These funeral potatoes are a crowd-pleasing hash brown casserole that are creamy with a crispy and buttery topping. The best cheesy potatoes side dish for holidays!
There is just something about a cheesy potato casserole that everyone loves including these crockpot cheesy potatoes, au gratin potatoes and cheesy scalloped potatoes!
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A Holiday Favorite
Funeral potatoes are by far one of the best Thanksgiving side dishes on a Thanksgiving menu. I’ve always said that side dishes make a meal, and along with easy cheesy potatoes or mashed potatoes this funeral potato recipe is exactly why!
It’s foolproof to make with frozen hash browns and cream of chicken soup and make more than you think because this cheesy potato casserole is always a crowd-pleaser at Easter, Thanksgiving or Christmas.
Cheesy Funeral Potato Recipe Ingredients
Find the full printable recipe with specific measurements below.
- Hash brown potatoes: I use a frozen bag of diced hash browns from the freezer section. Thaw them before using in the casserole.
- Cream of chicken soup: Using a can of cream of chicken soup adds a ton of flavor and helps to thicken up the casserole.
- Sour cream: Adds creamy tangy taste!
- Onions: You can use green onions or minced onions.
- Shredded cheese: I always recommend freshly grated sharp cheddar cheese from a block.
- Corn flakes and butter: Crushed cornflakes and butter are what give these funeral potatoes their crispy crunchy topping.
How to Make Funeral Potatoes
In a large bowl, stir together the sour cream, cream of chicken, half the melted butter, green onions, salt, and pepper.
Toss in the potatoes and shredded cheese and stir everything until combined. Spread it evenly into a prepared 9×13″ baking dish.
Put the cornflakes into a zip-top bag and seal it shut. Then, take a rolling pin and crush the cereal by rolling it back and forth and gently tapping until coarse crumbs are formed.
Melt remaining butter and mix with crushed cornflakes. Sprinkle on top of potatoes and bake in a preheated 350°F oven for 40-45 minutes until golden brown and bubbling hot. Give them about 5 minutes to rest before serving.
Tips and Variations
- Shredded hash browns: I usually save those to use in this Cracker Barrel hashbrown casserole but they can be used here, too.
- Fresh potatoes: Make your own hash browns by grating fresh potatoes. You can also swap the hash browns for a dozen boiled and diced baby potatoes.
- Extra seasoning. Ramp up the seasoning even more with a bit of onion powder or garlic powder. For some heat, try cayenne pepper.
- Cornflake topping: Panko breadcrumbs or regular bread crumbs are lighter and flakier. You can also use crushed potato chips or Ritz crackers!
- Meat: Sometimes I’ll make two separate batches and add diced baked ham to make ham and potato casserole. Everything is always better with bacon, too!
Serving Suggestions
Some favorite dishes to serve with funeral potatoes include:
- Oven roasted turkey with balsamic roasted carrots
- Baked chicken breast with winter salad
- Herb-roasted pork tenderloin
For more holiday side dishes, try cornbread stuffing, scalloped ham and potatoes, cranberry sauce and crockpot green bean casserole.
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Funeral Potatoes
Video
Ingredients
Potatoes
- 1 (32-ounce) bag frozen diced hash brown potatoes , thawed
- 1 (16-ounce) container sour cream
- 1 (10.5-ounce) can cream of chicken
- ¾ cup unsalted butter , melted, divided
- ¼ cup thinly sliced green onions , optional or swap with 1 Tablespoon minced onions
- ½ teaspoon Kosher salt
- ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1 ½ cups shredded cheddar cheese , plus more if desired
- 2 cups cornflakes
Instructions
- Prep. Preheat oven to 350°F and butter a 9×13" baking dish. Set aside. Make sure your potatoes are mostly thawed and drain any excess water.
- Combine. In a medium bowl, stir together 16 ounces sour cream, 1 can cream of chicken, 1/2 cup melted butter, 1/4 cup green onions, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Stir in 32 ounces diced hash brown potatoes and 1 1/2 cups shredded cheese until combined. Spread into the baking dish. Top with extra cheese, if desired.
- Topping. Crush 1 1/2 cups corn flakes in a zip-top bag with a rolling pin. Add remaining 1/4 cup melted butter and mix until combined.
- Bake. Sprinkle crushed cornflakes on top. Bake 40 to 45 minutes, or until golden brown and bubbling hot.
- Serve. Let rest 5 minutes before serving. Enjoy while warm!
Notes
- Swap the hash browns for shredded potatoes
- Try it with celery or cream of mushroom instead of chicken
- Swap the hash browns for a dozen boiled and diced baby potatoes
Nutrition
Nutrition provided is an estimate. It will vary based on specific ingredients used.
Did you make this recipe? Don’t forget to give it a star rating below!
Recipe FAQs
I admit, it’s a funny name agreed! As the name indicates, this cheesy potato comfort food was often included at funeral luncheons. It’s also simple to make, transport, and keep warm. So whether it’s served at a potluck or in a time of need, this dish is a delicious favorite.
You can and I love to do this for my Christmas menu and pretty much all my holiday dinners! Just don’t add the crunchy topping yet. Make it up until you’ve spread the mixture in the dish, then cover it and keep it in the refrigerator overnight. When you’re ready to bake it, add the topping just before.
Keep any leftover funeral potatoes in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. To reheat, aap a single serving or two in the microwave or place the entire casserole dish in the oven at 350°F for about 10 minutes to heat through.
I recommend freezing without the crunchy topping. You can freeze it with the topping, but it won’t be as crunchy and the texture will be different. Either use a disposable foil pan or transfer it to a freezer-friendly container. Keep it frozen for up to 3 months. Thaw in the fridge overnight.
Categorized as: American, Christmas, Easter, Nut-Free, Potatoes, Side Dishes, Thanksgiving, Vegetarian
Jamielyn Nye is the founder and recipe creator at I Heart Naptime. She is the author of the I Heart Naptime Cookbook and shares easy family-friendly recipes and desserts for every occasion.
One of my families favorites! We love this recipe for funeral potatoes!
So glad you love it as much as we do!
On of our favorite potato dishes! I’ve also topped it with crushed potato chips, and that’s tasty too!
So glad you enjoyed the funeral potatoes!
I made this last Thanksgiving instead of my mashed potatoes and they were a major hit! I used a combination of 3 cheeses though: cheddar, mozzarella, parmesan.
This was the perfect meal for my family, we all had to go back and get seconds.