner!! made easy too - thanks for sharing your recipe

    ReplyDelete
  3. So simple, but I can see the sausage giving lots of flavor to everything else.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Dang! This looks good! Love everything in it and perfect for camping!! xo

    ReplyDelete
  5. Love easy clean up foil packed dinners, Claudia! This might show on out table next week! Thank you for sharing!!

    ReplyDelete
  6. Super fun to make but this even sounds fun to eat. Hobo dinner is genius. I love something that gets the kids in the kitchen.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Hobo dinners are SO fun! We make them when we go camping, it would be so fun to do a hobo dinner picnic at home though!

    ReplyDelete
  8. kielbasa and cabbage are such a classic combo for a reason. This is great because you can make it in the oven, on a grill or even camping, love the versatility!

    ReplyDelete
  9. I love foul pack, hobo meals! Super easy to prepare and the easy cleanup is awesome! This is just delicious and perfect for any night. Right now with back to school, loving the idea of all of these yummy ingredients in a foil packet dinner.

    ReplyDelete
  10. There is nothing better than a great tasting meal with an easy clean-up! Sausage and cabbage are a great combination -- a recipe that is handy to have when we're too busy to cook a complicated meal.

    ReplyDelete
  11. This would definitely be fun for the kids to make their own parcels. The best part about this is the clean up. I hate cleaning up dishes so a foil is so welcome for a change

    ReplyDelete
  12. I love how flexible these are. I bet this would be a great way to use up some odds and ends of produce from the crisper drawer and I like everyone can make their own packet to their own taste. The best part is - no cleanup!

    ReplyDelete
  13. This is wholesome dinner in foil I like the idea,veggies, meat and starch everything that too flavored really well. Finally no cleanup. I like to try this kind of dinner as cleaning dishes is always pain.

    ReplyDelete
  14. Your tips were so helpful and this was a great easy dinner with easy cleanup! Love it!

    ReplyDelete
  15. This is a really great idea. Perfect for dinners all week.

    ReplyDelete
  16. I just love your recipes, and this one was so fun to put together with the family on movie night. I just love how everyone could make their own packet so I didn't have to worry about picky eaters.

    ReplyDelete
  17. How fun, my dad would make these often. Reminds me of home

    ReplyDelete

Remember to use the search option for a recipe you're looking for and thanks for all your kind words and support. We love our readers all the best Claudia