The campfire sweet potato tacos foil packets are a great idea for outdoor cooks. Whether you’re a full time camper or just enjoy a weekend getaway, these delicious and easy-to-make foil packets are about to become your best friend. We have been full time boondockers for years now and there’s nothing like the comfort of a warm, flavorful meal at the end of a day spent exploring.
The preparation is straightforward. You essentially need ground beef or bison, sweet potatoes, black beans, your favorite taco seasoning, olive oil, and some additional toppings like avocado, cilantro, and cheese. You can easily switch ingredients based on personal preferences or dietary restrictions.
You simply chop, season, and wrap your ingredients in aluminum foil, then place the packets on your campfire grate or hot coals. About 25-30 minutes later, you’ll unfold your foil to reveal perfectly cooked, piping hot sweet potato taco filling that is ready to be assembled and eaten.
When you finally get to that first bite into a taco, the combination of the tender sweet potatoes, the hearty black beans, and the fresh toppings is a taco that’s hard to beat. Afterwards, simply dispose of the used foil and you’re done! No pots, no pans, and minimal fuss.
In essence, campfire sweet potato tacos foil packets bring together the joys of outdoor cooking, in one tidy package.
Cooking Instructions
- The first step of making the campfire sweet potato tacos foil packets is to start your fire or charcoals. You will using them for the campfire sweet potato tacos foil packets, so you will want to make sure you have plenty on hand.
- If using embers, get a large fire going using (preferably) hardwood and let it slowly burn down. This process from start to finish can take upwards of an hour.
- If using charcoals, fill a large chimney starter and light. This process will take approximately 20 minutes to get all the coals hot and ready. You will likely want to have some charcoals available in reserve.
- In a large 12-inch cast iron skillet add the beef or bison, salt, pepper, and onion. Cook, breaking the meat into small pieces, until the meat is cooked through. Drain any excess grease.
- Add the chili powder, cumin, coriander, tomato sauce and jalapeño (if using). Cook over medium heat for 2-3 minutes, stirring often. Stir in the water, spinach and beans and simmer for 4-5 minutes. Remove from the heat.
- Grease the middle of 6-8 foil pieces, each approximately 12 inches long.
- Place approximately 1 cup of sweet potato pieces in the center of each sheet of foil, arranging them in a single layer with the browned ground beef; season with salt and pepper (do not miss this step!). Add about 1/2 cup of the meat mixture on top.
- Fold the long sides of the foil down securely over the filling. Fold and crimp each edge until securely sealed and a little package is created. Repeat with the remaining pieces of foil and ingredients. Cook over the fire for 20 minutes or until done.
- To serve cut a large X across each foil packet. Carefully peel the foil back and serve.
Ingredients For the Campfire Sweet Potato Tacos Foil Packets Recipe
beef or bison
salt
black pepper
onion
chili powder
cumin
coriander
tomato sauce
jalapeño
water
spinach
black beans
potatoes
Why I Love This Campfire Sweet Potato Tacos Foil Packets Recipe
Cooking with foil packets is a popular method among campers for several reasons. Here are ten factual reasons why:
Ease of Preparation:
1. Minimal Prep Time: Preparing foil packet meals is usually quick and straightforward, often involving simply chopping ingredients and seasoning them before wrapping in foil.
Simple Ingredients: Many foil packet recipes require basic, readily available ingredients.
2. Convenience:
No Need for Pots and Pans: Foil packets eliminate the need for multiple cooking utensils and dishes.
Portability: Foil packets are easy to transport, making them ideal for camping trips.
3. Versatility:
Variety of Recipes: Almost any meal can be adapted for foil packet cooking, from breakfast to dessert.
Suitable for Various Cooking Methods: Foil packets can be cooked over an open flame, on a grill, or in coals.
4. Flavor Enhancement:
Sealed Cooking: The sealed packets trap steam, helping to retain moisture and enhance the flavors of the ingredients.
Even Cooking: Foil packets promote even cooking by distributing heat uniformly.
5. Easy Cleanup:
Disposable: After cooking, the foil can be disposed of, reducing the need for washing dishes.
Less Mess: The foil contains the food and any cooking juices, minimizing spills and mess.
6. Healthier Cooking:
Less Oil Needed: The steaming effect of foil packets often requires less oil or fat for cooking.
Nutrient Retention: Cooking in foil packets can help retain nutrients in the food since it cooks in its own juices.
7. Portion Control:
Individual Servings: Foil packets can be easily portioned out for individual servings, making it easier to manage meal sizes.
Customizable: Each packet can be customized to accommodate individual dietary preferences or restrictions.
8. Safety:
Reduced Risk of Contamination: Cooking food in sealed packets reduces the risk of cross-contamination, especially important when dealing with raw meat.
