Nothing hits the spot when you're a hungry camper like a sausage and veggie foil packet dinner! Full of nutrients and comforting flavors, and simple to prepare, the whole family will enjoy this hearty meal.
I never went camping with my family growing up, but I did go on a girl's camp every summer from age 12-18. I loved it! One of my favorite things was sitting around the campfire and eating camp food.
Then I married my husband who practically grew up in the bush in Northern Alberta. Hunting, fishing and camping were a huge part of his life. It was as we started to go camping together that I started to become comfortable with doing basic camping setup, cooking and other tasks.
I enjoy making camping meal plans. We are very happy with the way we eat on a regular basis, so we feel fine indulging in some traditional camping foods that may not be as good for us, such as smokies and chips.
But we still try to pack in healthy foods that are easy to prepare and comforting to eat. That's why these sausage and veggie foil packet meals are usually on the menu! Plus, it doesn't feel like real camping if you don't make at least one campfire dinner! For a lot of our meals, we use (and dearly love!) our Coleman camp stove.
Another great thing is they are a complete meal in one! Such an easy dinner. No need to try to time a few different dishes perfectly so they are all ready at once.
It can take a little bit of trial and error to figure out how to cook campfire foil packets just right, but go for it and trust your intuition. It's usually right.
Did you know they are also known as hobo packs? I didn't until recently and I honestly have no idea where that name came from.
Preparing some food ahead of time can make a big difference as well. Lately, I love to make cookies, muffins and granola bars so we have some healthy treats. Some other great make-ahead easy recipes for camping are kale chips, fruit leather and roasted cashews!
What is a Foil Packet Dinner?
A foil packet dinner is food wrapped up tightly in aluminium foil with some sort of oil and seasonings, then cooked on a bed of hot coals (or in an oven). It's a great way to make an entire meal at once, as you can throw in almost any meat or fish, along with potatoes, veggies and a few simple seasonings.
Are Foil Packet Dinners Safe?
This is a controversial topic. Studies do show that cooking something in aluminum foil can increase the aluminum content in that food. A small amount of leeching does occur. However, the body absorbs less than 1% (source) of the aluminum that passes through it. According to researchers, this amount is not enough to cause health problems.
So, it's up to you! When you cook with foil, you will ingest a little more aluminum, but it shouldn't be nearly enough to cause you any issues. If you are unsure or uncomfortable, continue to research and decide what's best for you!
Variations of Campfire Foil Packet Dinners
- Swap out the sausage for another type of meat such as chicken breast, ground beef, salmon or shrimp. Just make sure you season it well! The sausage in itself lends flavor to the meal, so you want to make sure if you switch it out that you have adequate flavor.
- Try making sausage from scratch! We make garlic and Italian sausage and they're both great!
- Use sweet potatoes, russet or yellow potatoes instead of red potatoes
- Add your favorite veggies! Bell peppers, green beans and onions are great options
- Add fresh herbs if you have them
- Use bbq sauce, taco seasoning or cajun seasoning to add some more intense flavors
Can You Cook Foil Packets in the Oven?
Believe it or not, tin foil dinners don't have to be only for camping. You can put them together, throw them in the oven at 350°F for about 30 minutes and you'll barely have any dishes to clean up! The difference is the veggies will be less crispy than if they were cooked on coals.
Tools You May Need
Heavy-duty aluminum foil
How to Cook Foil Packet Dinners While Camping
INGREDIENTS:
- 500g sausage (here is a from scratch recipe to try!)
- 5-6 small or medium red potatoes
- 2 small or 1 large carrot
- 1 head of broccoli
- ½ bulb garlic, minced
- salt
- pepper
- ¾ cup butter OR olive oil
INSTRUCTIONS:
Prepare 8 sheets of heavy duty foil that are about 18 inches long. If you are outside (I hope you are- you're camping!), make sure to put something heavy on top so they don't blow away while you're preparing the food!
Slice sausages about ½ inch thick.
