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The Magical Slow Cooker » Recipes » Dinner » Hobo Dinner in the Slow Cooker

Hobo Dinner in the Slow Cooker

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

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Images of hobo dinner with text overlay of what the ingredients are.
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 photo 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
  • 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

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close up of hobo dinner in slow cooker

Hobo Dinner in the Slow Cooker

4.67 from 18 votes
A complete one-pot meal of meatloaf and potatoes reminiscent of old campfire dinners.
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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!
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Nutrition Information:

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

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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    97295 shares
    • 39022

    Filed Under: Beef, Camping, Dinner, Ground Beef, Meatloaf

    Comments

    1. Bri says

      August 24, 2023 at 2:20 am

      5 stars
      One of our absolute family favorites!

      Reply
    2. Elizabeth says

      December 24, 2022 at 10:35 am

      3 stars
      Strange, Charlene, because my meatloaf came out VERY tender. Maybe your saltines were old – they sit around in the store a lot before being bought. I used as fresh ones as I could find from the store. It was the meatloaf that made the recipe for me! Nice simple crock pot meal for a busy day.

      Reply
    3. Charlene says

      March 16, 2022 at 9:41 am

      1 star
      Wasted all of my ingredients for a very disappointing meal. Meatloaf was horrible made with saltines no moisture like cardboard. Potatoes were good.
      Think long and hard before trying this one.

      Reply
      • Bri says

        August 24, 2023 at 2:22 am

        5 stars
        I think you must have messed something up… because this recipe has come out perfect and super moist the dozens of times my family has made it. Only issue I have ever had is having to cook it a bit longer for the potatoes to be fully done if I don’t slice them thin enough.

        Reply
    4. Donna Casper says

      June 2, 2021 at 9:19 am

      I use cabbage leaves in bottom and on top to add flavor

      Reply
    5. 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
    6. 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
    7. 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
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