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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.
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
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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 only have a 3.5 quart crock pot can I make this work?
I’m not sure if it would fit. You may be able to put the meat loaf on the bottom flat, then add the potato packet on the top.
Would I be able to cut the recipe in half and cook it for less time? If so how long do you think I should cook it for? Sorry I’m new to this whole cooking thing
I am unsure how it would do cut in half. I do know that the potatoes can’t take any less cooking time or they won’t get tender.
For cooking at home, the potatoes could be microwaved for 3 or 4 minutes in a microwave safe dish, prior to being put in the crockpot with a smaller meatloaf, to have both thoroughly cooked and done at the same time. It’s also a great way for using larger cuts of vegetables in slow cooker meals to have them cooked through and tender when the meat is done.
Does the 5 hours on low cook the potatoes so they are soft? This looks so yummy and would be great for one of our fall camping trips!!
Yes it does. Make sure to keep the lid on the entire tint or they won’t cook. 🙂
Going seven and a half hours on low and the meatloaf is still not done! Turned it to high hoping it’ll cook through!! Why??
The meatloaf may be pink from the ketchup. It should be done after that long.
This may seem like a dumb question? Where do you plug the crock pot “in” at a camp sight?
Johnny
We camp at places with hook ups. Probably would be hard to do while dry camping.
Thank you. In Ontario, most of the camping is done in provincial parks in dry sites with tents and coleman stoves. There are spots for trailers and I suppose there are hookups for them.
I am gone for 10 hours…..has anyone done this and then had their crockpot shift to warm.
I only made two changes – the took out the 1/4 cup ketchup and put in 3 tablespoons Mild Salsa. I also changed the crackers to 1/2 cup unseasoned bread crumbs and I used organic Ketchup. I love the potatoes being cooked on the side and like one to the other reviewers said, I did add about 3 carrots cut into 1 1/2″ chunks. Yum on the entire meal.
Great ideas Kathi! Thanks for sharing.
This recipe looks great! Any idea if I could cook this on high for a shorter period of time? If so, what would you recommend? Thanks so much for sharing!
Will it dry out if left over 5 hours? Like maybe 6? Due to being away from house.
It may be ok. I would add a tiny bit of water around the meat loaf to help keep it moist.
I have a very picky family, Would my own meatloaf recipe work for this as well??
I think so! I am very picky about my meat loaf, so I understand!
I forgot to throw this in the crockpot this morning, how long would you cook this in the oven?
I remember I used to cook meat loaf in the oven at 350 for about 45 mins? I think that would be a good starting point, and cook longer if needed.
Ok, i’ll try that, thanks!