BBQ Turkey and Potato Foil Packets
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Foil packet meals are one of my favorite camping dinners. They’re simple, hard to mess up, and a classic campfire meal. This foil packet recipe is loaded with protein, veggies, and a sticky-sweet barbecue sauce.
Foil Packet Ingredients
- Ground turkey: We use ground turkey in this foil packet recipe, but you can swap in ground beef if you prefer. I simply use a fork and drop pieces of the ground turkey into the foil packet so that I don’t have to touch raw meat.
- Yellow Onions: Yellow onion adds a little sweetness to this camping meal.
- Red Potatoes: Sometimes called Red Gold potatoes, these potatoes are medium-sized with red skin and golden flesh inside.
- Carrots: I get a few carrots from the bulk section for some color and sweetness to the foil packet dinner.
- BBQ sauce: A pre-made BBQ sauce makes this meal so flavorful without much effort or time at camp.
- Butter: I add a little bit of butter to all my foil packet meals!
Tips for Making the Perfect Foil Packets
If you’re new to cooking over a campfire, foil packet meals are a great place to start because they’re easy and so delicious!
Camp Kitchen Gear You’ll Need:
- cutting board
- knife
- heavy duty aluminum foil
- parchment paper (optional)
- metal tongs
- fork for eating
I definitely recommend buying “heavy-duty” aluminum foil for these meals because it’s stronger and better for cooking over the campfire. You don’t want your meals to break open all over the fire!
A layer of parchment paper can be used as the first layer of the foil packets if you don’t want to cook directly on the aluminum foil.
You’ll also need a way to flip the foil packets when they’re on the campfire because they’ll be too hot to touch. I like to use metal tongs for this. Don’t use plastic or silicone tongs, they can melt.
These meals are eaten right out of the foil packet, so there’s no need to dirty any plates or bowls.
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A note about cook times:
Cooking times will vary based on how big or small you chopped your ingredients, how big you made your foil packets, and how hot your coals are.
If you notice that the coals have cooled, simply bring in some new ones to heat things back up until you hear a faint sizzle sound.
You can always take a packet off of the coals and carefully open it up to check on doneness. If it needs more time, simply fold it back up and let it cook longer.
How to Make Foil Packets
Step 1: Chop the Ingredients
Chop the carrots, onions, and potatoes into bite-sized pieces and cubes. You can chop the ingredients a day before at home to save a little prep time at camp if you want, just store them in an air-tight container in the cooler.
Step 2: Assemble the foil packets
You’ll need 3 pieces of foil and 1 piece of parchment paper (if using) per foil packet. Layer potatoes, carrots, and onion onto the first layer of parchment paper or foil.
Use a fork to drop bite-sized pieces of ground turkey on top of the veggies.
Drizzle your favorite BBQ sauce on top, followed by about 1 tablespoon of butter cut into smaller pieces.
Step 3: Seal and Cook
To fold the packets, bring the two longest edges towards each other and roll them together to create a seal. Then, fold in the sides.
Place the packet seam side down on another piece of foil, and repeat the same folding process. Do this one more time for a total of three pieces of foil per packet.
Place the packets on top of campfire coals (not flames). Cook for 40 minutes, flipping the packets every 10 minutes until the veggies are tender and the turkey is fully cooked.
BBQ Turkey Foil Packets
Ingredients
- 1 pound ground turkey
- 1 large yellow onion
- 8 red potatoes
- 4 large carrots
- 1 jar barbeque sauce
- 4 tbsp unsalted butter
- salt and pepper
- sour cream for serving
Instructions
- Roughly chop the onion, potatoes, and carrots into bite-sized pieces.
- You’ll need 3 large pieces of foil per foil packet. Layer potatoes, carrots, and onions onto the first layer of foil. (For the first layer only, a piece of parchment paper can also be used if you don’t want food to cook directly on aluminum foil.)
- Use a fork to drop bite-sized clumps of ground turkey on top of the veggies. No need to roll the turkey into meatballs. Just take a spoon or fork and scoop the meat right onto the foil.
- Drizzle your favorite BBQ sauce on top, followed by about 1 tablespoon of butter (per packet) cut into smaller pieces.
- To fold the packets, bring the two longest edges towards each other and roll them together to create a seal. Then, fold in the sides. Rip off another piece of foil. Place the packet seam side down, and repeat the same folding process. Do this one more time for a total of 3 pieces of foil per packet. (If using parchment paper for the first layer, still use 3 pieces of foil on top of that.)
- Place the packets on top of campfire coals (not flames). Cook for 40 minutes, flipping the packets every 10 minutes until the veggies are tender and the turkey is fully cooked.*
- Once done, top the meal with more BBQ sauce, salt, pepper, and sour cream if desired. Enjoy!
Notes
Want even more easy camping recipes?
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If you have any questions about the recipe or how to make foil packets, just comment below!