Controlled Cooking Environment: The packets help control the cooking environment, reducing the risk of food falling into the fire or grill.
9. Fuel Efficiency:
Shorter Cooking Times: Foil packets often require less cooking time, conserving fuel.
Efficient Heat Use: The packets make efficient use of the heat source, whether it’s a campfire, grill, or portable stove.
10. Fun and Interactive:
Group Activity: Making foil packets can be a fun group activity, allowing everyone to assemble their own meals.
Creative Cooking: Campers can get creative with their recipes, trying different ingredient combinations and cooking techniques.
These reasons make foil packet cooking a favored method among campers, providing practicality, efficiency, and enjoyment.
Campfire Foil Packet Cooking Tips
Use heavy-duty aluminum foil. This will help prevent tearing as you handle the packs and flip them over the campfire/grill.
Take advantage of indirect heat. When cooking over a campfire, you’ll want to use embers/coals, rather than placing the packets right over a roaring fire.
Flip the packets. Turn the packets over every once in a while to make sure they cook evenly.
Protect your hands: We like to use heat-resistant gloves or extra-long BBQ tongs when handling hot foil packets.
Use a meat thermometer. When it comes to foil pack recipes, we highly recommend using an instant-read thermometer to ensure that the meat is cooked through. Take a packet off the fire, carefully open it (it will be full of steam!), and check the temp of a few pieces. If the meat needs more time, re-seal the packet and put it back on the fire to cook for a while longer.
What Are Foil Packets and How Do I Use Them
Campfire foil packets are dishes prepared on a campfire or grill packaged in foil and served all at once. You might have tried them previously or seen others camping with food wrapped in tinfoil and thrown on a grill to cook together.
Like a one-pot dinner, all of the ingredients cook altogether within the foil, resulting in a steaming, tender, and wonderful all-in-one dish. Foil packages can be prepared over a campfire, on a grill, or in the oven.
This dish is extremely adjustable, so if someone doesn’t like onions, for instance, you may substitute it with green beans, making it ideal for a group. These are a few typical items found in foil packs.
It’s simple to switch out ingredients! Choose asparagus, zucchini, broccoli, snap peas, or sweet peppers. To replace fresh potatoes, use frozen cubed hashbrowns or thinly chopped sweet potatoes. Instead of Italian spice, use lemon pepper, Cajun seasoning, or your favorite barbecue sauce. In addition, instead of chicken breasts, use chicken thighs, chicken sausage, or ground chicken in chicken foil packets.
What Exactly is a Foil Pack Meal?
A foil pack dinner, also known as a hobo package or foil packet dinner? is a complete meal composed of vegetables, meats, carbohydrates, and spices wrapped in many layers of aluminum foil. It’s cooked over campfire embers, on the grill, or in the oven. The tight closure retains moisture while steam cooks the food within the package.
Additionally, there are several vegetable and protein combos that may be used to create quick foil pack camping dinners. For example, in this package, I combine asparagus, chicken, and potatoes with garlic flavor.
It’s simple to switch out ingredients! Choose asparagus, zucchini, broccoli, snap peas, or sweet peppers. To replace fresh potatoes, use frozen cubed hashbrowns or thinly chopped sweet potatoes. Instead of Italian spice, use lemon pepper, Cajun seasoning, or your favorite barbecue sauce. In addition, instead of chicken breasts, use chicken thighs, chicken sausage, or ground chicken in chicken foil packets.
How To Make Foil Packets
- Tear out a 16-inch piece of tinfoil.
- Place the meal onto the foil sheet.
- Fold up both long edges of the foil until the ends touch above the meal.
- Double fold both ends, allowing heat circulation inside.
- To close the packet, double fold the two short ends.
Make Ahead Tips For the Campfire Sweet Potato Tacos Foil Packets Recipe
Start The Coals / Prepare Your Fire
The first step is to start your fire or charcoals. You will using them a lot so you will want to make sure you have plenty on hand.
If using embers, get a large fire going using (preferably) hardwood and let it slowly burn down. This process from start to finish can take upwards of an hour.
If using charcoals, fill a large chimney starter and light. This process will take approximately 20 minutes to get all the coals hot and ready. You will likely want to have some charcoals available in reserve.
Campfire Cooking Tools
Kitchen Twine
Mixing Bowl
Cast Iron Skillet
Grill Grate
Knives
Campfire Cooking Utensils
Campfire Serving Utensils
Campfire Fork or Tongs
Fire Proof Cooking Gloves
Cast Iron Dutch Oven
Foil Paper Non Stick
FAQ For the Campfire Sweet Potato Tacos Foil Packets Recipe
Q: What is the best type of sweet potato to use for campfire sweet potato tacos foil packets recipe?
