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Home » Dinner » Hobo Dinner in the Slow Cooker

Hobo Dinner in the Slow Cooker

by Sarah Olson on August 27, 2015 | Updated May 23, 2020 90 Comments

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collage of photos on how to make hobo dinner in slow cooker for pinterest

Have you ever heard of a Hobo Dinner before? It’s usually an individual complete meal for one in a foil pack cooked 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.

small meatloaf and cheesy potatoes in foil, in slow cooker

We traveled to South Twin Lake Resort for 4 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.

uncooked meatloaf and potatoes in foil in oval slow cooker

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!

close up of hobo dinner in slow cooker

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!

meat loaf and cheesy potatoes in paper tray

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

  • Slow Cooker Shipwreck Stew
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close up of hobo dinner in slow cooker

Hobo Dinner in the Slow Cooker

5 from 9 votes
A complete one-pot meal of meatloaf and potatoes reminiscent of old campfire dinners.
Print Pin Rate
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American
Keyword: Hobo Dinner
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 5 hours
Total Time: 5 hours 20 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:

Calories: 671kcal | Carbohydrates: 56g | Protein: 39g | Fat: 33g | Saturated Fat: 17g | Cholesterol: 208mg | Sodium: 1056mg | Potassium: 1434mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 7g | Vitamin A: 741IU | Vitamin C: 16mg | Calcium: 269mg | Iron: 6mg
Made this recipe?I want to see your photos! Tag me on Instagram @themagicalslowcooker
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    Filed Under: Beef, Camping, Dinner, Ground Beef, Meatloaf Tagged With: cheese, comfort food, Crock pot, crockpot, dinner, meatloaf, potatoes, slow cooker

    Comments

    1. Xema Jacobson says

      November 6, 2020 at 10:22 pm

      I just bought a 3 crocks in one today. One of the crock pots is divided. I am going to try this with the new pot. Won’t need the foil!

      Thanks

      Reply
    2. Alic says

      January 25, 2020 at 7:20 am

      My recipe for HoBo dinner
      Layered
      Potatoes
      Carrots
      Hamburg mixes with Dry onion soup mix formed in meat balls
      Cover with cream of mushroom soup
      High 5 hrs plus. Just check veggies to see if cooked.
      Delicious. My own recipe!

      Reply
      • Sarah Olson says

        January 25, 2020 at 8:23 am

        LOVE it. I will try. Thanks for sharing.

        Reply
      • Mel says

        August 1, 2020 at 6:21 am

        I am so excited to try this thank you for sharing

        Reply
      • Stacy says

        September 20, 2020 at 5:21 am

        Is this layered recipe in foil and cooked it just layered at the bottom of the slow cooker open face style and fo you form a meat loaf on the side like the poster?

        Reply
    3. Kim B says

      January 20, 2019 at 8:24 am

      Get it ready before you get on the road, keep in sink so it won’t tip and when you arrive at campsite, voila dinner is done. I use a slow cooker bag and clean up is a breeze.

      Reply
    4. Anonymous says

      August 29, 2018 at 11:49 am

      Really enjoyed this recipe. My slow cooker has a timer so I set it on 6 hrs. Then checked it at 5 1/2 hrs and all was perfect so add

      Reply
    5. Wynn says

      January 2, 2018 at 11:05 am

      Great hobo meal idea! Has anyone made any beef and baked beans hobo meals?

      People worried about meatloaf sticking to their pots, could either put their meatloaf in a separate foil bowl, just as the potatoes were contained, or twist some foil into snake shapes to use as an improvised meat rack under the meatloaf, which will also elevate the meatloaf above the “guck” that sometimes forms around the bottoms of meatloaf as it cooks.

      If anyone finds their potatoes aren’t turning out as tender as they would like, they can microwave those briefly in advance in a microwave safe dish to help insure they’ll be tender by the time the meatloaf is done.

      Reply
      • Cynthia Reece says

        July 31, 2018 at 7:31 pm

        I made this recipe today and the potatoes didn’t get done. I cooked it for 6 hours on low. Any suggestions on what I need to do different next time? I used a 6 quart oval crockpot.

        Reply
        • Mel says

          August 1, 2020 at 6:22 am

          They needed longer to cook. It depends on the size of the potatoes.

          Reply
    6. Jody says

      November 28, 2017 at 5:28 pm

      I have been making hobo dinners in the oven for years. I just use a hamburger patty and potatoes and some of the family members like carrots, or green peppers, or onions in addition to the potatoes. I still have it often as I live alone and it is a nice and easy meal. I love the idea of making it a meatloaf though. I always put everything in the foil together and bake it. Yummy. The cheese also sounds delicious.

      Reply
    7. Lynise says

      October 18, 2017 at 11:57 pm

      My husband can’t eat onions, do you think it will work if i omit the onions?

      Reply
      • Sarah Olson says

        October 19, 2017 at 8:02 am

        Will be fine without

        Reply
        • Margaret says

          November 17, 2020 at 8:09 pm

          Put your onions in a blender..it looks like mush ….my aunt did this for years..my uncle never knew

          Reply
    8. Philip says

      June 29, 2017 at 4:09 pm

      Thank you for this recipe! My daughter and I enjoyed this very much! The meatloaf was very moist and the potatoes were so soft! I might not cook meatloaf again in the oven! We have enjoyed lasagna, enchiladas and now meatloaf in the slow cooker!

      Reply
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