The Best Funeral Potatoes Recipe for a Cheesy Potatoes Side Dish (2024)

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Here is a traditional and delicious recipe for funeral potatoes. This potato dish is cheesy and creamy, with a crunchy cornflake topping. It is the ULTIMATE comfort food!

You know a recipe is going to be good when it comes from a little old lady at a church potluck. This is a popular casserole dish that is great for feeding a large crowd, whether it be a potluck or family gathering. This party potatoes dish is great for picnics and holidays, too. Thanksgiving and Christmas dinner will thank you for making this amazing side.

If you are looking for more side dishes like this, try an easy pasta side dish, a cold side salad, or a delicious vegetable side dish.

This funeral potatoes recipe is such a guilty pleasure, it is loaded with carbs and cheese. YUM! The best cheesy potatoes are warm and creamy, and they are topped with a buttery, crispy corn flake topping.Using mostly pantry items, this is also a great stockpile recipe.

The Best Funeral Potatoes Recipe for a Cheesy Potatoes Side Dish (1)

Table of Contents hide

1 Funeral Potatoes Ingredients

2 How to Make Funeral Potatoes

3 Recipe Tips

4 Variations and Substitutions

5 FAQs

6 Serving Suggestions

8 Funeral Potatoes

Funeral Potatoes Ingredients

This recipe uses a lot of ingredients that are already in your pantry. To make this cheesy potatoes side dish, you will need the following ingredients (print the recipe card below for exact amounts and directions):

  • Butter
  • Sour cream: I would not use light sour cream for this recipe.Do NOT use Greek yogurt instead of sour cream.
  • Cream of chicken soup
  • Salt
  • Onion powder
  • Cheddar cheese: I like to use sharp cheddar for more flavor
  • Frozen hash browns: cubed potatoes or diced, not shredded hash brown potatoes
  • Corn flakes: I don’t normally buy cereal so I always have leftovers. You can also use this ingredient to make Cornflake Chicken.
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How to Make Funeral Potatoes

Making this hash brown casserole is really easy. All you have to do is mix and bake!

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
  2. Combine the ingredients. In a large mixing bowl, combine the melted butter, sour cream, cream of chicken soup, salt, and onion powder. Stir in the cheese and thawed diced hashbrowns. Pour the mixture into a 9×13 inch glass baking dish greased with non-stick cooking spray.
  3. Make the topping. In a medium mixing bowl, combine the ½ cup of melted butter and crushed cornflakes. Stir until the cornflakes are coated in the butter. Spoon the cornflake topping over the casserole.
  4. Bake in the oven. Bake in an uncovered casserole dish for 45 minutes until it is bubbly and golden brown around the edges. Cool for 5-10 minutes before serving.
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Recipe Tips

If you ever see a recipe that calls for butter, always go for unsalted butter. You can always add salt later if it needs it, but you can’t take out salt!

The best way to crush corn flakes is to pour them into a plastic bag and then press down gently with your hand.

Variations and Substitutions

  • Toppings. You can also use crushed potato chips for the crunchy topping, or crushed ritz crackers, or even bread crumbs. Or, leave the topping off entirely. Sprinkle Parmesan cheese on top.
  • Cream soup. Don’t have canned cream of chicken soup? Try cream of mushroom soup.
  • Added veggies. Add green onions for more flavor and color. You can cook them in with the hash browns, or just sprinkle green onions on top. Also, try adding1 or 2 cloves garlic, minced.
  • Seasonings. Add black pepper to taste.
  • Meat. Add in diced ham or chicken to make this a main dish. YUM!
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FAQs

Why Are They Called Funeral Potatoes?

This hash brown casserole is called funeral potatoes because it is commonly served at after-funeral dinners in the Midwest and among the LDS church (Latter-Day Saints aka Mormon). Funeral potatoes can also be assembled beforehand and refrigerated until you need to bring it to the church kitchen for cooking.

Can I Use Real Potatoes?

Yes, you can use fresh potatoes instead of frozen hash browns. You will need to parboil them first. I recommend using small potatoes so they boil faster. 10 small potatoes boiled for 2 minutes should be enough. Dice them up and they are ready to go.

Can I Make this Recipe Ahead of Time?

