Camping. Does that word fill you with excitement or do you feel a shiver go down your spine at the thought of it? As a kid, I would absolutely say my answer was excitement! That excitement has shifted a bit now that I’m a mom. I still love camping, don’t get me wrong, but the planning and prep of it all is a whole new ball game. I go because my kids love it and I don’t want to be a rain cloud on their camping experience. I want them to know what it’s like to sleep in a tent and hear the bullfrogs and owls making noise all night or the crows cawing noisily above us at 5am. To get the fire going at the crack of dawn and watch their sleepy-eyed parents brew coffee in the French press, anxiously awaiting that first wonderful sip. I once spent an entire night pulling our sleeping three-year-old back onto his air mattress because he kept sliding off and getting cold. Another one of our boys had a mishap that affected his only pair of shoes and last set of clean clothes, so my husband had to bring everyone home early, my sweet preschooler fumbled out of the car without pants or shoes on. The younger kids are usually crying within minutes of arriving at our campsite and are covered in Band-Aids by the time we go home. Obstacles and mishaps aside, camping certainly provides you with lots and lots of family memories! Many of those memories revolve around food. Cocoa on the cold mornings, roasting marshmallows for S’mores, and hot dogs galore.
Making sure my four boys are fed for a few days in the woods is no small task, especially when I don’t want them to fill up on junk! Yes, there are extra sweets and snacks, but they also need something to sustain them for all the hiking, bike riding, and beach exploring they’re going to do. Packing into the tent at night with full bellies will help them recharge after a long day and refuel for the adventures to come. I’ve found that foil meals are a wonderful way to accomplish that! Not only are these Beef and Veggie packets easy to plan and prep, but they cook up a perfect portion for each adult and child and they’re very versatile. Add more or less ingredients to fit everyone’s liking and make them ahead of time for a delicious and filling meal around the campfire. It’s such a relief to have a good meal with quality ingredients on hand when everyone is dirty, scratched up, and starving!
This post is sponsored by the Washington State Beef Commission.
With smoked beef sausage and shredded pot roast, this foil packet recipe provides 20 grams of protein! The protein from beef is an excellent way to refuel after a day outdoors and is full of essential nutrients, including the amino acids necessary for building and replenishing muscles.
For moms, camping can be hard. But mealtime doesn’t have to be. Try these incredible, easy, beef and vegetable foil packets this summer and enjoy the messy, memorable, and wonderous adventure that is camping!
Foil Packet Beef and Vegetable Meal
30 minutes | 4 servings | 360 calories
- 6 ounces refrigerated fully cooked beef Pot Roast, shredded or fully cooked steak, cubed
- 6 ounces prepared smoked Beef Sausage
- 1 cup butternut squash, diced
- 1 cup zucchini or yellow squash, sliced into 3/4 inch pieces and halved
- 2 ears sweet corn, cut in half
- 4 teaspoons vegetable oil
- 2 teaspoons all-purpose seasoning blend, such as Old Bay
COOKING:
1. Combine beef and vegetables in large bowl. Add oil and seasoning; toss to coat.
2. Preheat grill to medium heat (approximately 350°F).
3. Place a 12″ x 12″ square of heavy-duty aluminum foil down on work surface. Add 1/4 of beef and vegetable mixture to center of foil. Fold right and left edges in and roll together to close. Fold top and bottom edges in and roll to close package. Repeat with remaining mixture for a total of 4 packets.
4. Grill for 10 to 12 minutes until vegetables are tender.
Cook’s Tip: Packets can also be prepared in a 350°F oven. Bake for 10 to 12 minutes.
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