Variations & Tips
If you’d like to stretch the meal a bit further without adding more ingredients, you can make the patties slightly smaller and pile a few extra potato and carrot slices into each tray. For richer flavor, use 80/20 ground beef; for a leaner version, use 90% lean and know you’ll have a bit less juice. If you don’t have heavy-duty foil, double-layer regular foil to keep the trays sturdy and prevent leaks. You can also swap in Yukon Gold potatoes for russets if that’s what you have on hand; they hold their shape nicely and turn wonderfully creamy. To prep ahead, assemble the foil trays in the morning, cover, and refrigerate the slow cooker insert (if your manufacturer allows) or store the trays on a baking sheet in the fridge, then start cooking later in the day. Leftovers reheat well right in their foil trays in a low oven or can be broken up and fried in a skillet the next morning with an egg on top for a hearty breakfast.
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