A: For campfire sweet potato tacos foil packets recipe, it’s best to use high-starch sweet potatoes like Russet or Idaho. These varieties will yield a fluffier, more tender interior and a crisper exterior when cooked. Avoid using waxy sweet potatoes like Yukon Gold or red sweet potatoes, as they may not cook as evenly.
Q: Can I use pre-cooked sweet potatoes for campfire sweet potato tacos foil packets recipe?
A: While it’s technically possible to use pre-cooked sweet potatoes, it’s not recommended. Pre-cooked sweet potatoes may become mushy or dry when reheated in the foil packet, and they may not absorb the flavors as well as raw sweet potatoes. For the best results, use raw sweet potatoes and cook them in the campfire sweet potato tacos foil packets.
Q: How long do I need to cook the campfire sweet potato tacos foil packets recipe over the campfire?
A: Cooking time will vary depending on the size of your sweet potatoes and the heat of your campfire. As a general rule, cook the foil packets for 30-40 minutes, turning every 10-15 minutes, until the sweet potatoes are tender when pierced with a fork. You can also check for doneness by carefully opening a foil packet and checking the sweet potato’s texture.
Q: Can I customize the toppings for my campfire sweet potato tacos foil packets recipe?
A: Absolutely! The toppings for the campfire sweet potato tacos foil packets recipe are entirely up to your personal preference. Some popular topping options include diced onions, shredded cheese, sour cream, salsa, avocado, cilantro, and grilled meats like chorizo or chicken. Feel free to get creative and experiment with different combinations to find your favorite.
Q: Are campfire sweet potato tacos foil packets recipe a good option for a large group or event?
A: Yes! Campfire sweet potato tacos foil packets recipe are a great option for a large group or event. They’re easy to scale up or down depending on the number of guests, and they can be prepared in advance to make cooking and serving a breeze. Simply assemble the foil packets ahead of time, store them in a cooler or container, and cook them over the campfire as needed.
Other Foil Packet Recipes to Try
Campfire Smoked Kielbasa and Vegetables Foil Packet Recipe
Zucchini Parmesan Foil Packet Recipe
Chicken Fajitas Foil Packets Recipe
Indian Spiced Potatoes n Eggs Foil Packet Recipe
Caprese Stuffed Chicken Foil Packet Recipe
Campfire Sweet Potato Tacos Foil Packets Recipe
Equipment
- Kitchen Twine
- mixing bowl
- Cast Iron Skillet
- Grill Grate
- knives
- Campfire Cooking Utensils
- Campfire Serving Utensils
- Campfire Fork Or Tongs
- fire proof cooking gloves
- Cast Iron Dutch Oven
- Foil Paper Non Stick
Ingredients
- 2 lb beef or bison ground
- 1 tsp salt
- ½ tsp black pepper
- ½ cup onion finely chopped
- ½ tbsp chili powder
- 1 tsp cumin ground
- 2 tsp coriander ground
- 16 oz tomato sauce
- 1 jalapeño seeded, membranes removed and finely chopped (keep seeds for more heat, if desired)
- ⅓ cup water
- 2 cups spinach chopped fresh
- 2 cans black beans black, pinto, or white beans, rinsed and drained
- 4 sweet potatoes medium peeled and chopped small (1/2-inch pieces)
- Garnishes: shredded cheese sour cream, avocados or guacamole, salsa, olives, cilantro
Video
Instructions
- The first step of making the campfire sweet potato tacos foil packets is to start your fire or charcoals. You will using them for the campfire sweet potato tacos foil packets, so you will want to make sure you have plenty on hand.
- If using embers, get a large fire going using (preferably) hardwood and let it slowly burn down. This process from start to finish can take upwards of an hour.
- If using charcoals, fill a large chimney starter and light. This process will take approximately 20 minutes to get all the coals hot and ready. You will likely want to have some charcoals available in reserve.
- In a large 12-inch cast iron skillet add the ground meat, salt, pepper, and onion. Cook, breaking the meat into small pieces, until the meat is cooked through. Drain any excess grease.
- Add the chili powder, cumin, coriander, tomato sauce and jalapeño (if using). Cook over medium heat for 2-3 minutes, stirring often. Stir in the water, spinach and beans and simmer for 4-5 minutes. Remove from the heat.
- Grease the middle of 6-8 foil pieces, each approximately 12 inches long.
- Place approximately 1 cup of sweet potato pieces in the center of each sheet of foil, arranging them in a single layer; season with salt and pepper (do not miss this step!). Add about 1/2 cup of the meat mixture on top.
- Fold the long sides of the foil down securely over the filling. Fold and crimp each edge until securely sealed and a little package is created. Repeat with the remaining pieces of foil and ingredients. Cook over the fire for 20 minutes or until done.l
- To serve cut a large X across each foil packet. Carefully peel the foil back and serve.
Nutrition
