Cheesy Sausage Foil Packets

When I was little, my mom was a Girl Scout leader, and then I was a Girl Scout, myself. So I’ve been on many camping trips where I would get to enjoy things like Campfire Stew and Ground Beef Skillet Supper. I don’t get to cook on a campfire very often anymore, but I do enjoy making camping-style meals like this Cheesy Sausage Foil Pack Dinner.

Wrapping your entire meal in a piece of aluminum foil and cooking it on the fire is a camping classic. While I usually cook mine on the grill, or sometimes in the oven, I still get to enjoy the ease and simplicity of a campfire dinner. In this version, I start with fully cooked sausage, add a combo of potatoes and sweet potatoes, toss in corn and zucchini for the summer goodness, then give it a little more flavor with barbecue sauce and cheddar cheese. Just cook till the potatoes are tender, then eat dinner right out of the packet with no extra dirty dishes to wash!

Why You’ll Love These Sausage Foil Packs

• Easy prep and cleanup. Pretty much the only dishes you have to wash are a cutting board and knife since you assemble and cook the packets right inside the foil.
• Great summer flavors. With seasonal veggies and the tangy taste of barbecue sauce, it’s everything you love to enjoy this time of year.
• Cook the way you want to. Yes, foil packs are the perfect camping meal to cook right on the fire, but they are also great on the grill or, when the weather doesn’t cooperate, in the oven.
• Perfect to customize. You can use any type of sausage you like, your favorite sauce and cheese, and the vegetables you have on hand.

Tips and Variations

• Use heavy aluminum. As mentioned earlier, I use heavy-duty aluminum foil. If I don’t have any, I’ll double up the regular kind so the packets are sturdier to avoid tearing or burning.
• Cut thinly and evenly. The potatoes will take the longest to cook, so you want to make sure to cut them into thin, even slices.
• Switch it up. I already mentioned that you can use any kind of fully cooked sausage, BBQ sauce, and cheese that you like. But you can also try Italian sausage with marinara sauce and mozzarella to really change things up. And you can also add different vegetables like green beans, cauliflower, or mushrooms. Just cut them small so they cook at the same rate as the potatoes.
• Store leftovers. Anything extra from your sausage foil pack dinner can be rewrapped tightly or transferred to an airtight container. Toss the foil packet back on the fire, grill, or over, or just put it on a plate or bowl and pop it in the microwave till steaming.

Make it a Meal

While you can just dig in to your foil pack dinner just the way it is, feel free to add a summer side or dessert. Here are some serving suggestions…

• Have a salad. If you feel like you need more veggies, a Creamy Cucumber Salad is perfect, or just some lettuce and tomatoes with BBQ Ranch Dressing will do.
• Serve a side. You can make Semi-Homemade Baked Beans on the campfire or grill too, or whip up a big skillet of Fried Cabbage with Bacon.
• Don’t forget dessert. If you are camping, a treat that travels well is White Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Cookies. And Gluten Free Strawberry Pretzel Salad is a nostalgic favorite as a side or a sweet.