Slow Cooker 4-Ingredient Hobo Dinners
These simple foil-packet dinners are an old-fashioned comfort meal made with just four basic ingredients. Ground beef, potatoes, carrots, and onion soup mix come together in individual foil trays and slowly cook until everything is tender, juicy, and full of savory flavor.
It’s an inexpensive, filling meal that’s perfect for busy weeknights and family dinners.
Ingredients
– 1 ½ pounds lean ground beef
– 4 medium russet potatoes, peeled and thinly sliced
– 3 large carrots, peeled and thinly sliced
– 1 packet (1 ounce) dry onion soup mix
Instructions
1. Prepare the Foil Trays
Tear four large sheets of heavy-duty aluminum foil, approximately 12 × 18 inches each.
Gently shape each sheet into a shallow tray with raised sides. The sides should be high enough to hold the juices released during cooking.
2. Prepare the Vegetables
Peel the potatoes and slice them into thin rounds, approximately ⅛ to ¼ inch thick.
Peel the carrots and slice them into thin coins. Try to keep the slices relatively even so the vegetables cook at approximately the same rate.
3. Assemble the Vegetable Base
Divide the sliced potatoes evenly among the four foil trays.
Arrange them in a single layer or allow the slices to overlap slightly. Place an even layer of sliced carrots over the potatoes.
The vegetables will cook underneath the beef and absorb the flavorful juices released during cooking.
4. Prepare the Beef
Place the ground beef in a large bowl.
Sprinkle the dry onion soup mix over the meat and gently mix everything together with your hands until the seasoning is evenly distributed.
Avoid overmixing the beef, as this can make the finished patties dense.
5. Form the Patties
Divide the seasoned ground beef into four equal portions.
Shape each portion into a thick, flat patty approximately the size of your palm.
Place one beef patty on top of the potatoes and carrots in each foil tray.
6. Place the Trays in the Slow Cooker
Carefully bring the sides of each foil tray upward. Make sure there are no tears or large gaps that could cause the cooking juices to escape.
Place all four foil trays side by side in the bottom of a large slow cooker.
Arrange them as flat as possible so they remain stable during cooking.
7. Slow Cook
Cover the slow cooker with its lid.
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