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This best-loved cheesy family favorite feeds a crowd making it perfect for holidays!
A Holiday Must-Have!
There are certain side dishes that have to be made on Thanksgiving for our family. Some of those include my aunt’s famous Ham, my mom’s famous rolls, and several side dishes, including funeral potatoes (also known as cheesy potato casserole).
We also make Classic Mashed Potatoes as well, but we always have at least two pans of funeral potatoes because we love them that much!!
Why we love Funeral Potatoes
- They are sinfully delicious!! So flavorful and filled with ingredients we all love – it’s the ultimate comfort food!
- So many variations! Add onions, leave them out, or add ham or change up the toppings based on preference.
- Can be made ahead of time. Funeral potatoes are the perfect side dish for large gatherings, parties, and holidays (like Easter, Thanksgiving and Christmas)
Ingredients
PREP TIME: 15 minutes
COOK TIME: 45 minutes
- 1 (32-ounce) bag frozen diced hash browns – Use shredded hash browns instead of cubed potatoes – we have a similar recipe using them for Cheesy Hashbrown Casserole.
- 2 cups sour cream – we recommend full-fat sour cream but reduced fat works as well as plain Greek yogurt for a tangier taste.
- 1 (10.5-ounce) can cream of chicken soup – You can use other flavors of soup such as cream of mushroom soup, cream of celery soup, or even cream of chicken soup.
- ½ cup unsalted butter – used for flavoring within the casserole
- 2 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese – You can also use medium or mild cheddar cheese or another favorite like Monterey jack cheese.
- 1 teaspoon salt – you can also add some black pepper to taste
- 1 teaspoon onion powder – or ¼ cup diced onions
- 2-3 cups corn flakes – unfrosted cornflake cereal works the best, but you can also use Panko, bread crumbs, Lays Potato Chips, and most kinds of crackers will do, but Ritz crackers work best.
- ¼ cup unsalted butter – flavors and crips up the cornflake topping.
Use Fresh Potatoes
Peel about 6-7 medium russet potatoes and cut into small cubes. Add the cubes to a large pot and cover with cold water. Add a dash of salt and bring the water to a boil. Once boiling, cook for 1-2 minutes. Drain potatoes and allow to cool to room temp before adding the cubes to the cream mixture
How to Make Funeral Potatoes
- PREP. Preheat the oven to 350°F.
- POTATOES. Place 1 (32-ounce) package hash browns in a colander and let sit until fully thawed and drained.
- COMBINE. Meanwhile, in a large bowl, combine 2 cups sour cream, 1 (10.5-ounce) can cream of chicken soup, and ½ cup melted butter and mix well.
- Add 2 cups shredded cheese, 1 teaspoon salt, and 1 teaspoon onion powder and mix until well combined.
- Add potatoes to cheese mixture and stir until combined. Place in a lightly greased 9-x-13-inch baking dish.
- Combine 2-3 cups cornflakes and the remaining ¼ cup melted butter in a large resealable plastic bag and shake until cereal is coated.
- Sprinkle buttered cornflakes over potatoes.
- BAKE. Bake for 42–46 minutes. Serve warm.
Crock Pot Method
We like this version in the oven, but we do have a similar Slow Cooker Cheesy Potatoes recipe that you’ll love!
Complete the Meal
- MAIN DISHES: Crockpot Ham, Crock Pot Pot Roast, Best Roast Chicken
- DESSERTS: Apple Pie, Pumpkin Pie, Coconut Cream Pie, Easy Chocolate Cake
- More SIDE DISHES: Glazed Carrots, Favorite Dinner Rolls, Roasted Vegetables, Green Bean Casserole
More collections: Potato Side Dishes, Vegetable Side Dishes, Thanksgiving Side Dishes
Funeral Potatoes Recipe
Family-favorite funeral potatoes are creamy, cheesy, and crispy on top. It's perfect for holidays and is the ultimate comfort food!
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 (32-ounce) package frozen diced hash browns, (or shredded potatoes)
- 2 cups sour cream
- 1 (10.5-ounce) can cream of chicken soup
- ½ cup unsalted butter, melted
- 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon onion powder, optional
- 2-3 cups corn flakes, crushed
- ¼ cup unsalted butter, melted
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F.
- Place 1 (32-ounce) package hash browns in a colander and let sit until fully thawed and drained.
