Foil dinners

Mixed vegetables and chicken in foil
Recipe credit

University of Minnesota Extension Department of Family, Health and Wellbeing

About this recipe

Serves
4
Serving size
3 ounces cooked meat, 1/2 potato, 1/2 carrot, 1/4 onion
Time to make
20 minutes preparation; 60 minutes cook time

Ingredients

  • 1 pound lean ground beef or turkey, rinsed and drained
  • 2-3 large potatoes, scrubbed, eyes removed, and sliced
  • 1 large onion, peeled and sliced
  • 2-3 large carrots, scrubbed and sliced
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • Additional salt, pepper, or other seasonings, such as garlic salt or barbecue seasoning, to tastea

Directions

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Mix 1/2 teaspoon salt into ground beef. Shape meat into 4 flat patties about the size of the palm of your hand. 
  2. Lay each patty on a piece of foil about 15 inches long. Wash hands carefully after handling raw meat. 
  3. Top each patty with slices of potato, onion, and carrots.
  4. Add salt, pepper, and other seasonings if desired. 
  5. Wrap each pile in foil and seal tightly. Place on cookie sheet if desired.
  6. Bake for 1 hour. 
  7. Carefully remove very hot packages from oven onto serving plate. Puncture foil to release steam. Cool for several minutes before unwrapping. Before serving, be sure beef is thoroughly cooked. The beef should not be pink and juices should be clear.
  8. Refrigerate leftovers within 2 hours of cooking.

Tips and variations

  • If you use clean food handling procedures, you can prepare the foil dinner packets up to 2 days ahead (maximum!) and store them in the refrigerator. 
  • Foil dinners are great for grilling or camping. If you are grilling them, you will want to add some slices of butter to each foil packet to prevent the contents from scorching and sticking to the foil.

Nutritional info

Calories
357
Total fat
11.6 g
Saturated fat
4.4 g
Cholesterol
71 mg
Sodium
91 mg
Total carbohydrates
38.6 g
Dietary fiber
4.8 g
Protein
24.8 g
Total sugar
5.1 g

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