Yes! You can make funeral potatoes ahead of time in a casserole dish and put it in the fridge overnight, but wait to add the cornflake crust until you are ready to bake it so that the cornflakes do not get soggy in the fridge.

Can I Freeze Funeral Potatoes?

You can freeze funeral potatoes before you bake them, but without the cornflake topping. Just thaw when you are ready to bake, add the topping, and bake in the prepared baking dish. Bake time make take longer if not thawed all the way.

How to Reheat Funeral Potatoes

The best way to reheat this recipe is to put your induvial serving on a plate and reheat in the microwave until heated through. I don’t like to reheat the whole dish if I am not going to eat it all at once. The act of heating and cooling food over and over can compromise it.

Can I Make This for a Crowd?

You can easily make this recipe to feed a crowd. Double, triple, or quadruple – just make sure you have enough pans! Traveling? This recipe cooks perfectly in disposable aluminum foil trays.

Serving Suggestions

Funeral potatoes are an easy side dish to make for any comfort food dinner. My favorite thing to serve with funeral potatoes is a hearty main meat dish, like ham or pot roast.

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More Delicious Party Potatoes Recipes

It is hard to choose which potato recipe to make as a side dish, but why not make 2 or more? Potatoes are such a staple, you really can’t go wrong, no matter how you make them.

  • Cheesy Scalloped Potatoes
  • Loaded Baked Potato Casserole
  • Twice Baked Potatoes
  • Instant Pot Garlic Mashed Potatoes
  • Air Fryer Hasselback Potatoes
  • Oven Roasted Red Potatoes
  • Creamy Sausage Potato Soup

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Funeral Potatoes

Author: Emily Pecoraro

Here is a traditional and delicious recipe for funeral potatoes. This potato casserole side dish is cheesy and creamy.

4.42 from 326 votes

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Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Cook Time 45 minutes mins

Cooling Time 10 minutes mins

Total Time 1 hour hr 5 minutes mins

Course Side Dishes

Cuisine American

Servings 12

Calories 360 kcal

Ingredients

  • 1/3 cup butter melted
  • 2 cups sour cream
  • 10.5 oz cream of chicken soup
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon onion powder
  • 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
  • 24 ounces frozen hash browns cubed or diced (not shredded), thawed

For the crunchy topping:

  • ½ cup butter melted (1 stick)
  • 3 cups corn flakes slightly crushed

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 350F degrees.

  • In a large mixing bowl, combine the 1/3 cup melted butter, sour cream, cream of chicken soup, salt, and onion powder.

  • Stir in the shredded cheddar cheese and thawed diced hash browns.

  • Pour the mixture into a 9×13 inch glass baking dish greased with non-stick cooking spray.

  • In a medium mixing bowl, combine the ½ cup of melted butter and crushed corn flakes. Stir until the corn flakes are coated in the butter.

  • Spoon the corn flake mixture over the casserole.

  • Bake the casserole uncovered for 45 minutes until it is bubbly and golden brown around the edges.

  • Cool for 5-10 minutes before serving.

Video

Nutrition

Serving: 1Calories: 360kcalCarbohydrates: 20gProtein: 8gFat: 28gSaturated Fat: 16gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 7gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 77mgSodium: 668mgPotassium: 253mgFiber: 1gSugar: 2gVitamin A: 992IUVitamin C: 7mgCalcium: 186mgIron: 3mg

The nutrition information is calculated using online nutrition calculators and may not be accurate. It is provided as a general guide only.

Tried this recipe?Mention @emilyenchantedfood or tag #emilyenchanted!

The recipe and photos contained herein are the property of Emily Enchanted© and may not be copied.

The Best Funeral Potatoes Recipe for a Cheesy Potatoes Side Dish (2024)

FAQs

What are funeral potatoes made of? ›

Full of tender potatoes, gooey cheese, sour cream and topped with crispy Kellogg's corn flake cereal this savory casserole cannot be beat. Funeral potato with real potatoes is easy, cheesy, and delicious.

Is funeral potatoes a Mormon thing? ›

Commonly served after LDS funerals, this cheesy potato casserole is the ultimate comfort food. If you've ever encountered Mormon funeral potatoes, you can attest that the salty, crispy, cheesy casserole is one of the most oddly satisfying creations that exists in America — nay, the world.