- Meanwhile, in a large bowl, combine 2 cups sour cream, 1 (10.5-ounce) can cream of chicken soup, and ½ cup melted butter and mix well.
- Add 2 cups shredded cheese, 1 teaspoon salt, and 1 teaspoon onion powder and mix until well combined.
- Add potatoes to cheese mixture and stir until combined. Place in a lightly greased 9-x-13-inch baking dish.
- Combine 2-3 cups cornflakes and the remaining ¼ cup melted butter in a large resealable plastic bag and shake until cereal is coated.
- Sprinkle buttered cornflakes over potatoes.
- Bake for 42–46 minutes. Serve warm.
Video
Notes
Make ahead of time. Make potatoes as directed, but do not add the buttered cornflake topping. Cover and refrigerate for up to 24 hours. When ready to bake, add the buttered cornflake topping and bake as directed.
Topping variations. We think cornflakes work the best, but you can also use Panko breadcrumbs or even crushed Ritz crackers.
STORE. Place the potatoes in an air-tight container and leave them in the fridge for up to 3 days. To reheat, just place on a plate and reheat in the microwave until heated through.
Make for a LARGE crowd. Funeral potatoes are a great dish to make for a crowd! If you want to make this recipe for 50 or more people – just triple the recipe or more. This recipe serves about 16 people. Make sure you have a few 9×13 pans lying around to bake all the potatoes in! Or better yet – buy large disposable pans to bake them in.
Nutrition
Calories: 244kcal, Carbohydrates: 5g, Protein: 4g, Fat: 22g, Saturated Fat: 13g, Cholesterol: 61mg, Sodium: 516mg, Potassium: 69mg, Sugar: 1g, Vitamin A: 770IU, Vitamin C: 1mg, Calcium: 140mg, Iron: 1.4mg
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Recipe FAQ
Why are They Called Funeral Potatoes?
- At some point, someone noticed that this side dish had become a staple at funeral luncheons and the nickname has stuck. They’re an easy side dish to feed a crowd which means they are great for holiday dinners, potlucks, and family gatherings all year long.
Added Flavor?
- Use extra salt, pepper, garlic salt, paprika, chili powder, or red pepper flakes. Toss on cooked crumbled Bacon or ham (similar to our Ham and Potato Casserole).
Make it for a Crowd?
- To make this recipe for 50 or more people – triple the recipe or more. This recipe serves about 16 people. Make sure you have a few 9×13 pans lying around to bake all the potatoes in! Or better yet – buy large disposable pans to bake them in.
Can I Make it ahead of time?
- Make them as directed, but don’t add the cornflake topping or butter. When you’re ready to bake, thaw in the fridge overnight. Add the butter and cornflake topping and bake as directed!
How to Store Funeral Potatoes?
- Place the leftover cheesy potatoes with cornflakes in an airtight container and leave it in the fridge for up to 3 days. Place the desired amount on a plate and reheat in the microwave until heated.
How to Freeze?
- Make as directed and spread in the baking dish (use a disposable pan if freezing). Do not add the cornflakes, instead cover with plastic wrap and aluminum foil and place in the freezer for up to 3 months.
My mom’s family is from Utah and my grandma told me they are called “funeral potatoes” because everyone brings them to your house after a funeral. When my grandpa passed away 10+ years ago I asked my grandma, “Why do you have so many pans of hashbrown casserole?!” She laughed and said they were “funeral potatoes” and she didn’t know why, but people always bring them! And they’re delicious!
What’s funny is I feel like I haven’t seen them at a funeral luncheon or brought to anyone’s house after a funeral, lol!
If they’re called Funeral Potatoes the best reason I can think of is because they are the ultimate “comfort food.” We just love them here in Wisconsin and have them anytime more than three people get together 🙂
They are definitely our favorite too!! 😀
yum yum yum – just made these last night to go with sloppy joes – we make em with cream of mushroom soup and “top the tator” or french onion dip in place of the sour cream – mmmm!! had leftovers for breakfast – that’s not weird, is it??
♥ Northern Cottage
Not weird at all!! I love that these funeral potatoes are just as good the next day as leftovers! 😀
These are my fave too! We always make both! mmm
Totally agree – both so good. 🙂
I make this same casserole, only we call it Harvest Potatoes. I haven’t met a person who doesn’t just love them!
