Cook on:
LOW: 6–7 hours
HIGH: 3½–4 hours
The meal is ready when the potatoes and carrots are very tender and the beef is completely cooked through.
8. Serve
Carefully remove the hot foil trays from the slow cooker using tongs or a wide spatula.
Support the bottom of each tray as you lift it because the cooking juices can be hot.
Place each tray on a plate and allow it to cool for a minute or two.
Spoon some of the flavorful juices over the beef and vegetables before serving.
Helpful Tips
For a richer and juicier meal, you can use ground beef with a higher fat content, such as 80/20.
For a leaner option, use 90% lean ground beef, although the finished dish may contain less cooking juice.
If you don’t have heavy-duty aluminum foil, use two layers of regular foil to make the individual trays stronger and reduce the chance of leaks.
You can also substitute Yukon Gold potatoes for russet potatoes. Yukon Gold potatoes tend to become creamy while still holding their shape well.
Serving Ideas
These hobo dinners are already a complete meal, but you can serve them with a few simple sides.
A crisp green salad or sliced cucumbers can add freshness to the meal.
Warm dinner rolls or bread are also delicious alongside the beef and vegetables because they can be used to soak up the savory cooking juices.
For a larger family meal, serve the dinners with green beans, peas, or another simple vegetable.
Leftover Idea
If you have leftovers, they can be reheated and enjoyed the next day.
You can also break up the leftover beef and vegetables and fry them in a skillet. For a hearty breakfast, top the mixture with an egg.
Why This Recipe Works
The beauty of this recipe is its simplicity.
The potatoes and carrots cook underneath the seasoned beef, allowing them to absorb the flavorful juices as everything slowly cooks together.
With only four main ingredients and very little preparation, you get individual portions of tender beef, soft potatoes, sweet carrots, and savory onion flavor.
It’s an inexpensive, comforting meal that proves you don’t need a long ingredient list to make a satisfying dinner.
