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Funeral Potatoes sometimes called Party Potatoes or just Cheesy Potatoes is a great recipe for dinner or a side for the holidays! Made with cheese, sour cream, butter and topped with corn flakes this will be your favorite potato dish ever!
Table of Contents
- Why You’ll Love These Funeral Potatoes
- Ingredient Notes:
- Directions:
- Can I use fresh potatoes instead of frozen?
- Topping Ingredients:
- What can I substitute for cornflakes?
- Baking Instructions:
- Why are they called Funeral Potatoes?
- Recipe Tips for the Best Funeral Potatoes:
- Can you make these potatoes ahead of time?
- Funeral Potatoes pair perfectly with:
- Need to make this recipe for a large crowd?
- Try some of my other favorite side dish casserole recipes:
- Funeral Potatoes Recipe
Why You’ll Love These Funeral Potatoes
If there’s one side dish that always disappears first at my family gatherings, it’s these Funeral Potatoes. They are creamy, cheesy, with a perfect crunch on top. They’re sometimes called Party Potatoes or Cheesy Potato Casserole, and they’ve officially replaced all my other cheesy potato recipes (yes, even my beloved Cheesy Ham and Potato Casserole and Cheesy Potato Casserole).This dish is comfort food at its finest it’s rich, hearty, and loved by both kids and adults. The crispy cornflake crust gives the perfect texture, and the cheesy potato base melts in your mouth. It’s simple enough for a weeknight dinner but special enough for Easter, Christmas, or Thanksgiving.
As a busy mom of three who’s constantly balancing homeschooling and meal prep, I love recipes that come together quickly but taste like you spent all day in the kitchen. This one checks every box.
The first time I served these at Christmas, the casserole dish was scraped clean before anything else on the table, a sure sign of a winner in my house.
I’ve tested a lot of potato bakes, but this one wins for flavor, texture, and make-ahead convenience.
Ingredient Notes:
- Hash Brown Potatoes: I used frozen Southern Style Hash browns. You can use Shredded if you want.
- Minced Onions (frozen): I used frozen to cook evenly with the frozen potatoes, also they are really easy to use, and you don’t have to cry cutting your own onions!
- Sour Cream
- Cream of Chicken Soup: adds to the flavor of the dish greatly.
- Butter: that has been melted and divided to use in the casserole and the topping.
- Salt
- Cheddar Cheese (shredded): shred your own for the best result, but you can use store bought shredded cheese.
- Corn Flake cereal (crushed): makes the perfect crunchy topping and crust.
Directions:
Step One – Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F. Prepare a 9×13 casserole dish with nonstick cooking spray.
Step Two – In a large mixing bowl place frozen hash browns and minced onions and mix.
Can I use fresh potatoes instead of frozen?
You can, but frozen hash browns save a lot of time and keep the texture more consistent. If you’d like to use fresh potatoes, peel and dice them into small cubes or shred them. Rinse well and pat dry to remove excess starch, then cook them for a few minutes in boiling water until just tender (don’t overcook). Drain completely and cool before mixing with the rest of your ingredients.
Step Three – Add sour cream, cream of chicken soup, melted butter, salt, and 2 cups shredded cheese.
Mix well then place your mixed ingredients into a 9X13 casserole dish.
Topping Ingredients:
Making this topping is very easy, and really rewarding for this recipe! Get your corn flakes (brand does not matter) then melt the butter and mix it up!
- Corn Flake cereal (crushed)
- Butter (melted)
Step Four – Mix crushed cereal and melted butter together then sprinkle on the top of casserole.
What can I substitute for cornflakes?
If you don’t have cornflakes, there are plenty of great options! Try crushed Ritz crackers, panko breadcrumbs, or crushed potato chips for a buttery, salty crunch. You can even mix in a handful of shredded cheese or bacon bits with the topping for extra flavor.
Baking Instructions:
Step Five – Place in the pre-heated oven to bake for 40-45 minutes at 350 degrees.
Why are they called Funeral Potatoes?
Funeral Potatoes actually do get their name from funerals.
The name comes from a long-standing tradition in the South and Midwest. This comforting casserole was often brought to funeral luncheons or shared with grieving families.
Despite the somber name, it’s truly a dish about comfort, love, and community.
Over time, Funeral Potatoes have become a staple at holidays, potlucks, and Sunday dinners because they feed a crowd and pair with almost anything.
Recipe Tips for the Best Funeral Potatoes:
Here are some tips to really make this potato casserole amazing!
- Keep Ingredients Frozen: Don’t thaw your hash browns or onions — baking them from frozen keeps the casserole from turning mushy.
- Add Protein: Stir in shredded chicken or diced ham to make this a complete meal.
- Extra Cheesy: Layer more shredded cheese on top before adding the cornflake topping.
- Add Bacon: Mix cooked bacon bits into the topping for extra crunch and flavor. Double for a Crowd: This recipe easily doubles for church gatherings, reunions, or holidays.
Can you make these potatoes ahead of time?
To Make Ahead:
Assemble the casserole (without topping), cover tightly, and refrigerate up to 2 days before baking. Add the cornflake topping right before baking.
To Freeze:
Prepare the casserole (without topping) and freeze for up to 3 months. When ready to bake, thaw overnight in the fridge, add the topping, and bake as directed.
To Reheat:
To reheat Funeral Potatoes, cover your dish with foil and warm in a 350°F oven for about 20–25 minutes, or until heated through. This keeps the inside creamy and the top from drying out.
For smaller portions, microwave in 30-second intervals until warm, then crisp the topping under the broiler for 1–2 minutes if you like it extra crunchy.
Funeral Potatoes pair perfectly with:
- Holiday mains: Roast turkey, baked ham, or prime rib.
