Hobo Dinner in the Slow Cooker
98 Comments Jun 05, 2024
Updated Oct 12, 2024
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Conveniently cook an entire meal at once with this delicious Crock Pot Hobo Dinner. It features a tasty meatloaf along with sliced potatoes all cooked to perfection at the same time. This meal is perfect to enjoy by yourself over the weekend or send to work with your husband to enjoy for lunch.
Another one-pot meal option you may want to try is my Slow Cooker Meatloaf and Baked Potatoes, one that can feed the whole family. Or my Slow Cooker Ham Dinner!
Table of Contents
Why This Hobo Dinner Works
When it comes to making a complete meal with ease, this recipe is a great idea to try. All you need are simple meatloaf ingredients like ground beef, saltine crackers, eggs, onions along with sliced Russet potatoes that will be slow cooked in melted butter and sliced white onion.
This meal is also pretty versatile, meaning you can swap the potatoes for your favorite vegetables, mushrooms, corn on the cob, sliced carrots, and the like. With foil dinners like this, the prep time is quick and the cooking time is just short enough to have it ready by dinner time. You may also like my Slow Cooker Mealoaf!
Recipe Ingredients
- For the Meatloaf: Ground beef (10% is best for this recipe), large eggs, diced white onion, ketchup, salt, black pepper, onion powder, and crushed Saltine crackers.
- For the Potatoes: Small sliced Russet potatoes, salt, onion powder, black pepper, and melted butter.
- Cheese: Shredded sharp cheese will be added at the end.
- For Serving: Ketchup can be added as a topping just before serving. (Full recipe is in the recipe card below the photos).
Step-by-Step Directions
Step One – In a large bowl, combine the meatloaf ingredients, be careful not to over mix.
Step Two – Shape the meatloaf on one side of the slow cooker, trying to keep the meatloaf from touching the sides.
Step Three – Make a foil “bowl” out of a foot or so of aluminum foil and shape it next to the meatloaf.
Step Four – Add the potatoes and onions and then season them with the salt, pepper, and onion powder. Toss them by hand.
Step Five – Drizzle over the melted butter.
Step Six – Cover and cook on LOW for 5 hours. DO NOT OPEN THE LID WHILE THIS IS COOKING, or the potatoes will not get tender.
Step Seven – After the cooking time is up add the cheese on top of the potatoes.
Step Eight – Cover for about 5 minutes more or until the cheese is melted.
Step Nine – Add ketchup to the top of the meatloaf and serve. Enjoy!
How to Serve
- One of the best things about this crock pot hobo dinner is that it is served perfectly as is. Simply add a slice of meatloaf and a helping of potatoes onto a plate and eat up.
- You can also serve this meal with cornbread, sliced white bread, or homemade biscuits.
- Pair it with different veggies, a side salad, or have a nice dessert on hand to add something sweet.
Recipe FAQs
Yes. This recipe works well with ground turkey.
No, you shouldn’t need to use a cooking spray but you can for added protection against the meatloaf sticking. You can also use a slow cooker big, which makes cleanup a breeze.
Place any remaining meatloaf and potatoes in an airtight container (together or separate) and keep in the fridge for up to 4 days. Reheat in the microwave until warmed throughout.
More Slow Cooker ground beef recipes?
- Slow Cooker Shipwreck Stew
- Slow Cooker Land Your Man Baked Beans
- Slow Cooker Salisbury Steak
- Slow Cooker Taco Meatloaf Stuffed Peppers
- Slow Cooker Texas Trash Beef and Bean Dip
- Slow Cooker Porcupine Meatballs
- Slow Cooker Hamburger Hash
Want to make more magic in your crockpot? Stay up to date and subscribe to my newsletter and follow along on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest and YouTube.
Hobo Dinner in the Slow Cooker
Equipment
Ingredients
Meatloaf Ingredients
- 1 lb. 10% fat ground beef
- 2 large eggs
- ½ cup white onion, diced
- ¼ cup ketchup
- ¼ tsp. salt
- ¼ tsp. pepper
- ½ tsp. onion powder
- 15 Saltine crackers, crushed
For the potatoes
- 4 small russet potatoes, sliced
- ½ cup white onion, sliced
- ½ tsp. salt
- ½ tsp. onion powder
- ¼ tsp. pepper
- 3 Tbsp. butter, melted
- 1 cup sharp cheese, shredded; add at the end
For Serving
- ketchup for topping meatloaf
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!
Sarah’s Notes
- Place any remaining meatloaf and potatoes in an airtight container (together or separate) and keep in the fridge for up to 4 days. Reheat in the microwave until warmed throughout.
- Ground turkey or ground chicken can be used instead of beef.
Nutrition
Nutrition info is auto-generated. This information is an estimate; if you are on a special diet, please use your own calculations.
I’m always looking for meals that make good leftovers for lunches! This will be perfect for that, and a slow cooker in the RV!
This idea worked like a charm and saved me a tun of time.
Sounds like the 50s! “This meal is perfect to enjoy by yourself over the weekend or send to work with your husband to enjoy for lunch.” I’m single.
I’m always looking for meals that make good leftovers for lunches! This will be perfect for that, and a slow cooker in the RV!
One of our absolute family favorites!