Hobo Dinner in the Slow Cooker (2024)

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by Sarah Olson on August 27, 2015 | Updated September 21, 2022 95 Comments

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Have you ever heard of a Hobo Dinner before? It’s usually an individual complete mealfor onein a foil packcooked in a campfire, oven or barbecue grill.

Since I am all about bringing my slow cooker camping, I thought I would try making a Slow Cooker Hobo Dinner.

We traveled to South Twin Lake Resort for4 nights this last week. Such a beautiful place to visit, there is a cold water channel right behind our campsite, and just a block away is the resort and lake. We spent our days hiking, swimming, and fishing. For our dinners I made 4 different slow cooker recipes this trip, an easy clam chowder, steak burritos, baked potatoes (to go with grilled steak), and this Hobo Dinner.

For this recipe I made a 1 pound meatloaf (I halved my favorite 2 pound meatloaf recipe.) I put the meatloaf on one side of the slow cooker. Then I made a foil “bowl” by taking a foot or so of foil and shaping it into a rounded shape (just one layer thick). In that foil bowl I tossed together potatoes, sliced onions, seasonings and drizzled melted butter over it. Cooked all of that on LOW for 5 hours, then topped the potatoes with cheese. An easy complete meal! And I do have to say meatloaf and potatoes are one of my most favorite meals to eat. Pure comfort food!

Cooked all of that on LOW for 5 hours, then topped the potatoes with cheese. An easy complete meal! And I do have to say meatloaf and potatoes are one of my most favorite meals to eat. Pure comfort food!

Need more ground beef recipes? Here are the best ones from the magical slow cooker:

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Hobo Dinner in the Slow Cooker

4.69 from 19 votes

A complete one-pot meal of meatloaf and potatoes reminiscent of old campfire dinners.

Print Pin Rate

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: American

Prep Time: 20 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 5 hours hours

Total Time: 5 hours hours 20 minutes minutes

Servings: 4

Calories: 671kcal

Author: Sarah Olson

Equipment Needed:

▢
Slow Cooker- 6 quart or larger-oval

Ingredients:

Meatloaf Ingredients

▢ 1 lb. 10% fat ground beef
▢ 2 large eggs
▢ 1/2 cup white onion diced
▢ 1/4 cup ketchup
▢ 1/4 tsp. salt
▢ 1/4 tsp. pepper
▢ 1/7 tsp. onion powder
▢ 15 Saltine crackers crushed

For the potatoes

▢ 4 small russet potatoes sliced
▢ 1/2 cup white onion sliced
▢ 1/2 tsp. salt
▢ 1/2 tsp. onion powder
▢ 1/4 tsp. pepper
▢ 3 Tbsp. butter melted
▢ 1 cup sharp cheese shredded; add at the end

For Serving

▢ ketchup for topping meatloaf

US Customary – Metric

Instructions:

In a large bowl, combine the meatloaf ingredients, be careful not to over mix.
Shape the meatloaf on one side of the slow cooker, trying to keep the meatloaf from touching the sides.
Make a foil "bowl" out of a foot or so of foil.
Shape it next to the meatloaf.
Add the potatoes and onions.
Season the potatoes and onions with the salt, pepper, and onion powder; toss them by hand.
Drizzle over the melted butter.
Cover and cook on LOW for 5 hours. DO NOT OPEN THE LID WHILE THIS IS COOKING, or the potatoes will not get tender.
After the cooking time is up add the cheese on top of the potatoes, and cover for about 5 minutes more or until the cheese is melted.
Add ketchup to the top of the meatloaf and serve.
Enjoy!

Nutrition Information:

Nutrition info is auto-generated. This information is an estimate; if you are on a special diet, please use your own calculations.

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