Funeral potatoes are easy to make (just 5 minute prep!) using hash browns, sour cream, creamy soup, and shredded cheese, yum!
Funeral potato casserole (aka cheesy hashbrown casserole) is a family favorite and perfect for a quick weeknight side dish or for bringing to your next potluck. Fix them alongside apricot glazed ham or smoked chicken thighs.
Funeral Potatoes
Funeral Potatoes (Cheesy Hashbrown Casserole)
Click the button above to save this recipe!
Funeral Potato Ingredients
- Potato – We like to use a bag of frozen diced hash browns, thawed. Shredded hash browns will also work.
- Onion – Finely diced or minced.
- Sour cream – I like to use full fat for a super creamy texture.
- Cream of something soup – Any of the condensed ‘cream of’ soups will work.
- Milk – We prefer whole milk.
- Butter – Salted, melted.
- Spices – Salt & pepper.
- Cheese – Cheddar, shredded.
- Cornflakes – For topping. Make sure to use gluten-free corn flakes if making this as a gluten-free funeral potatoes recipe.
What are funeral potatoes?
Funeral potatoes are a cheesy hash brown potato casserole dish commonly served at funerals and potlucks in the Midwest United States, especially in Utah.
They are called funeral potatoes because they always seem to appear at funeral gatherings.
How do you make funeral potatoes? (step-by-step)
⭐ First, whisk together the sour cream, cream of soup, milk, butter, salt and pepper.
⭐ Then, combine hash browns, diced onion, cheese, and sour cream mixture. Spread evenly in a casserole dish.
⭐ Next, sprinkle the remaining cheese over top. Toss the crushed cornflakes with butter to coat and sprinkle over the cheese.
⭐ Finally, bake until cheese is melted and casserole is bubbly.
Crockpot Funeral Potatoes
To fix these in the crock pot, whisk together the sour cream, cream of soup, milk, butter, salt and pepper. Then combine hash browns, diced onion, cheese, and sour cream mixture. Spread evenly into slow cooker.
Sprinkle remaining cheese over top and cover. Cook on low for 3 -5 hours or high for 2 – 3 hours. Top with cornflakes before servings.
Preparation
Can you make funeral potatoes ahead of time?
Yes, you can prep and assemble the dish about a day in advance and then bake right before you’re ready to serve.
What kind of cheese for funeral potatoes?
We love finely shredded cheddar cheese in this recipe, but it’s also good with a fiesta blend or pepper jack if you want to give it a kick of spice.
Can I use fresh potatoes instead of frozen hash browns?
Yes, to use fresh potatoes shred or small cube them and soak for several minutes to release starch, then rinse well to reduce oxidization (discoloring). Add to recipe a and bake. For fresh potatoes, use the longer bake time.
Leftovers and storage
How long do funeral potatoes last?
Leftovers will keep in the refrigerator for 3 – 4 days. If the dish was left out at room temperature longer than 2 hours, leftovers should be discarded.
How do you reheat funeral potatoes?
You can reheat individual servings in the microwave at high power for 30 – 60 seconds, or on an oven safe dish in the toaster oven for about 7 minutes, until warmed through and top is crispy.
Can you freeze cheesy hashbrown casserole?
Yes, It’s best to freeze before baking. Assemble the casserole then wrap tightly with foil twice (or once with foil and once with plastic wrap).
To bake, unwrap frozen casserole and cover with one layer of foil. Bake for 45 minutes. Remove foil and bake according to recipe directions. Alternately, you can thaw overnight in the refrigerator and bake as normal.
Tips, tricks, and frequently asked questions
✅ Try different toppings – Instead of corn flakes, try using traditional bread crumbs, Ritz or club crackers, panko bread crumbs, or potato chips (skip the butter if you use chips).
✅ Add some heat by using a spicy cheese or by mixing in diced pickled jalapeno.
✅ Make it a full meal by mixing in 2 breasts worth of instant pot shredded chicken or easy baked chicken.
What to serve with funeral potatoes
We enjoy these at family and friend gatherings along with other mid-western favorites like baked chicken spaghetti, watergate salad, strawberry poke cake, and frito pie casserole.
More awesome potato recipes
- Roasted garlic potatoes
- Best potato salad recipe
- Sweet potato and sausage hash
- Roasted red potatoes
- Potato soup recipe
Other casseroles to try
- Cheesy chicken and rice casserole
- Tuna casserole
- Corn Casserole
- Tater tot casserole
- See all our yummy casserole recipes
Tools we love
- Casserole dish with lid – I love this dish because it can go from freezer to oven.
- Large spatula – No one wants a small portion of cheesy potatoes.
Get our FREE Easy Casseroles Ebook!
