Easy Funeral Potatoes Recipe
This Easy Funeral Potatoes recipe is the ultimate blend of creamy cheesy potato goodness. Using about 10 simple ingredients with straight-forward steps, this make-ahead casserole elevates any dinner or special occasion!
If you’re on the hunt for a dish that’ll make you the star of the potluck, look no further! This Easy Funeral Potatoes recipe, also known as party potatoes, is here to save the day. With layers of cheesy potato goodness, they’re easy to prepare and can be made ahead of time! Our family has made this dish for generations and shared it in all of our church cookbooks.
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No need to look far for more side dish inspiration. We have so many! Along with these potatoes, we love to bring grape salad, crockpot cornbread pudding, and cheesy cabbage casserole to family gatherings or holidays!
Table of Contents
Why You’ll Like This Recipe
- Comfort Food Classic: Funeral potatoes are the ultimate comfort food and classic side dish, perfect for potlucks with a large crowd, holiday dinners, or special occasions.
- Crowd-Pleaser: This cheesy potato casserole is a hit with both kids and adults, making it a fantastic choice for any event. A guaranteed family favorite!
- Easy to Prepare: With simple ingredients and straightforward steps, you can whip this up quickly without any fuss.
- Make-Ahead Friendly: Prepare cheesy funeral potatoes in advance and pop it in the oven when it’s time to eat, making mealtime stress-free.
What are Cheesy Corn Flake Potatoes?
They’re a comfort food casserole typically made with a base of hash browns, a creamy cheese sauce, sour cream, and topped with a crunchy layer of cheesy buttery corn flakes. Some versions use condensed soup like a can of cream of chicken soup or cream of celery soup in the cheese sauce.
Ingredients
Scroll Down to the Bottom of this Post for Ingredient Amounts Listed in the Printable Recipe Card
- Salted Butter: Adds richness and flavor while helping to create a creamy base for the casserole. Melted butter also helps achieve the perfect crispy topping.
- Yellow Onion: Chopped onion provides a savory depth of flavor and texture.
- All-Purpose Flour: Thickens the creamy sauce.
- Chicken Broth: Adds moisture and a savory element.
- Milk: Creates a creamy consistency that binds all the ingredients together.
- Colby and Monterey Jack Cheese: These cheeses are melty and flavorful. They add a creaminess to the base and a crispy cheesy top.
- Frozen Hash Browns: The base of the dish, offering texture and heartiness.
- Sour Cream: Adds creaminess and tanginess.
- Cornflakes: Topped on the casserole, they provide a delightful crunch!
Tools You’ll Need
- Large Skillet
- Measuring Cups and Spoons
- Liquid Measuring Cups
- Mixing Bowls
- Spatula
- 13″x9″ Casserole Dish
- Cheese Grater
- Flat Whisk
How to Make Easy Funeral Potatoes Recipe
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease a 13×9-inch baking dish with butter or nonstick cooking spray.
- Melt 6 tablespoons of the butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Sauté onion for 3 minutes.
- Sprinkle with flour and cook for 1 minute. Whisk in chicken broth and milk. Bring to a boil, and let it simmer to thicken, about 5 minutes. Season with half of the salt and black pepper. Turn off the heat.
- Stir in 2 cups of the cheese until melted and smooth.
- In a large bowl, add hash browns, sour cream, the remaining salt and black pepper, and the cheese mixture. Pour the mixture in the prepared baking dish and spread evenly.
- Melt the remaining butter in a medium bowl. Fold the remaining shredded cheese and cereal. Evenly sprinkle over the top of the potato mixture.
- Bake covered with aluminum foil for 45 minutes. Remove the foil and bake an additional 15-20 minutes or until brown and bubbly. Rest for 10 minutes before serving. If desired, garnish with fresh parsley or sliced green onions.
Pro Tips and Substitutions
- Cheese Varieties: Feel free to mix and match your favorite cheeses; cheddar cheese, pepper jack, or gouda all make excellent alternatives.
- Other Additions: You can add frozen vegetables like peas or broccoli for extra color and nutrition. Garlic powder or garlic salt can add a yummy zip!
- Butter. Unsalted butter can be used as well. Simply add an additional 1/4 teaspoon salt to the cheese sauce and a pinch of salt to the topping.
- Gluten-Free Option: To make the dish gluten-free, use gluten-free flour and cornflakes.
- Topping Options: Potato Chips, Fritos corn chips, or panko bread crumbs can be used instead of cornflakes.
- Hash Brown Types. You can use either frozen shredded or diced hash browns based on your preference—just ensure they are thawed beforehand.
- Make-Ahead Tip: Prepare the casserole ahead of time, cover with a lid or plastic wrap, and refrigerate it for up to 24 hours before baking. Just set it out at room temperature while the oven preheats and add extra time by about 10-15 minutes to ensure it cooks through.
