Campfire Cheese Hash Brown Packets

Post-Thanksgiving leftover week. I made turkey pho with the carcass — twelve hours of stock, then the standard pho gà treatment but with turkey meat. James said it was the best turkey pho he'd ever had. Lily said she wanted it on the restaurant menu. James said, "That's a Thanksgiving-only special." Lily said, "Then we run it for one week every November." That's the new annual tradition. Smoke and Nuoc Mam will do turkey pho the week after Thanksgiving every year going forward. The restaurant is now a vehicle for our family's post-Thanksgiving leftover ritual.

Tyler called from Midland Tuesday with a video of Marcus, now eleven months old, taking his first independent steps. Three steps before he sat down hard on the carpet. Tyler narrating off-screen: "MARCUS. MARCUS. THAT'S WALKING. MARCUS." Jessica laughing. Jade asleep in the bouncer. The video was thirty-eight seconds long. I watched it nine times. Mai watched it twelve times. She made me play it for her on the phone three different times because she kept wanting to see it again. Eighty-seven and learning how to use FaceTime. Mai's adaptability is terrifying. She has lived through more changes than any person should.

Sat down Saturday and started writing a list of things I want to do next year. Not resolutions — I don't do resolutions — but a list of things. Take Mai to Vietnam (the trip is being planned for spring). Build a smoker for Tyler in Midland. Spend a week on the coast and learn to fish again. Read more books. Spend more time with Linh. Cook more with the grandkids when they come. The list is short because the things on it matter. I keep the list in my desk. I will look at it in December next year and see what I crossed off.

After writing out that list on Saturday — the smoker for Tyler, the week on the coast, cooking more with the grandkids — I realized every single thing on it involves being outside and feeding people over fire. That’s how I ended up pulling this one out: Campfire Cheese Hash Brown Packets, the kind of recipe that belongs on a grate over open flame, the kind you make with kids standing close asking if it’s done yet. Consider it a preview. The pho is the November tradition. This one’s for everything else we’re building.

Prep Time: 15 min | Cook Time: 35 min | Total Time: 50 min | Servings: 4

Ingredients

4 cups frozen shredded hash browns, thawed
1 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese
1/2 cup diced yellow onion
1/2 cup diced green bell pepper
1/2 cup diced red bell pepper
3 tablespoons unsalted butter, cut into small pieces
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
3/4 teaspoon kosher salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
Heavy-duty aluminum foil, cut into four 12-inch squares

Instructions

Prepare the fire or grill. Build a campfire and let it burn down to steady, glowing coals, or preheat a gas grill to medium-high (about 400°F). You want consistent heat, not active flame directly under the packets.
Mix the filling. In a large bowl, combine the thawed hash browns, onion, green bell pepper, red bell pepper, garlic powder, smoked paprika, salt, and black pepper. Toss until the seasonings are evenly distributed throughout.
Assemble the packets. Lay out the four foil squares. Divide the hash brown mixture evenly among them, mounding it in the center of each sheet. Top each portion with a few pieces of butter and a generous handful of shredded cheddar.
Seal tightly. Fold the long sides of the foil up and together, then roll them down to create a tight seam. Fold and crimp both short ends securely so no steam escapes during cooking. Leave a little room inside for heat to circulate.
Cook the packets. Place packets directly on the grill grate or set them over hot campfire coals. Cook for 30–35 minutes, flipping once halfway through, until the potatoes are tender and the cheese is fully melted. Use tongs — the foil will be very hot.
Open and serve. Carefully peel back the foil away from you to let the steam escape. Serve directly in the packets or slide onto plates. Top with additional cheddar, sour cream, or hot sauce if desired.

Nutrition (per serving)

Campfire Cheese Hash Brown Packets — Because Next Year We’re Cooking Outdoors Together