Follow us below!Use #mamalovesfood on Instagram!
How to Make Funeral Potatoes
Funeral Potatoes (Cheesy Hashbrown Casserole)
Ingredients
- 1 bag frozen hashbrowns thawed, 32 ounces
- 1 small onion finely diced
- 2 cups sour cream
- 1 can condensed 'cream of' soup 10 ounces
- ½ cup milk
- ½ cup butter melted
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
- 2 ½ cups shredded cheddar divided
- 2 cups crushed cornflakes
- ¼ cup butter melted
Instructions
- Whisk together the sour cream, cream of chicken soup, milk, ½ cup melted butter, salt and pepper.
- Combine the thawed hashbrowns, diced onion, 2 cups of shredded cheddar and sour cream mixture.
- Spread evenly in a 9x13 casserole dish.
- Sprinkle the remaining ½ cup shredded cheddar evenly over the top.
- Toss the crushed cornflakes with the ¼ cup melted butter to coat, then sprinkle over the shredded cheddar.
- Bake at 350 degrees F for 45 to 60 minutes, until cheese is melted and casserole is bubbly.
Notes
Nutrition
Funeral Potatoes (Cheesy Hashbrown Casserole)
Click the button above to save this recipe!
Katie says
This is my absolute favorite side dish. So cheesy and flavorful!
Linda says
my family and I prefer diced hash brown potatoes, which have more substance, rather than shredded hash browns
Samantha Davis says
I would call this dish Hash Potato Casserole, using diced potatoes, cheese, sour cream and diced ham.
Kellie H says
Super simple to make…..these potatoes are just heavenly.
Melissa says
My family loves your recipe so delicious and easy to make!
Laura says
Got this recipe over 15 years ago from an Aunt in “farm town” Indiana. Made a few “natural” exchanges and oh, so delicious! You’re right, always a hit!
Cindy W says
I normally use shredded hash brown – I think they spread the yumminess out better than cubed hash browns. Yummy either way but that is my preference.
Olivia Bruther says
Love these, especially at holiday meals. We use shredded potatoes, no cornflake topping, and always as a side.
Paula says
My family loved it when I lightly browned pork chops and placed them on top of the potatoes before baking (I omitted the cornflakes and butter). My oldest son always wanted this for his “birthday” dinner!
Vicki says
I like Cheddar Cheese on my casserole. But any cheese will work for me!
Elizabeth Tarlow says
Great recipe, thanks for sharing! I’d definitely call it “Cheesy Hashbrown Casserole” Some leftover Ham and maybe some Broccoli would make for great additions to this casserole!
Kathy Mashburn says
Shredded
Veronica says
I always use diced hash browns when I make this. It’s one of my favourites. So yummy!
Mildred Burba says
I would defiantly call them funeral potatoes (Just to give my boys a hard time)
J says
I like this casserole alot more with the cubed hash browns than the shredded. Iβve been making this recipe for yrs since my Aunt Mary gave me the recipe! Before giving me a recipe of hers she would always want to come over my house and show me how to make it. That was her way of inviting herself over but I didnβt mind. So when I make it now I think of her bc sheβs in heaven!
Tracey A says
I love my casserole with SHARP CHEDDAR!
Gerry Sheffield says
I love having hash brown casserole for breakfast, but I also like this as a side dish alternative to macaroni and cheese. There is no limit to the meals that can be made with the hash brown casserole as a foundation. Thank you, for the daily emails, they are very enjoyable.
MaryB says
We generally pick shredded hash browns and sharp cheddar.
Vicki Plant says
I would use O-Brien Potatoes. I like the extra seasoning. I would use a mixture of cheeses depending on what I have, probably extra sharp cheddar, white cheddar or Monterey Jack. In my family, it has always been Hash Brown Casserole, something served at breakfast.
Teresa McBee says
This is such an all purpose casserole for me. Depending on my mood I add green chilies or ham or black olives or baconβ¦just whatever. I always use shredded hash browns and either cheddar or pepper Jack cheese.
Nancy says
We prefer shredded hash brown potatoes and cheddar cheese. Always get the hash brown casserole at Cracker Barrel breakfasts, but this is even better. Introduced to this recipe by my daughter several years ago. Great with chopped bacon added in.
Shelly Branch says
OMG! One of my Fams favorite dishes!
We call them, “Cheesy Hash browns” and for this particular recipe I prefer to use shredded potatoes or hash browns! I use cheddar, mozzarella and provolone cheese for my recipe and either serving it as a side dish or adding some protein and making it a main dish is acceptable. Just depends on the occasion and my weekly dinner menu. Thanks for another great recipe, April!!! XOXO