Funeral Potatoes

5 from 2 votes

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These cheesy Funeral Potatoes are a real crowd pleaser and the ultimate comfort food. Made with plenty of cheese, sour cream, and hash browns baked with crunchy corn flakes on top, there is no way anyone can resist this dish!

Funeral potatoes are the potluck dish of dreams! Made by baking savory frozen hash browns in a luscious cheddar cheese sauce, this casserole-style dish is sure to be a big hit at your next church potluck or extended family gathering.

Plate of funeral potatoes.
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Funeral Potatoes

One of the best parts of this dish is the crunchy, buttery topping; it melts in your mouth and adds a sense of warmth and richness to this filling casserole. Sometimes I even like to dress the topping up with some bacon bits, crispy onion strings, or slivered almonds.

Don’t feel like you have to wait for a funeral to enjoy this cheesy potato casserole, make and enjoy this dish any time you’re craving something tangy, hearty, and rich!

A bite of funeral potatoes.

We Love This Dish Because It’s…

  • Savory, cheesy, salty, and gooey.
  • An easy dump-and-go side dish.
  • Comforting and popular with any crowd.
  • Easy to store the leftovers in the fridge and reheat them to enjoy another day. 
  • Made with simple ingredients that you likely already have in your fridge and freezer!

Ingredient Notes

  • Frozen Hash Browns—Thawed. Shredded or diced will both work. 
  • Cheddar Cheese—Extra sharp cheddar cheese gives this dish the best flavor!
  • Corn Flakes—Acts as the crunchy topping of this cheesy dish.
  • Salted Butter—Binds everything together. 
  • Sour Cream—Gives this casserole-style dish a rich, creamy texture and acidic tang.
  • Coarse Sea Salt—Enhances the natural flavors in this dish.
  • Minced Onion—Or some sautéed fresh onion for some extra bold flavor!
Casserole dish of funeral potatoes.

How to Make Funeral Potatoes

  1. In a microwave-safe dish or on the stovetop, melt the butter and whisk it together with the sour cream, salt, and minced onion. 
  2. Transfer the sour cream mixture to a 9×13 inch baking dish. Add the hash browns and cheese. Fold the ingredients together until fully combined. 
  3. Crush the corn flakes and sprinkle them over the top of the cheese and potatoes.
  4. Cook your casserole until the edges of the dish are bubbly and the top is golden brown. 
  5. Serve and enjoy!
Ingredients for funeral potatoes.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why do they call them funeral potatoes?

The name funeral potatoes comes from the widespread tradition and popularity of serving this dish at gatherings held after funerals. Although sad to think about, it truly shows how comforting and delicious this dish is! 

What is the real name for funeral potatoes?

There are many other names for funeral potatoes, some being cheesy potatoes, hash brown casserole, or party potatoes. Whatever you choose to call them, one thing is for certain: people will always call them delicious!

Can I use tater tots instead of hash browns in this recipe?

Absolutely! This dish is traditionally made with hash browns or sliced potatoes, but you can easily swap them out for tater tots, french fries, or really any kind of frozen fried potato. The end texture will be slightly different, but the dish will still be creamy, cheesy, salty, and rich!

Top view of funeral potatoes on a plate.

What Goes Well with Cheesy Funeral Potatoes? 

These cheesy funeral potatoes go with practically any other dish! There is no wrong way to serve them. They pair especially well with other potluck favorites like pasta salad, deviled eggs, smoked ham and turkey and cheese pinwheels. You can even garnish the top of these cheesy funeral potatoes with bacon crumbles or french onion crisps to give it a bit of extra flavor and texture.

How to Store and Reheat Funeral Potatoes

If you have any leftover funeral potatoes, you can store them in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. I find that these cheesy potatoes are best reheated in the microwave. Simply place the leftovers in a bowl, cover with a plate, and microwave for 1-2 minutes or until warmed through. 

Expert Tips and Tricks

  • For a spicier casserole, you can do half cheddar and half pepper jack cheese!
  • Instead of topping these funeral potatoes with corn flakes, you can sprinkle on some crushed potato chips, butter crackers, saltines, or a mixture of melted butter and breadcrumbs.
  • You’ll know that this casserole is done baking when a thermometer inserted into the center of the dish reads at least 165°F.
  • Don’t have any sour cream? In a pinch you can swap it out for plain greek yogurt or whipped cream cheese. The finished dish won’t taste exactly the same, but it will still be tangy and creamy!  
Spoonful of funeral potatoes from a casserole dish.

More Recipes

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an entire baking dish full of crispy golden funeral potatoes
5 from 2 votes

Funeral Potatoes

Funeral Potatoes, the ultimate comfort food, are an irresistible crowd-pleaser, loaded with cheese, sour cream, and crispy cornflake topping.
Prep: 10 minutes
Cook: 40 minutes
Total: 50 minutes
Servings: 8

Ingredients 

  • ½ cup salted butter
  • 1 ½ cups sour cream
  • 1 ½ teaspoon coarse sea salt
  • 1 ½ teaspoon minced onion
  • 26 ounce bag of hashbrowns, thawed
  • 2 cups cheddar cheese
  • 2 cups corn flakes

Instructions 

  • Preheat the oven to 350°F.
  • Melt the butter and whisk it together with the sour cream, salt, and minced onion.
  • Add the sour cream mixture to a 9×13 inch baking dish along with the hashbrowns and cheese. Fold the ingredients together until fully combined.
  • Crush the corn flakes and sprinkle them over the top of the casserole.
  • Cook your casserole for 40-45 minutes, or until the edges of the dish are bubbly.
  • Serve and enjoy!

Notes

  • Store leftovers in the fridge for up to 4 days and reheat in the microwave.
    Store frozen uncooked and then thaw in the fridge before cooking according to the recipe directions.
  • The sour cream gives this casserole a creamy, rich texture.
  • For a spicier casserole you can ddo half cheddar half pepper jack cheese
  • In addition to corn flakes, you can use a mixture of bread crumbs and melted butter. This gives you a savory, but equally crunchy casserole topping
  • If you have a fresh white onion, you can use ¼ cup of diced onion instead of the dried minced onion.

Nutrition

Serving: 1 of 8 servings, Calories: 403kcal, Carbohydrates: 25g, Protein: 10g, Fat: 30g, Saturated Fat: 17g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g, Monounsaturated Fat: 7g, Trans Fat: 0.5g, Cholesterol: 84mg, Sodium: 797mg, Potassium: 354mg, Fiber: 2g, Sugar: 2g, Vitamin A: 1031IU, Vitamin C: 9mg, Calcium: 257mg, Iron: 3mg
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Funeral Potatoes truly stand out as the ultimate potluck crowd-pleaser. The delightful combination of savory frozen hash browns bathed in a rich cheddar cheese sauce ensures that this casserole-style dish will be the star of any church potluck or extended family gathering.

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