Cheesy Funeral Potatoes — This casserole is creamy, CHEESY, and topped with crunchy Corn Flakes! It’s an easy side dish that feeds a crowd, so it’s perfect for potlucks, holidays like Thanksgiving and Christmas, and family gatherings. Just 10 minutes of active prep time make this one of the EASIEST casseroles ever! No funeral luncheon required to enjoy this comfort food family favorite!
Table of Contents
- What Are Funeral Potatoes?
- Ingredients for Funeral Potatoes
- How to Make Funeral Potatoes
- Full Fat Dairy Only
- Make-Ahead Instructions
- Set Out Before Baking
- Storage Instructions
- Recipe FAQs
- Recipe Variations to Try
- What Goes with Funeral Potatoes?
- Cheesy Funeral Potatoes Recipe
- More Easy Potato Side Dishes:
What Are Funeral Potatoes?
Don’t let the gloomy name of this creamy, cheesy hash brown casserole put you off! Funeral potatoes are absolutely addictive and are perfect for any holiday or family gathering.
It’s a popular side dish that’s believed to have originated in Utah and is definitely NOT just for funerals or funeral luncheons!
Funeral potatoes are made with frozen hash browns, two types of cheese for extra cheesiness, and sour cream for creaminess, tang, and richness of flavor. Some recipes call for canned soup, but I can assure you there’s no condensed soup in sight in my recipe!
The buttery Corn Flake topping adds some much needed crunch to an otherwise rich, creamy, and cheesy casserole.
It’s a stick-to-your-ribs casserole that’s reminiscent of the hearty fare I grew up eating in the Midwest.
You can assemble the casserole ahead of time in about 10 minutes, then bake it off the next day just before serving. I love having recipes like this on hand for holidays like Thanksgiving and Christmas so that I can actually spend time with my family day-of and not be trapped in the kitchen cooking!
Make this quick and easy recipe for funeral potatoes for your next holiday party or family gathering. No one can say no to creamy, cheesy potatoes pulled straight from the oven!
Ingredients for Funeral Potatoes
A lot of funeral potatoes recipes call for cream of chicken soup or cream of mushroom soup. And while I don’t mind using a cooking shortcut now and then like condensed soup, I much prefer using a mixture of milk, sour cream, and chicken bouillon to make the base of this casserole.
Otherwise this is a classic funeral potatoes recipe made with Corn Flakes and hash browns.
Gather the following ingredients:
- Hash browns (I use diced hash browns, but you can use shredded)
- Butter
- All-purpose flour
- Milk
- Sour cream
- Cheddar cheese
- Colby Jack cheese
- Onion powder
- Garlic powder
- Salt
- Pepper
- Chicken bouillon
- Corn Flakes
Note: Scroll down to the recipe card section of the post for the ingredients with amounts included and for more complete directions.
How to Make Funeral Potatoes
When I say this funeral potato casserole is quick and easy, I mean it! It takes about 10 minutes to assemble the casserole, then your oven finishes the job for you. The recipe takes about 40 minutes total time.
Later in this post, I’ve provided make-ahead instructions for this cheesy funeral potatoes recipe.
For now, let’s review the basic recipe steps:
Step 1: Melt the butter in a large pan, then whisk in the flour to the melted butter.
Step 2: Add the milk and stir.
Step 3: Once the sauce begins to thicken, add the sour cream, cheeses, onion powder, garlic powder, chicken bouillon, salt, and pepper.
Full Fat Dairy Only
It’s important in this recipe, as is the case many recipes, to use full fat sour cream, full fat cheese, and use at least 2% milk – although whole milk is what I use.
Reduced fat dairy products don’t have the necessary fat to melt well, or at all, like reduced fat cheese. And lite sour cream is more water than fat which would render this recipe more like potato soup rather than a luscious casserole.
Step 4: Stir the hash browns into the sauce.
Step 5: Spread the hash brown mixture into a 9 x 13-inch baking dish.
Step 6: In a large bowl, crush corn flakes, add melted butter, toss, and then sprinkle the crushed cornflakes topping over the hash brown mixture.
Step 7: Bake until browned and bubbling around the edges before serving! Cooking time will of course vary a bit, just make sure to keep an eye on the Corn Flakes to make sure they’re not burning.
Make-Ahead Instructions
This funeral potato hash brown casserole can be assembled in advance and baked off just before you plan on serving it.
To make the casserole in advance, follow the recipe instructions as written but do NOT add the Corn Flakes topping.
Reserve the Corn Flakes until you plan on baking the casserole, otherwise they’ll become soggy as they sit on top of the hash brown mixture.
You can assemble the base of the casserole up to three days in advance.
I recommend making the topping just before baking the casserole.
Set Out Before Baking
If you’ve decided to prep this comfort food side dish in advance, take it out of the fridge and set the baking dish on your counter for about 30 minutes before baking. It will take a longer time than you think for a well chilled, large baking dish like this one to come up closer to room temp, which is what you want, before you pop it in the oven.