Peel potatoes and carrots. Your goal is to cut them into pieces that are about the same size. I cut my potatoes in half, then in three lengthwise, then sliced them about ⅛ to ¼ inch thick. I cut the carrots in half lengthwise and sliced to the same thickness.
Cut broccoli into small florets.
If you have a bowl, toss together the sausage, potatoes, carrots, broccoli and garlic. Season generously with salt and pepper. Toss well. Divide the mixture evenly between 4 sheets of tin foil.
If you don't have a bowl, lay out 4 sheets of foil, shiny side up. Divide your sausage, potatoes, carrots, broccoli and garlic evenly between the 4 sheets. Arrange the food so it's in a rectangle and about the same height across. You don't want a really thick area in the middle. Sprinkle generously with salt and pepper.
Pour 3 tablespoon of olive oil over each mound of sausage and veggies, or dot with 3 tablespoon of butter.
How to Fold Foil Packets
Bring the long edges of the foil together overtop of your mound of food. Holding them together, carefully fold them in half, so the edge reaches the top of your food pile. Press firmly along the entire length of the fold. This should ensure the foil is somewhat tight around the food. Fold in half again and again until you can no longer fold and the seam is tight.
Take one end and fold it in about ½ inch and continue to fold until you hit the food and cannot go further. For extra security, fold in each corner if there is room to do it. Repeat on the other end.
You should now have a tight little packet of food! Now repeat again with a second piece of foil around your packet, making the seam on the same side as the first one (don't flip it over).
Fold all packets and wrap again with a second piece of foil to use all of your 8 sheets.
How to Prepare the Fire for Foil Packets
You need a nice bed of hot campfire coals to cook on. Hardwoods are better for coals than softwoods, but soft will still work. In our area, birch and aspen are ideal, as opposed to pine or spruce. We use the log cabin method (see this article for how to make one) and let it burn down until it's mostly coals with barely any flame. Push the burning pieces to the side and spread out the coals so you have an area to place your four foil packets.
Place the four foil packets directly on the hot coals. You should hear a sizzling sound very quickly.
How Long Do You Cook Foil Packet Dinners?
Since coal temperatures and the environment vary, it's hard to pin down an exact cooking time. It often takes 20-30 minutes, flipped and turned every 10-15 minutes.
Also, take note of the size of your food. If you have smaller pieces they will cook faster than larger chunks of meat and veggie.
You may want to switch the positions of certain foil packs if you hear one aggressively sizzling and one barely sizzling it all. That just indicates that the first area is very hot and the second is barely hot. So be aware of that and make adjustments if needed to give the food an equal chance to cook.
How to Know When Foil Packets Are Done
When the packets feel soft when grabbed with the tongs, they should be done. At least, that's how my husband does it and it always works out!
When you think they are done, use your tongs to remove one, open it and pierce a potato or carrot with a fork. If it's soft, the packet is done cooking. If it's not, you can loosely wrap in another piece of foil (it will be very hot, so be careful!) and place it cut side up back on the coals.
We like to remove the packets with tongs directly onto a plate, cut it open and eat right out of the packet. Such a satisfying and healthy camping meal!
I hope you enjoy these on your next camping trip and don't forget to scrape the bottom of the packet for the best part- crispy bits!
Did you try this recipe and love it? I would so appreciate a 5-star rating and your comments below!
Great Recipes to Take Camping:
- 3 DAY WEEKEND CAMPING MEAL PLAN + FREE PRINTABLE
- HONEY ROASTED CASHEWS
- DEHYDRATED KALE CHIPS
- BLUEBERRY MUFFINS WITH SPROUTED WHEAT
- SPROUTED OATMEAL CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES
More Healthy Meal Ideas:
- PORK AND BEEF MEATLOAF
- NO MAYO TUNA SALAD
- BEEF POT PIE WITH SPROUTED WHEAT CRUST
- PAN-FRIED ASPARAGUS WITH GARLIC
- HOW TO EAT A TOSTADA
📖 Recipe
Sausage and Veggie Foil Packet Dinner
Nothing hits the spot when you’re a hungry camper like a sausage and veggie foil packet dinner! Full of nutrients and comforting flavors, and simple to prepare, the whole family will enjoy this hearty meal.
