6 Easy And Delicious Foil Packet Meal Ideas For Campers

I’ve always been someone who enjoys the outdoors, especially during the fall season when the air is crisp and the colors of the changing leaves paint the landscape.

Foil packet meals are one of my absolute favorite ways to cook when I’m out camping. There’s something about tossing everything into a neat little package, letting the fire do the work, and then unwrapping a perfectly cooked meal that makes the entire experience so satisfying.

Today, In this post, I want to share a few of my favorite foil packet recipes, or “hobo packets” as some people call them, that are both easy to prepare and delicious.

Prepping Your Supplies on a Budget

Before we dive into the recipes, let me tell you about one of my favorite budget hacks. If you’re like me and love to save where you can, then the dollar store is going to be your best friend for camping supplies.

For just a few dollars, I was able to pick up some essential items like pre-cut foil sheets, heavy-duty aluminum foil, and small travel-sized containers that are perfect for storing liquids or spices.

I also recommend grabbing a small portable heater if you’re camping during the fall or winter months.

Temperatures can drop quickly, and having a way to warm up while prepping your meals is a game-changer.

Recipe 1: Potato and Turkey Sausage Foil Packet

The first recipe I want to share is a simple yet hearty dish—potato and turkey sausage foil packets.

This meal is perfect for those cool fall nights when you need something filling and warm.

The best part is that you can customize it with whatever kind of sausage you like, whether it’s turkey sausage, kielbasa, or even breakfast sausage if you want a morning twist on the dish.

Here’s how I like to make it:
1. Start with your foil: I usually prefer pre-cut foil sheets because they’re more convenient, but you can also cut your own from a roll of heavy-duty foil. You’ll want to double-layer the foil to prevent any leaks while cooking.

2. Prepare the ingredients: At home, I pre-cut my sausage into quarter-sized pieces and slice my mini red potatoes and carrots into thin, even slices—about 1/8 of an inch thick.

3. Assemble your packet: Lay down a piece of foil and layer your sausage, potatoes, carrots, and onions. I like to add a drizzle of vegetable oil or olive oil for moisture. You can also throw in a few small cubes of butter for extra flavor.

4. Seasoning: I like to mix my spices at home in a small container so that when it’s time to cook, I can just sprinkle everything over the packet. For this recipe, I usually go with a mix of salt, pepper, garlic powder, and paprika.

5. Seal it up: To seal the packet, fold the long edges of the foil together first, then fold the short edges inward. Make sure the packet is completely sealed to prevent any juices from leaking out. For added protection, I like to wrap the packet in a second layer of foil.

Recipe 2: Chicken Fiesta Foil Packet

Next up is my Chicken Fiesta foil packet, which is a crowd-pleaser, especially if you’re camping with friends or family.

It’s a colorful and flavorful meal that packs a punch with all the different spices and ingredients.

1. Ingredients: You’ll need chicken breast (cut into bite-sized pieces), black beans, corn, diced tomatoes, bell peppers, and onions.
Don’t forget your seasoning mix—cumin, chili powder, garlic powder, and paprika work great for this recipe.

2. Layering: Just like the sausage packet, start by laying down your chicken pieces on the foil. Then, add the black beans, corn, tomatoes, and peppers. Drizzle with a little olive oil and sprinkle your seasoning mix over the top.

3. Folding the packet: Seal the packet just like before, ensuring that no juices can escape. Double-wrap if necessary to prevent leaks.

Recipe 3: Huckleberry Crisp Foil Packet

Let’s talk about dessert. One of my favorite treats after a long day of hiking or exploring is a berry crisp cooked right in the campfire.

For this recipe, I love using huckleberries, but you can use whatever berries are in season—blackberries, blueberries, raspberries, or even strawberries.

1. Ingredients: You’ll need your berries of choice, some rolled oats, brown sugar, a little flour, cinnamon, and butter.

2. Assembling the packet: In a bowl, mix the berries with a little bit of flour and sugar to create the filling. In a separate container, mix the oats, brown sugar, cinnamon, and butter to form the topping.

3. Layering: In the foil packet, layer the berries on the bottom and spoon the oat mixture on top. Seal the packet and double-wrap it, just like with the other recipes.

