Hobo Dinner in the Slow Cooker Recipe
This Slow Cooker Hobo Dinner is a comforting and hearty meal perfect for busy days. Featuring a flavorful meatloaf paired with seasoned potatoes and onions, all cooked together in a slow cooker for tender, delicious results. The melted sharp cheese topping and ketchup add the perfect finishing touches, making this an easy yet satisfying one-pot dinner.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 5 hours 10 minutes
- Total Time: 5 hours 25 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Slow Cooking
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
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)
Potatoes and Onions
- 4 small russet potatoes (sliced)
- ½ cup white onion (sliced)
- ½ tsp. salt
- ½ tsp. onion powder
- ¼ tsp. pepper
- 3 Tbsp. butter (melted)
Topping
- 1 cup sharp cheese (shredded; add at the end)
- Ketchup for topping meatloaf
Instructions
- Prepare Meatloaf Mixture: In a large bowl, combine ground beef, eggs, diced white onion, ketchup, salt, pepper, onion powder, and crushed Saltine crackers. Mix gently to combine, taking care not to overwork the meat mixture to keep the meatloaf tender.
- Shape Meatloaf in Slow Cooker: Shape the prepared meatloaf mixture on one side of the slow cooker, avoiding contact with the slow cooker sides to ensure even cooking.
- Create Foil Bowl for Vegetables: Make a foil “bowl” by folding a foot or so of aluminum foil to contain the potatoes and onions beside the meatloaf inside the slow cooker.
- Prepare Potatoes and Onions: Place sliced potatoes and sliced white onions into the foil bowl next to the meatloaf. Season them evenly with salt, pepper, and onion powder.
- Toss and Add Butter: Toss the potatoes and onions by hand for even seasoning, then drizzle the melted butter over the top to add flavor and help them cook tender.
- Cook Slowly: Cover the slow cooker and cook on LOW for 5 hours. Avoid opening the lid during cooking as this will prevent the potatoes from becoming tender.
- Add Cheese Topping: After 5 hours, sprinkle shredded sharp cheese over the cooked potatoes and cover again. Let it melt for about 5 minutes.
- Finish with Ketchup: Add ketchup on top of the meatloaf as a finishing touch.
- Serve and Enjoy: Plate the meatloaf with the cheesy potatoes and onions and enjoy this comforting, all-in-one meal.
Notes
- Do not open the slow cooker lid during cooking to ensure potatoes cook through properly.
- Using 10% fat ground beef balances flavor and moisture in the meatloaf.
- Crushed Saltine crackers act as a binder and help keep the meatloaf moist.
- The foil bowl keeps the potatoes and onions contained for easy serving and even cooking.
- For a lower fat version, substitute ground beef with ground turkey or chicken and reduce butter amount.
Keywords: hobo dinner, slow cooker recipes, meatloaf, potatoes, easy dinner, comfort food
Find it online: https://tastybynova.com/hobo-dinner-in-the-slow-cooker-recipe/
