Funeral Potatoes Recipe (Cheesy Potatoes)

This funeral potatoes recipe (also known as cheesy potatoes or hash brown casserole) is always a hit at family dinners and large gatherings. This casserole is filled with shredded hash browns, cream, two kinds of cheese, sauteed onions, plus additional seasoning, and has a crispy corn flake topping.

These cheesy potatoes are the perfect comfort food and rival all other funeral potato recipes! Plus, they are super easy to make and you can put this recipe together ahead of time.

Why are they called funeral potatoes?

The name "funeral potatoes" comes from the tradition of serving this side dish at large gatherings after funerals, especially in the western United States and among members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS).

People consider these cheesy potatoes comfort food—a warm and filling dish—perfect for feeding a large crowd.

Despite the origin of the name, funeral potatoes have become a popular comfort food beyond funerals, and can often be found at family dinners, potlucks, and holidays.

How to Make Funeral Potatoes

First, preheat your oven to 350° Fahrenheit. In a small pan, saute the diced onion with a tablespoon of butter on medium heat. Stir occasionally, and cook for a few minutes until the onion turns translucent. Remove the onions from heat and let them cool.

In a large bowl, whisk together the sour cream, cream of chicken soup, garlic, salt, and pepper. Then add the (cooled) melted butter and whisk until well-mixed. Add and mix in the thawed hash browns, cooled onions, cheddar cheese, and parmesan cheese. DON'T mix the hash browns in while frozen, or the creamy mixture will freeze to the hash browns and they will be hard to mix.

Spray a 9x13 casserole dish with cooking spray, and spread the hash brown mix evenly throughout.

Place the corn flakes in a ziploc bag. Seal it and crush the cornflakes by hand or with a rolling pin. Then pour the (cooled) melted butter into the bag as well. Shake the bag until the butter coats all of the corn flakes, then sprinkle the corn flake topping evenly over the hash browns.

Place the casserole in the oven and bake for about 40-50 minutes. You’ll know it’s done when the top starts to brown and the cheese begins to bubble. Keep in mind that it's better to slightly overcook than undercook the casserole. Doing so will ensure that the potatoes cook through.

Make-Ahead Instructions

I highly recommend making this hash brown casserole ahead of time to make meal prep easy. You can make the hash brown base up to 24 hours before baking, and then cover and keep it in the refrigerator. Prepare and add the corn flake topping right before baking to keep it from getting soggy.

What to Serve with Funeral Potatoes

I typically serve this hash brown casserole on special holidays, such as Easter or Mothers' Day. On these occasions, I usually pair these potatoes with either ham or turkey. You could also serve these potatoes this chicken caprese, if you're wanting to try something new!

Another great potato recipe for large gatherings are my twice baked potatoes, so make sure to take a look at that one too.

If you try out this funeral potatoes recipe or any of my other recipes, I’d LOVE to hear about it. You can leave a comment below the recipe, or if you post a picture on Instagram, be sure to tag me! Getting any feedback on my recipes is both rewarding AND helpful as I write and edit recipes in the future.

Now get cooking, and enjoy!