Cheesy Potatoes (Funeral Potatoes) (2024)

Cheesy Potatoes (also called Funeral Potatoes) are the ultimate comfort food! This easy hash brown casserole is loaded with cheesy potatoes, onion, garlic, sour cream and has a crunchy cornflake topping. The perfect side dish!

Love potatoes? You need to try my Twice Baked Potato Casserole and my favorite Mashed Potatoes!

This post is sponsored by Challenge Dairy.

It’s right about this time of year when I realize that the holidays are in full swing. I’m finalizing my Thanksgiving menu and looking forward to Christmas at the same time. I’m also really looking forward to eating all.the.food.

Funeral Potatoes Recipe

I’ve got all kinds of yumminess happening in my home these days but one recipe I wanted to make sure to get to you before the holidays arrived are these Cheesy Potatoes. This simple cheesy potato casserole is a holiday staple for Thanksgiving, Christmas and Easter too!

Why are they called Funeral Potatoes?

More Side Dish Favorites

This cheesy potato casserole recipe makes a delicious side dish with any meal and it’s especially wonderful for the holidays. It’s one of those simple casseroles that seemingly goes with anything. Here are a few more of our favorite side dishes:

• Creamed Corn
• Candied Yams
• Loaded Scalloped Potatoes
• Green Beans
• Mac and Cheese

Cheesy Potato Casserole Ingredients

One of the best things about this recipe is that it’s so easy to make and requires very few ingredients – even though we’re making our own cream of chicken!

I used Challenge butter in this recipe because it is my favorite brand of butter! I’ve used Challenge for years and years and trust them with all of my baking and cooking.

Made with 100% real cream, it’s my butter of choice!

Here’s a look at what you’ll need:

• diced hash brown potatoesor shredded hash brown potatoes – these will need to be defrosted in order to cook properly. Remove potatoes from the oven and spread out on a large baking sheet to quickly defrost.
• butter– I used unsalted butter in this recipe but you can use salted if that’s what you have on hand

• all purpose flour – to create the roux for the sauce
• salt and freshly ground black pepper – to season the potatoes and sauce
• sour cream – this makes this cheesy potato casserole dish extra creamy
• sharp cheddar and Monterey Jack cheese– freshly grated
• onion – this gives nice flavor to our homemade cream of chicken sauce
• garlic cloves– additional flavor for the dish, and there is literally nothing better than onion and garlic sautéing in butter – YUM!
• low sodium chicken brothor stock – for the sauce
• milk – for our creamy sauce
• cornflakes – for a lovely crunch topping. See below for more delicious topping ideas.

Any cheese will work in this recipe but I do recommend grating a block of cheese instead of buying it pre-shredded in a bag. The cheese will melt much better!

How To Make Cheesy Potatoes

Prep the potatoes and casserole dish:

1. Preheat oven 350F. Butter a 9×13 baking dish and set aside.
2. Place potatoes in a bowl and toss with melted butter and salt and pepper.
3. Stir in sour cream and 2 cups of cheese.

Make the homemade cream of chicken:

1. Melt butter in a large skillet. Add onions and cook until translucent. Add garlic.
2. Sprinkle with flour and continue cooking for another minute.
3. Slowly whisk in chicken stock and then the milk. Bring to a simmer, season with salt and pepper, and continue cooking for three to four minutes until thickened.

Assembly time!

1. Pour cream sauce over the potato mixture and gently fold to combine.
2. Transfer to prepared baking dish. Top with remaining cheese.
3. Combine melted butter and cornflakes and spread over the top.
4. Cover and bake for 20 minutes.
   

Don’t want to buy frozen potatoes? Make your own!
Dice potatoes into small cubes about 1/4 – 1/2 inches and add them to salted boiling water. Cook just until tender, about 6 minutes. Drain well and return the potatoes to the hot pot to cook off any additional water. Let cool for 15 to 20 minutes before proceeding with the recipe.
OR for shredded hash browns, make your own hash browns by peeling and parboiling 8 medium potatoes. Let cool and then grate.

Funeral Potatoes FAQs

Cheesy Potatoes Variations

There are lots of great twists on this classic cheesy potato casserole recipe. Here are some of our favorites:

1. Swap out the cornflakes for a different topping. Try Ritz crackers, breadcrumbs, potato chips, or fried onions. You want something that will add a salty crunchy aspect to this funeral potatoes recipe.
2. Add-ins. This recipe is the perfect jumping off point for making a very customized dish. You can add in bacon, ham, veggies such as broccoli or peas, jalapenos, green onions – you really can’t go wrong!
3. Shredded hash browns or diced hash brown potatoes. Either work and both are delicious! You can also prepare this recipe with fresh potatoes:
   • Dice potatoes into small cubes about 1/4 – 1/2 inches and add them to salted boiling water.
   • Cook just until tender, about 6 minutes. Drain well and return the potatoes to the hot pot to cook off any additional water.
   • Let cool for 15 to 20 minutes before proceeding with the recipe.

More Potato Recipes

1. Mashed Potatoes
2. Candied Sweet Potatoes
3. Oven Roasted Potatoes
4. Scalloped Potatoes
5. Twice Baked Potatoes

How To Make Funeral Potatoes