Recipe 4: Turkey Foil Packets

For the fouth recipe, I’m making turkey foil packets. You’ll need ground turkey, carrots, apples, salt, pepper, potatoes, onion, butter, and a little sage.
The ingredients are simple, but the flavors are incredible when combined.

Here’s how you put it all together:
Start by chopping the carrots, potatoes, and onions into bite-sized pieces.
You don’t want them too small because they’ll get mushy during cooking.

The apple, on the other hand, can be chopped into smaller pieces. I like the apple to melt into the other ingredients, adding a bit of sweetness. Once everything is chopped, toss it into a bowl and set it aside.

Next, grab a piece of foil—don’t be shy with the size! Take some ground turkey, and scoop a portion directly onto the foil. No need to roll the turkey into balls; just scoop it and drop it onto the foil. Add the chopped veggies and apples on top of the turkey. I like to add a few small cubes of butter to help everything stay moist.

Now comes the fun part: folding the packet. Start by folding the longer edges of the foil inward, then fold down the ends. You’re going to want to wrap it in at least three layers of foil. Yes, three!

Recipe 5: Sausage Foil Packets

Next up are the sausage foil packets. For this one, you’ll need chicken sausage, onion, pepper, potatoes, salt, pepper, and butter.

I like using precooked chicken sausage because it cuts down on the cooking time and makes life easier when I’m out camping.

As with the turkey packets, start by chopping the vegetables—potatoes, peppers, and onions—into bite-sized pieces.

Slice the sausage into rounds, and you’re ready to assemble. I typically aim for about one to one and a half sausages per person, depending on how hungry everyone is.

To assemble, take a piece of foil and spread a little butter on the bottom to prevent sticking. Add your chopped veggies and sausage, and sprinkle around a few pieces of butter—about a tablespoon per packet does the trick.

Season everything with salt and pepper, and then fold it all up just like the turkey packets, using three layers of foil to ensure nothing burns.

Recipe 6: Salmon Foil Packets

Last but certainly not least, let’s talk about the salmon foil packets. This one is my personal favorite. You’ll need salmon fillets, asparagus, lemon, green onions, rosemary, salt, pepper, and butter.

Start by chopping the green onions and trimming the asparagus. You can cut the asparagus into thirds or leave it whole; either way works fine.

Slice the lemon into thin rounds, as these will go on the bottom of the packet to infuse the salmon with bright citrus flavor.

Now, grab a piece of foil and spread a little butter on it. Lay down three lemon slices and place the salmon fillet on top. Surround the salmon with asparagus and green onions (or green beans if that’s your choice), and add a few sprigs of rosemary on top.

Don’t forget to season generously with salt and pepper! Once again, fold the packet using three layers of foil.

Cooking the Foil Packets

Once all your packets are prepped and wrapped, it’s time to cook. By now, your campfire should have burned down to a bed of hot coals.

Push some of the coals to the side and place the foil packets directly on top of them.

Now, the tricky part with foil packet meals is that cooking times can vary a lot. Factors like how hot the coals are, how big you chopped the veggies, and how much food you packed into each foil packet will all affect the cooking time.

As a general rule, I like to rotate the packets every 10 minutes to ensure even cooking.

If your coals are too hot, you’ll hear a loud, crackling sizzle—that’s a sign they’re burning. What you want is a faint sizzling sound.

If you don’t hear any sizzling at all, the coals might be too cold, and your food won’t cook properly.

As a rough guideline, I usually find that the packets need about 30 to 40 minutes on the coals, but again, this depends on the factors mentioned earlier.

If you’re unsure, simply pull a packet off the coals, carefully open it (watch out for the steam), and check them. If they’re not done yet, just reseal the packet and put it back on the coals.

Final Thoughts

One of the best parts about foil packet meals is that they’re incredibly forgiving. If something’s not done, you can always throw it back on the coals for a few more minutes.

And remember, you can always customize them to fit your tastes—whether it’s swapping out the veggies, changing up the protein, or adding your favorite seasonings. The possibilities are endless.

I hope you get the chance to try these recipes on your next camping trip.
They’re easy and delicious, and add a bit of variety to your typical camp meals.

Plus, there’s just something about cooking over a fire that makes everything taste better, right?