This Oven Baked Beef & Onion Foil Packet is one of those simple, no-fuss dinners that feels a little bit special without asking much of you on a busy night. It’s inspired by classic Midwestern meat-and-potatoes cooking and those old-fashioned foil packet meals folks used to make over the campfire or on the grill. Here, we bring that same cozy flavor right into the oven with just four ingredients.
🥩 Oven Baked Beef & Onion Foil Packet
🛒 Ingredients
- 1 1/2 to 2 pounds beef steak (such as sirloin, round, or chuck, about 1-inch thick)
- 2 large onions, thinly sliced into rings or half-moons
- 3 tablespoons olive oil or melted butter
- 1 1/2 teaspoons salt and 1 teaspoon black pepper (combined, or to taste)
👩🍳 Directions
- Preheat: Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C). Tear off 4 large sheets of heavy-duty aluminum foil, each big enough to wrap around a portion of steak and onions with room to fold and seal.
- Prep Onions: Slice the onions into thin rings or half-moons and place them in a medium bowl. Drizzle with the olive oil or melted butter and sprinkle with about half of the salt and pepper. Toss gently with your hands or tongs until the onions are well coated.
- Prep Steak: Cut the steak into 4 even portions. Pat each piece dry with paper towels, then season both sides with the remaining salt and pepper.
- Assemble: Lay out the foil sheets on your counter. Divide the onions evenly among the centers of the foil, making a little bed of onions for each portion.
- Layer: Place one piece of steak on top of each mound of onions. If any oil or seasoning is left in the onion bowl, spoon it over the steaks.
- Seal: Fold each foil sheet up around the steak and onions: bring the long sides together over the top and fold them down tightly, then roll up the ends to make a sealed packet. Make sure there are no gaps so the steam stays inside and cooks everything gently.
- Bake: Arrange the foil packets on a baking sheet in a single layer. Place the baking sheet in the preheated oven and bake for about 20–25 minutes for medium doneness, or a bit longer if you prefer your steak more well done or if you’re using a tougher cut.
- Serve: Carefully remove the baking sheet from the oven and let the packets rest for 5 minutes. Use caution when opening them—the steam will be hot. Open each packet, spoon the soft onions and juices over the steak, and serve directly from the foil or transfer to plates.