Ingredients
- 500g sausage
- 5-6 small or medium red potatoes
- 2 small or 1 large carrot
- 1 head of broccoli
- ½ bulb garlic, minced
- salt
- pepper
- ¾ cup butter OR olive oil
Instructions
- Prepare 8 sheets of heavy-duty foil that are about 18 inches long.
- Slice sausages about ½ inch thick.
- Peel potatoes and carrots. Your goal is to cut them into pieces that are about the same size. About ⅛ to ¼ inch is a good thickness.
- Cut broccoli into small florets.
- If you have a bowl combine the sausage, potatoes, carrots and broccoli. Add garlic and season generously with salt and pepper. Toss well to season everything. Divide the mixture evenly between 4 sheets of tin foil.
- If you don’t have a bowl, lay out 4 sheets of foil, shiny side up. Divide your sausage, potatoes, carrots, broccoli and garlic evenly between the 4 sheets. Arrange the food so it’s in a rectangle and about the same height across. You don’t want a really thick area in the middle. Sprinkle generously with salt and pepper.
- Pour 3 tablespoon of olive oil over each mound of sausage and veggies, or dot with 3 tablespoon of butter.
Food Prep
How to Fold Foil Packets
- Bring the long edges of the foil together overtop of your mound of food. Holding them together, carefully fold them in half, so the edge reaches the top of your food pile. Press firmly along the entire length of the fold. This should ensure the foil is somewhat tight around the food. Fold in half again and again until you can no longer fold and the seam is tight.
- Take one end and fold it in about ½ inch and continue to fold until you hit the food and cannot go further. For extra security, fold in each corner if there is room to do it. Repeat on the other end.
- You should now have a tight little packet of food! Now repeat again with a second piece of foil around your packet, making the seam on the same side as the first one (don’t flip it over).
- Fold all packets and wrap again with a second piece of foil to use all of your 8 sheets.
Fire Preparation
- You need a nice bed of hot campfire coals to cook on. Hard woods are better for coals than soft woods, but soft will still work. In our area, birch and aspen are ideal, as opposed to pine or spruce. The log cabin method is best. Let it burn down until it’s mostly coals with barely any flame. Push the burning pieces to the side and spread out the coals so you have an area to place your four foil packets.
- Place the four foil packets directly on the hot coals. You should hear a sizzling sound very quickly.
Cooking Time
- Since coal temperatures and the environment vary, it’s hard to pin down an exact cooking time. Ours usually take 20-30 minutes, flipped and turned every 10-15 minutes.
- Also, take note of the size of your food. If you have smaller pieces they will cook faster than larger chunks of meat and veggie.
- You may want to switch the positions of certain foil packs if you hear one aggressively sizzling and one barely sizzling it all. That just indicates that the first area is very hot and the second is barely hot. So be aware of that and make adjustments if needed to give the food an equal chance to cook.
How to Know Packets Are Done
- When the packets feel soft when grabbed with the tongs, they should be done. At least, that’s how my husband does it and it always works out!
- When you think they are done, use your tongs to remove one, open it and pierce a potato or carrot with a fork. If it’s soft, the packet is done cooking. If it’s not, you can loosely wrap in another piece of foil (it will be very hot, so be careful!) and place it cut side up back on the coals.
- Remove the packets with tongs directly onto a plate, cut them open and eat right out of the packet. Enjoy!
Notes
Some variations to try:
- Swap out the sausage for another type of meat such as chicken breast, ground beef, salmon or shrimp. Just make sure you season it well! The sausage in itself lends flavor to the meal, so you want to make sure if you switch it out that you have adequate flavor.
- Use sweet potatoes, russet or yellow potatoes instead of red potatoes
- Add your favorite veggies! Bell peppers, green beans, onions
- Add fresh herbs if you have them
- Use bbq sauce, taco seasoning or cajun seasoning to add some more intense flavors
Leave a Reply