Foil Dinner Variations

These ideas came from an article The Foil Dinner Recipes by Kim Kowalewski presented by Gary Hendra on the American The MacScouter web site.
Please note most of these are from the US so the product names might be different to ours

We haven't tried many of them yet, please let us know how you get on and we will add your comments SBR

Reference : Basic foil dinners are covered on Foil Dinners

VARIATIONS ON THE HAMBURGER FOIL DINNER

From: Jim Sleezer

Just a touch of garlic salt makes a lot of difference. If you look at the labels in the stores, you will see that onion and garlic are part of almost everything! It doesn't take much to make it great.

I like to use cabbage leaves to wrap it all in before I wrap in foil. A little catsup helps for some boys. I also add a few slices of onion. Around here, we never seem to have enough. The kids all go for seconds!
(Catsup is American for Ketchup - SBR)

From: Don E. Robinson, M.D

We add Cream of Mushroom soup to our "hobos." It adds taste as well as additional moisture. A couple of tablespoons will do just fine. Yum-yum.

From: George N. Leiter II

Just skip the butter and add some soup. Cream of mushroom or something like that. When cooked slow it is wonderful.

From: Cheryl Singhal

How about BBQ sauce, Worchester sauce, or even Italian dressing?

Spices ... a measuring teaspoon of Italian seasoning or of curry powder or of chili powder wouldn't hurt it either.

You might be able to combine BBQ and chili powder; or Italian dressing and Italian seasoning; I don't recommend mixing Worchestershire and curry powder though.

From: Ben Alford

We have spiced up our "hunters pack" aluminium foil dinners by adding Heinz 57 sauce. It is the boys's secret ingredient. It really makes a big difference. We've had boys finish one dinner and return to make seconds and thirds until all the ingredients are gone. I remember some were just cooking the left-over onions or potatoes as long as they had the Heinz 57 left to spice them up.
(I think this is normal "brown sauce", if not well try it anyway - SBR)

From: Jeff L. Glaze

Instead of hamburger, try Pork Loin, or Boneless Chicken Breast!

Also vary the vegetable ingredients to include slices of tomato, and/or bell peppers. BBQ sauces may be included also.

If you use chicken, try pineapple slices with mild BBQ sauce.

Ground turkey can be used instead of ground beef, and is "more healthy".

From: Alan Wolfson

I have had good luck asking the kids what they would like in their foil dinners. You'd be amazed at the great ideas they come up with. If, however, your den is gastronomically challenged :-), there are some things you can do to liven up those meals:

I've substituted Mrs. Dash, garlic pepper, Montreal seasoning, or any other favourite general- purpose seasoning for the pretty dull salt and pepper usually found in a foil dinner. We've added celery, green beans, and onions into our dinners for some additional variety. I've also had some good experiences substituting chicken for the beef, and making a pseudo stir-fry dinner using stir-fry oil instead of butter and spices.

From: Mark Wilson

Also, consider replacing the hamburger with stew meat, cubed steak, or chicken or turkey breasts cut into stew meat sized cubes.

As to spices, consider adding a part of a clove of fresh garlic. Smash it first.

You might also consider adding soy sauce, teriyaki, or plain old steak sauce.

Try adding small dough balls of biscuit mix for dumplings.

From: James H. McCullars

In addition to the ingredients you mentioned, I always use onion, bell pepper, radishes, Lowry's Seasoned Salt (and/or Lowry's Seasoned Pepper), and Worcestershire sauce. In addition, I sometimes will use barbecue sauce and if someone thinks to bring some along, sweet potatoes (try it!). I have also seen other people use soy sauce, Tabasco, etc. From: Juel A. Fitzgerald

Instead of salt and pepper, use seasoning salt and pepper. This makes it a whole lot less bland. Of course you could add worchester sauce AFTER you are done cooking for those who like that.

From: Jeff Agle

One of my favourite additional ingredients in a foil dinner is a dash (maybe a big dash) of Wyler's boullion granules. These add significantly to the flavour. I typically use Seasoned Salt instead of just plain salt. You also left out one of the main flavour ingredients, Onions. Anything in the onion family can add lots of flavour, try scallions or green onions if the boys are a little squeamish about yellow onions. Garlic (salt, powder, crushed) can add a nice flavour.