Harvest Potaoes is a better name. 🙂
We call them funeral potatoes too!! A Thanksgiving must have and we always have them at Easter too with ham.
Yay! So glad someone else calls them Funeral Potatoes. I was starting to feel like maybe just our family called them that, lol. 😉
People bring these to the homes of newly bereaved. It is a fantastic comfort food!
Got a tad creative while making this side dish
for Sunday supper. Topping was potato chips, cheese puffs, Ritz crackers and butter. Served with stuffed meatballs. A rich, heavy meal true, but hubby loved it. (Threw all topping ingredients into my food processor)
Wow..sounds yum! Love getting creative in the kitchen! Thanks for sharing!
These are some of my favorite potatoes… So good!
Yes, they are!! YUMMY!
The potatoes in the picture do not look like hash brown potatoes, am I missing something?
I use “Southern Style Hash brown potatoes”
Yes, use Southern Style Hashbrowns… I’ll modify the recipe so others know too. 🙂
Am in New Zealand and our hash potatoes don’t look anything like those above. Are they simply diced potato? I am so hoping this is something I can make here cause it looks so darn good!
Yes you can use chopped or shredded potatoes. Southern style has chopped onions and bell peppers mixed in
Looks great tried it out adapting it for a New Zealand dish, just used grated potatoes with the onions and peppers you suggested was yummy.
Hope you like them. They’re our favorite!!
In the olden days, hash browns werEn’t available like they are now. we boiled tHe potatoes and chopped them ourselves. I like the hash brown version much better!
If you’re aMbitioUs, you can peel and dice fresh potatoes instead of using frozen ones. I live alone and made a half recipe using 2 1/3 cups of potatOes. A whole recipe would be aBout 4 2/3 cups out of a 32-ounce bag. I use what’s on hand for the topping—Rice Krispies, corn flakes, potato chips, or a combination. I left the butter out ACCIDENTALLY Once, and it took finding the stick of butter still on the counter after to find out why it wasn’t as good.
Yes, that totally works! I’m not usually that ambitious 🙂 Thank you so much!
Yummmmm. I love Funeral Potatoes. Wouldn’t be the same at Thanksgiving without them. I’ll have to give your recipe a try!
You’re right – they are a Thanksgiving MUST!! Thx for stopping by, friend! XO
How much does 1 can of cream of chicken add up to?
Are you talking about ounces? If so, it’s about 10.5 ounces.
I think these are the potatoes my ex BOYFRIEND’s gramma used to make. Except she used crushed potato chips on the top. They were the best potatoes! I saved this recipe to try with my family.
Crushed chips work great! It’s one of our favorites!
I got the southern style hashbrowns aT tHE store they do not have onions and peppers in them as some of the people had mentioned, aLSO the bag is 32 Oz. How do i adjust the recipe, just add 1/3 more of all the ingredients and CAn i still bake IT in a 9 x 13 PAn?
Since, it’s not too much more..you could just add a little more cheese & if you want to add 1/3 or 1/4 more of the ingredients, that could help. But, you may not even need to add more. Totally up to you!
Oh my goodness – my favorite!
xoxo
Same, Jen!! 😀
Well doesn’t that look DELISH- I’m all over that.
Have you had them before, Gina? Seriously – so good!
Coming from Utah, funeral potatoes are a Sunday dinner staple! They got the name because these potatoes (and at least 2-3 pans of it) can be found at every Mormon funeral lunch-in. Strangely, I never once had them for Thanksgiving dinner. I guess we ate them too many other times throughout the year.
LOL!! We have them all year long too but definitely have them on Thanksgiving… along with Mashed Potatoes, Sweet Potatoes and any every other kind of potato recipe you can think of. We LOVE potatoes in our fam. 😉
Yep, they always show up at a funeral, but my mom says rhey are called that cuz they have enough fat to kill you, lol. I usually leave the butter out, and they are still delish.
Before reading this, I figured they got the name because they are to “die” for. Lol
I was just about to explain that. I’m a Latter-day Saint from Seattle and we call them that, too. The women’s organization in each LDS congregation cater and serve a luncheon to the grieving family after the funeral. I’m looking the recipe up for a funeral on Saturday. ???? I’ve always chopped up green onions for this instead of the powder.