- Weeknight dinners: Grilled chicken or slow cooker pulled pork.
- Potlucks: Any crowd-friendly dish where comfort food steals the show.
Need to make this recipe for a large crowd?
Nice thing about this recipe, as the traditional reason people made these Funeral Potatoes were for after funeral meals.
Making this for a large crowd is definitely worth it! So, at your next potluck, office party, church cookout, or family reunion bring this with you! Just double or triple the recipe as you feel you need to!
These potatoes are the definition of family comfort food! They are easy to make, rich and creamy, and guaranteed to disappear first from the table. Whether you’re feeding your family or bringing a dish to a friend, this recipe delivers warmth and nostalgia in every bite.
If you try this recipe, leave a comment or share a photo, I love seeing your family’s favorites!
Try some of my other favorite side dish casserole recipes:
Loaded Baked Potato Casserole – This Loaded Baked Potato Casserole is one of my favorite side dish recipes. It’s so easy to make and tastes amazing.
Cheesy Potato Casserole – Are you ready to try the BEST, yes I said it the BEST, side dish recipe? I have to limit making this Cheesy Potato Casserole to holiday time, or when guests are over because I could eat up the entire thing!
Cheesy Ranch Potato Casserole – This version, Cheesy Ranch Potato Casserole is just like the classic but full of my favorite ranch flavor.
If you tried any of my recipes, I would love to hear from you, leave me a comment below. You can also connect with me on FACEBOOK, INSTAGRAM, and PINTEREST. I would love for you to follow along and discover more amazing recipes.
Show me what you are making, use hashtag #TDOARH
Funeral Potatoes
Ingredients
Casserole:
- 2 pounds southern style hash brown potatoes, (frozen)
- 2 tablespoons minced onions, (frozen)
- 2 cups sour cream
- 10.5 oz cream of chicken soup
- 4 tablespoons stick butter, (melted)
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
Topping:
- 2 1/2 cups corn flake cereal, (crushed)
- 1/2 cup butter, (melted)
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F. Prepare a 9×13 casserole dish with nonstick cooking spray.
- In a large mixing bowl place frozen hash browns and minced onions and mix.
- Add sour cream, cream of chicken soup, melted butter, salt, and 2 cups shredded cheese. Mix well then place your mixed ingredients into a 9X13 casserole dish.
- Mix crushed cereal and melted butter together then sprinkle on the top of casserole.
- Place in the oven to bake for 40-45 minutes.
Notes
- Do not let your Hash Browns and Onions thaw. Thawing them will make them too soggy for the baking process.
- Make this a full meal and add shredded chicken or diced fully cooked ham to this recipe to add more protein! Use my All Purpose Chicken Recipe or buy a rotisserie chicken to shred up.
- You can use fresh onion if you prefer, just finely chop it so you do not have chunks of onion in the casserole.
- Make it cheesier! Add a layer of shredded cheddar cheese on top of the casserole before putting on the topping to make it extra cheesy!
- Adding Bacon Bits to the topping is a very nice crunch and flavor to add to this recipe!
This is an amazing recipe. Thank-you. It’s so quick and easy to whip up. It’s also a wonderful dish for taking to a family /friend in need for what ever reason. My family absolutely loves these potatoes and requests that I bring this to our potlucks.
I mix my cheeses up sometimes, my fav combo is cheddar, Monterey Jack with jalapeños, Gouda and a little bit of freshly grated Parmesan. ***just go easy on the parm or reduce the salt added earlier.
Thanks again for the recipe. LOVE it❣️
Thanks Crystal! I am so glad you liked the recipe!
Question: have you made this in the crockpot? Do you have crockpot recommendations?
I do have similar recipe in the slow cooker called slow cooker cheesy potato casserole. It’s the same base but you can just add the cereal topping the last few mins. They just would not be as crunchy.
I didn’t have cornflakes so I used panko butter and garlic powder for topping. I did feel it needed to be cooked way longer. I cooked for over an hour but I feel it could still use longer. My son ABSOLUTELY LOVES THIS!!
As far as making ahead goes, is it thawed (in the fridge overnight) then baked or baked and reheated ??
You can freeze it after mixing or freeze it after baked and cooled. Either way I suggest placing it in the fridge the day before to allow to thaw slightly before baking.
Can you prepare this the day before??
Yes, you can. I would just wait and add the topping right before baking.
How many servings will this make?
The serving is 12.
This recipe is marvelous. I have gotten many compliments on it. I like to add about 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese to the topping mixture. It adds a little extra cheesiness.
Thank you! And there is nothing wrong with extra cheesiness!
We love this recipe. I like to add ham that may be leftover from Easter or Christmas. It is good way to use it up. My daughter will buy a ham steak to add to her potatoes. This is a dish she is asked to bring to family gatherings.I want to try the chicken with baconand maybe add some ranch. Thanks
This is the chefs kiss! I add a little garlic powder to it but it’s great both ways!
Love the recipe. I’ve added in a couple things based on my own personal preferences of trial and errors over the years. I use cream of chicken with herb soup along with a can of cheddar cheese soup, adds a bit more creaminess and flavor. I think the butter is the “secret” in this recipe. This recipe has become a family favorite.
About to make this recipe, is there a substitute for the cream of chicken soup to make this vegetarian? Would cream of celer soup work?
Cream of celery soup should not be a problem at all!
I have made it with cream of mushroom soup & cream of celery and it was fantastic!
I added a packet of ranch dressing mix.
Yes, I would call that Crack Funeral Potatoes. Kind of like my Crack Chicken Casserole.
Garlic is a welcome addition and takes it over the top in taste. I make this dish regularly for large group gatherings. It us always a hit. I never gave leftovers.