If you bake a cold cheesy potato casserole, it’ll take longer in the oven to bake through. But the Corn Flakes on top will be prone to burning. So better to start with a room temp (or close to it) baking dish.
Storage Instructions
Leftover funeral potatoes with Corn Flakes on top will last up to five days in the fridge. Wrap the pan tightly with plastic wrap to keep the potatoes fresh.
You can also freeze baked casserole for up to 3 months, although a note that the cornflake topping does lose its crispness sitting on top of the creamy hash brown mixture.
Reheat leftovers gently in the microwave before serving.
Recipe FAQs
You’ll want to use pre-packaged hash browns for this recipe. Both cubed (diced) and shredded hash browns will work, so buy whichever sounds best to you.
I typically buy frozen hash browns and then thaw them in the fridge overnight before making this recipe.
You can, but then this easy recipes starts to begin to be a lot more work! If you make hashbrowns regularly, then make and brown them like you normally would before carrying on with the recipe.
If you need to ask how to make homemade hash browns for the recipe, you are the person for whom frozen hash browns were intended. So use those!
Funeral potatoes are classically known to be made with hash browns rather than say mashed potatoes, baked potatoes, roasted potatoes, sweet potatoes, or any other kind of potato. Stick with hash browns for the classic recipe and tried-and-true results.
Yep! If you don’t have Corn Flakes on hand or don’t like them, you can replace them with crushed potato chips, crushed Ritz crackers, or even panko breadcrumbs if desired.
However, don’t omit the crunchy topping altogether, as that’s what makes funeral potatoes so special!
You can swap out the Corn Flakes for an equal amount of crushed potato chips, crushed Ritz crackers, or panko breadcrumbs. Use whatever you have on hand or what you like best. 
This recipe also goes by the name of hash brown casserole or cheesy hash brown casserole.
Nope! The origins of funeral potatoes are unclear (although most people agree that they were invented in Utah), and while they may have started as a funeral-specific dish, they’re now served at family functions, holiday dinners, potlucks, and more.
I use shredded cheddar cheese and shredded Colby Jack because they both melt quite well and the flavors of both are just perfect for this easy side dish recipe. However, you can mix-and-match the cheese types a bit. If you want to try Monterey Jack instead of Colby Jack, that’s fine. Or shredded American or most any type of common shredded cheese blend, I’m sure everything will work out just fine.
Recipe Variations to Try
Classic funeral potatoes made with hash browns and Corn Flakes on top is my family’s favorite, but there’s definitely some wiggle room in the recipe if you want to change things up!
- Use different hash browns. For this batch, I used cubed hash browns, but shredded will also work.
- Add bacon. You’ll want to cook the bacon until crisp, then crumble into the casserole mixture before spooning it into the pan and baking. Hey, it’s extra protein, right!
- Swap out the Corn Flakes. Try using crushed Ritz crackers, plain potato chips, or panko breadcrumbs instead.
- Use different cheeses. I used cheddar and Colby Jack, but any soft, gooey cheeses will work. Or, use all cheddar or all Colby Jack!
What Goes with Funeral Potatoes?
Serve this cheesy funeral potato casserole for holidays like Thanksgiving, Christmas, Easter, or bring to your next potluck or BBQ! It’s a recipe that kids and adults alike go crazy for.
The funeral potatoes go especially well with the following main dishes:
- Orange Pineapple Ham
- Slow Cooker Pork Tenderloin
- Classic Roasted Turkey
- Turkey Tetrazzini
- French Onion Pork Chops
- Baked BBQ Beef Short Ribs
- Melt in Your Mouth Chicken
Other side dishes that go well with funeral hash brown potatoes include:
- Pumpkin Dinner Rolls
- Herb Roasted Rainbow Carrots
- Classic Thanksgiving Stuffing
- Sweet Potato Casserole with Pecan Topping
- Green Bean Casserole
- Baked Brie in Puff Pastry
- Classic House Salad
Pin This Recipe
Enjoy AverieCooks.com Without Ads! 🆕
Go Ad Free
Cheesy Funeral Potatoes
Ingredients
Casserole
- ½ cup unsalted butter, melted
- ¼ cup all-purpose flour
- 1 cup milk, whole is what I use, 2% may be substituted, at room temp
- 2 cups full fat sour cream, at room temp
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese, at room temp
- 1 cup shredded Colby Jack cheese, at room temp
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon chicken bouillon
- ½ teaspoon salt, or to taste
- ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, or to taste
- 32 ounces diced or cubed hash browns, from a frozen package that are thawed (shredded hash browns may be substituted)
Topping
- 3 cups corn flakes, crushed
- ¼ cup unsalted butter, melted
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350F and spray a 9×13-inch baking dish (or 2.5 to 3 quart baking dish) very well with cooking spray; set aside.
- Casserole – To a large saute pan, add the butter, and heat over medium-high heat to melt, whisk constantly.