Where are funeral potatoes popular? ›

Funeral potatoes are a familiar side dish in the Western and Southern United States. They're popular at gatherings of the Church of Latter-day Saints and the church's associated Relief Society. They're also served widely and in many different variations.

What is a substitute for sour cream in funeral potatoes? ›

Yogurt is your best substitute for sour cream. Whether you're baking or making a dip or sauce, yogurt is a 1:1 sub. That means if your recipe calls for 1 cup of sour cream, you can replace it with 1 cup of yogurt. Full-fat Greek or natural yogurts work best, but low-fat or even nonfat can be used, too.

What is the real name for funeral potatoes? ›

Funeral potatoes (also great potatoes, cheesy potatoes, hash brown casserole, cheesy hash browns, those potatoes, or party potatoes) is a traditional potato hotdish or casserole that is popular in the American Intermountain West and Midwest.

Why are cheesy potatoes called funeral potatoes? ›

Why are they called funeral potatoes? Funeral potatoes get their unique name from being a crowd-pleasing casserole served as a side dish at after-funeral luncheons (particularly in the culture of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints).

What is the mercy meal after a funeral? ›

The Mearcy meal is a lunch offered to mourners after a funeral. Volunteers provide a warm hospitable setting where family and friends can enjoy one another's company and celebrate with fond memories the life of their departed loved one.

Why are funeral potatoes so good? ›

Think of funeral potatoes like an everyman's au gratin or scalloped potatoes. Cheese, cornflakes (or something else carb-filled and crumbly), potatoes, sour cream and condensed soup comprise this delectable dish. It's a casserole dish that can feed a crowd.

Which cheese is best for potatoes? ›

Our top choices are varieties with a sharper flavor such as sharp cheddar, parmesan, and/or Gruyere (or swiss). Gruyere cheese adds a rich flavor to au gratin potatoes that truly cannot be matched; if you can get it, I highly recommend that you do! If Gruyere isn't available use provolone or swiss for a similar flavor!

Can you leave cheesy potatoes out overnight? ›

A: NO! This is the wrong way to do it and is not food safe. Cooked starch foods like potatoes can grow germs if not kept either refrigerated and cold or hot over 140º F.

What is the difference between scalloped potatoes and cheesy potatoes? ›

What is the difference between au gratin potatoes and scalloped potatoes? Au Gratin potatoes contain cheese, whereas Scalloped Potatoes do not. Scalloped potatoes typically contain cream but can also contain flavorful stock instead of dairy.

Are funeral potatoes the same as au gratin? ›

There's never a bad time to try your hand at whipping up this dish. You can put together this comforting cheesy potatoes recipe to serve as the perfect introduction to funeral potatoes. Essentially they're the same as a hash brown casserole or a dressed-up version of au gratin potatoes.

What is the most famous potato dish in the USA? ›

French fries are the most popular potato food items in the U.S., according to DoorDash.
  • Waffle fries.
  • Mashed potatoes.
  • Potato salad.
  • Tater tots.
  • Baked potato.
  • Potato skins.
  • Home fries.
  • Loaded tater tots.
Aug 19, 2019

What do you eat with funeral potatoes? ›

The best side dishes to serve with funeral potatoes are blooming onion, bacon-wrapped asparagus, chicken parmesan, pork ribs, feta pasta, sausage rolls, butter lettuce salad, coconut shrimp, salmon burger, steamed broccoli, glazed carrots, cheesy garlic bread, grilled corn on the cob, pasta salad, apple slaw, and beef ...

Why do they call it funeral potatoes? ›

These ooey-gooey potatoes may be named after funerals, because members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints shared them at funerals.

Why are scalloped potatoes called funeral potatoes? ›

Why are they called funeral potatoes? Funeral potatoes get their unique name from being a crowd-pleasing casserole served as a side dish at after-funeral luncheons (particularly in the culture of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints).

Why are funeral potatoes popular in Utah? ›

In an interview with NPR, Jacqueline Thursby described how Latter-day Saints had big families and even bigger congregations to feed. The Latter-day Saint life is filled with endless potlucks, giving food to the sick, funerals, weddings, activities and births. Funeral potatoes provided a thrifty solution, she explained.

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