Storage and Freezing
Store any leftover easy funeral potatoes casserole in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days.
You can freeze it for up to 2 months. Just ensure it’s fully cooled before transferring it to a freezer-safe container. Thaw in the refrigerator before reheating.
Frequently Asked Questions
While hash browns are the traditional base, you can use freshly grated or diced real potatoes. Just be sure to par-cook them for a few minutes before mixing them into the casserole.
Bake until the top is golden brown and bubbly, usually about an hour to hour and 15 minutes at 350°F (175°C). The mixture should be mostly set with a brown and crispy top.
Funeral potatoes pair well with roasted meats, salads, or as a complement to any family-style meal. They’re versatile enough to go with just about anything!
Funeral potatoes came from their frequent appearance at funeral services or potluck dinners. It’s a casserole filled with potatoes, a cheese sauce, and topped with a crispy crust.
More Delicious Casserole Recipes
- Cheesy Ham and Potato Casserole
- Jiffy Corn Casserole
- Easy Sweet Potato Casserole
- Hamburger Potato Casserole
Easy Funeral Potatoes
Ingredients
- 8 tablespoons salted butter divided
- 1 cup chopped yellow onion
- 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
- 14.5 ounces chicken broth regular or low-sodium
- 1 cup milk
- 2 1/2 teaspoons salt divided
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- 2 1/2 cups shredded Colby Jack cheese or cheddar divided
- 30 ounces frozen hash browns defrosted
- 3/4 cup sour cream
- 2 cups cornflakes cereal
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease a 13×9-inch baking dish with butter or nonstick cooking spray.
- Melt 6 tablespoons of the butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Sauté onion for 3 minutes.
- Sprinkle with flour and cook for 1 minute. Whisk in chicken broth and milk. Bring to a boil, and let it simmer to thicken, about 5 minutes. Season with half of the salt and black pepper. Turn off the heat.
- Stir in 2 cups of the cheese until melted and smooth.
- In a large bowl, add the thawed hash browns, sour cream, the remaining salt and black pepper, and the cheese mixture. Pour the mixture in the prepared baking dish and spread evenly.
- Melt the remaining butter in a medium bowl. Fold the remaining shredded cheese and cereal. Evenly sprinkle over the top of the potato mixture.
- Bake covered with aluminum foil for 45 minutes. Remove the foil and bake an additional 15-20 minutes or until brown and bubbly. Rest for 10 minutes before serving. If desired, garnish with fresh parsley or sliced green onions.
Video
Notes
Tips and Substitutions
- Cheese Varieties: Feel free to mix and match your favorite cheeses; cheddar cheese, pepper jack, or gouda all make excellent alternatives.
- Other Additions: You can add frozen vegetables like peas or broccoli for extra color and nutrition. Garlic powder or garlic salt can add a yummy zip!
- Butter. Unsalted butter can be used as well. Simply add an additional 1/4 teaspoon salt to the cheese sauce and a pinch of salt to the topping.
- Gluten-Free Option: To make the dish gluten-free, use gluten-free flour and cornflakes.
- Topping Options: Potato Chips, Fritos corn chips, or panko bread crumbs can be used instead of cornflakes.
- Hash Brown Types. You can use either frozen shredded or diced hash browns based on your preference—just ensure they are thawed beforehand.
- Make-Ahead Tip: Prepare the casserole ahead of time, cover with a lid or plastic wrap, and refrigerate it for up to 24 hours before baking. Just set it out at room temperature while the oven preheats and add extra time by about 10-15 minutes to ensure it cooks through.
Storage and Freezing
Store any leftover casserole in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days. You can freeze it for up to 2 months. Just ensure it’s fully cooled before transferring it to a freezer-safe container. Thaw in the refrigerator before reheating.Nutrition
About Laura
Taught by some of the best, cooking and entertaining has always been my favorite hobby. Food is my love language! The conception of Dinner in 321 came from my family talks that sharing our dinners would help others learn new skills, tasty recipes, and make cooking fun! Read more…
This is BY FAR THE BEST recipe for funeral potatoes!!! I made this for our church Wednesday night supper and it was a HUGE hit! Everyone raved about it. Definitely making this for our church Thanksgiving meal. Thanks for sharing this recipe! THE BEST!!!
WAHOO!! YAY!! Awwww!! That makes my heart so happy to hear!! Thank you SO much!!!🥰
I made this last weekend because it sounded intriguing 😊. Who can resist cheese and potatoes? Followed the recipe exactly and it was delicious. Tasted even better the next day although no crunch to the topping of course. I used more Monterey Jack than cheddar and it was awesome. If I were to do anything different next time I might put it in a larger pan to make it thinner and possibly a little drier. Easy to put together!
That is AWESOME, Rebecca! Thank you!! I’m so happy you made it and more cheese sounds even more delicious!😁