- Add the flour and cook for 1 minute; whish constantly. Tips – Do not shortcut this step. First, you need to cook the flour or later on yoru casserole will have an odd raw flour taste. Secondly, this is a roux, which is what is used to help thicken the cream sauce and casserole later on, since we are not used any canned/condensed/cream-of style soups.
- Slowly add the milk; whisk constantly and continue to do so for about 1 minute, or until the sauce begins to thicken slightly.
- Add the sour cream and whisk to combine.
- Add both cheeses, all three seasonings, salt, pepper, and whisk constantly until the cheese has melted.
- Add the hash browns and stir to combine and coat evenly.
- Turn the mixture out into the prepared pan; set aside momentarily.
- Topping – To a large bowl, add the Corn Flakes. Tip – I crush the corn flakes in my hand, a heaping handful at a time. They don't have to be in a fine dust or too small. Therefore crushing them in my hand is the fastest, easiest, and creates no extra dishes or appliances to wash.
- Evenly drizzle the melted butter over the cereal and toss to evenly coat, noting that it won't seem like there's quite enough butter, but it's enough to just moisten some of the flakes, which is that's needed.
- Evenly add the topping over the casserole.
- Bake for about 25 minutes, or until the lightly golden browned and bubbling around the edges, or as desired. Tip – I rotate my pan once midway through for even baking and browning. All ovens vary, so just keep an eye on your casserole to make sure the corn flakes aren't getting overly browned nor are burning.
- Serve immediately. Leftovers will keep airtight in the fridge for up to 5 days, or in the freezer for up to 3 months. Note that the Corn Flakes will not stay crispy on the leftovers or for anything that's been frozen. They absorb the moisture from the cheesy potatoes below and that's just the way it is. See below for make-ahead tips.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
©averiecooks.com. Content and photographs are copyright protected. Sharing of this recipe is both encouraged and appreciated. Copying and/or pasting full recipes to any social media is strictly prohibited.
More Easy Potato Side Dishes:
Loaded Twice Baked Potato Casserole — Tender potatoes mixed with butter, cheese, sour cream, bacon, and green onions for the ultimate in LOADED baked potatoes!
Three Cheese Scalloped Potatoes – These scalloped potatoes are EXTRA cheesy thanks to three cheeses used as well as super rich and CREAMY!!
Honey-Roasted Sweet Potatoes with Honey-Cinnamon Dip – The honey glaze and the creamy cinnamon dip make these potatoes irresistible!!
Honey Butter Smashed Sweet Potatoes — Soft, tender potatoes with crispy skin and the most HEAVENLY melted honey butter on top!! EASY comfort food that’s a perfect side dish anytime!!
Roasted Sweet Potato Salad — This roasted sweet potato salad is tossed in a honey Dijon dressing. The sweet and savory flavors of this potato salad are to die for complete with red bell peppers, black beans, corn, cilantro, and tossed in a lemon Dijon light dressing!
The BEST Mashed Potatoes — Buttery, creamy, PERFECT mashed potatoes that rival your favorite restaurant’s version but EASY and ready in 45 minutes!! The quintessential holiday side dish for Thanksgiving, Christmas, or a great family-friendly weeknight comfort food side dish!
Bacon Cheddar Loaded Mashed Potatoes — If you like loaded baked potatoes, you’ll LOVE these mashed potatoes with bacon, cheddar cheese, butter, sour cream, and more! A family-favorite side dish that’s perfect for weeknight dinners or holiday celebrations. Irresistible, EASY comfort food!
Browned Butter Slow Cooker Mashed Potatoes — Creamy and decadent from the herbed browned butter, these EASY mashed potatoes are a family favorite side dish! Made in the slow cooker to free up stove and oven space. No one will be able to resist these comforting buttery mashed potatoes at Thanksgiving, Christmas, or your next family gathering!
Crispy Parmesan Ranch Potatoes — The BEST roasted potatoes you’ll ever eat!! Tender potatoes seasoned with ranch mix and topped with a CRISPY Parmesan breadcrumb topping! So DELICIOUS you don’t even need a main course!!
Parmesan and Herb Roasted Potatoes — These herb roasted potatoes are sprinkled with Parmesan cheese and are made with seasonings you already have on hand. So easy to prep, and crazy delicious!
Baked Thick-Cut Seasoned Oven Fries – Learn the secrets to creating restaurant-style oven fries! They’re baked rather than fried so you can have extra!
Slow Cooker Baked Potatoes — Learn how to make soft, fluffy, tender baked potatoes with super delicious skin in your slow cooker! Use this method when you want to free up oven space for a holiday meal or when you don’t want to turn your oven on and heat up your house. Foolproof, perfect potatoes every time!
Great recipe! Did you mean to say it can be “stored at ROOM TEMPERATURE for 5 days”?
No it was a typo clearly! In the post body I did say refrigerator as well and now the recipe card reflects that. Thanks for letting me know.