HAM DINNERS

From: Jim Sleezer

I have done chunks of ham, sweet potatoes (par boiled), pineapple. As soon as it comes out of fire, I add a few mini marshmallows on top.

Upside Down Ham, from Mark Michalski

Ham pieces or steak, Pineapple slices (or tidbits) dash of teriyaki sauce (or marinade) and mixed vegetables to taste.

Ham & Potatoes Au Gratin:

Cubed Ham, chopped Potato, Onions, Grated cheese of your choice.

CHICKEN DINNERS

From: Scott Miller

Try using boned chicken instead of hamburger. Cooking time is the same, add a small amount of water or soy sauce to replace the water found in hamburger.

From: Peter Van Houten

One of the best foil meals I had included a combination of chicken breasts, shrimp, snow peas, celery, and bean sprouts. Similar to a stir-fry. The meat was place on the bottom (by the way, the chicken had been slightly cooked prior to going), with the vegi's on top. I had a couple of dashes of Teryaki sauce, some spices (tarragon and others from a pre-mix spice jar).

Only exception was that I didn't turn it over, I let the vegi's cook in the heat from the meat. They were still slightly crunchy, almost steamed.

From: Clif Golden

For dessert. Take a banana, slice in lengthwise in the peel. Insert butter and brown sugar into the slit. Wrap & bake.

From: R. Edward Fickel

Try boneless chicken breasts, green peppers, onion, carrots, potatoes (I think), mushrooms, in a cream of mushroom sauce. They are cooked the same way as your foil packs, but are gourmet quality!!

From: Wayne Hill

One that we tried is the chicken with instant rice and cream of celery soup (undiluted). I thought it was good and it cooks up quick. You can also try baked Apples with sugar, butter, and cinnamon. Bisquick mix is good for individual biscuits just coat the foil with butter or oil before you plop the biscuit dough on the foil keeps it from sticking. Baked potatoes are good and you can put cheese,butter,etc on after they are cooked.

One other point in case you are not aware, use hard wood for making your charcoal resinous wood like pine or cedar doesn't make long lasting charcoal.

FOIL FAJITAS

From: Mark Michalski

Marinated Fajita Meat (Beef or Chicken), Onions, Green Peppers. Serve on tortillas with cheese, salsa, etc....

STUFFED POTATOES

From: Mark Michalski

Core small to medium potato, insert a small pre-cooked sausage or weiner. Wrap in foil, set in hot ashes to bake. Takes 45-90 minutes to cook. Remove and slice top and add cheese, chili or fixins of your choice.

HOBO POPCORN

From: Mark Michalski

In center of 18" x 18" square of heavy or doubled foil, place one tspoon of oil and one tbspoon of popcorn. Bring foil corners together to make a pouch. Seal the edges by folding, but allow room for the popcorn to pop. Tie each pouch to a long stick with a string and hold the pouch over the hot coals. Shake constantly until all the corn has popped. Season with salt and margarine. Or soy sauce, or melted chocolate, or melted peanut butter, or melted caramels or use as a base for chili.

PORTABLE CHILI

From: Carol Eichinger

Cook up a pot of chili (homemade or canned). Buy individual size bags of Doritos or something similar. Cut an X on front of bag and open. Put chili on top of the chips, and shredded cheese. And you have portable lunchtime nachos/tacos. This was in my Crafting Traditions Magazine.

HELPFUL HINTS

From: Jess Olonoff

Do NOT, REPEAT NOT use cheese in your recipes, unless put on after cooking.

The cheese will warm and separate and the oil will catch fire or cook the food faster than expected. We had a few very unhappy Cubs expecting Cheeseburgers, but receiving, well something else if you can imagine.

It may cost a bit more too, but try to keep your meats lean and let the veggies add the moisture necessary.

Also, have some extra bread and cheese slices available as there will inevitably be an accident or two (broken foil-food in fire), and a few boys who will not be to happy with the final product.

Don't forget extra utensils as you'll be moving alot of packages around.

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