My dad showed me how to make these little foil packet meals back when money was tight and we needed supper to stretch without feeling skimpy. He called them hobo dinners, and they were our way of turning a pound or two of ground beef and a few vegetables into individual feasts. This slow cooker version keeps the same spirit: just four simple ingredients, tucked into their own little trays, and cooked low and slow until the potatoes are soft, the carrots are tender, and the beef is perfectly juicy. It’s the kind of practical, no-fuss Midwestern cooking that fills the house with good smells and the table with comfort.
These hobo dinners are a meal in themselves, but I like to round them out with something cool and crisp, like a simple lettuce salad or sliced cucumbers in vinegar. A basket of warm bread or dinner rolls is handy for soaking up the rich brown juices that collect in the foil trays. If you want to stretch things for a bigger crowd, serve with buttered peas or green beans on the side and finish with something homey for dessert,
Ingredients:
- 1 lb lean ground beef (90–96% lean)
- 4 medium potatoes, thinly sliced
- 3 carrots, thinly sliced
- 1 (1 oz) packet dry onion soup mix
👩🍳 Directions:
- Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C).
- Cut 4 large sheets of aluminum foil.
- Divide the sliced potatoes and carrots evenly between the foil sheets.
- Form the ground beef into 4 equal patties and place one on each portion.
- Sprinkle the onion soup mix evenly over each packet.
- Add 1–2 tablespoons of water to each (optional).
- Seal the foil tightly to form packets.
- Place on a baking sheet and bake for 45–55 minutes, until potatoes are tender and beef is fully cooked.
🔥 Optional:
Open the foil for the last 5–10 minutes for a slightly browned top.