A bubbling pan of funeral potatoes with a golden, crunchy topping, scooped with a serving spoon.
Funeral potatoes are creamy, cheesy, and the kind of side dish everyone asks for. You get tender potatoes in a rich sauce with a buttery, crunchy topping. This funeral potatoes recipe is perfect for holidays, potlucks, and cozy family dinners.
Introduction
The secret to the best funeral potatoes is balancing creamy and crunchy. You want the filling thick and cheesy, and the topping crisp and golden.
A quick tip: bake uncovered so the topping stays crunchy. Trust me—this is what makes the casserole feel special instead of soggy.
This is a classic crowd-pleaser that disappears fast, so you might want to make two pans.
Why You’ll Love This Funeral Potatoes
- Ultimate comfort food: Creamy, cheesy, cozy.
- Potluck perfect: Feeds a crowd and travels well.
- Easy for beginners: Stir, top, bake.
- Make-ahead friendly: Assemble early and bake later.
- Crunchy topping: The best part in every bite.
Ingredients for Funeral Potatoes
- Frozen shredded hash brown potatoes (1 bag, 30 ounces): Easy shortcut; thaw for best texture.
- Condensed cream of mushroom soup (1 can, 10.5 ounces): Creamy base; cream of chicken soup also works.
- Sour cream (2 cups): Tangy creaminess; Greek yogurt works too.
- Shredded cheddar cheese (2 cups): Big cheesy flavor; Colby Jack is a good swap.
- Onion, finely chopped (1/2 cup): Sweet savory flavor; you can use dried onion flakes.
- Garlic powder (1/2 teaspoon): Adds depth.
- Salt (1 teaspoon) + black pepper (1/2 teaspoon): Season to taste.
- Butter, melted (6 tablespoons): Richness and helps topping crisp.
Topping
- Cornflakes, lightly crushed (3 cups): Crunchy top; crushed buttery crackers work too.
- Butter, melted (3 tablespoons): Helps topping turn golden and crisp.
Funeral Potatoes Recipe Step-by-Step
- 1. Preheat: Heat oven to 350°F. Grease a 9×13-inch baking dish.
- 2. Mix: In a large bowl, stir hash browns, soup, sour cream, cheddar, onion, garlic powder, salt, pepper, and 6 tablespoons melted butter.
- 3. Spread: Spoon into the baking dish and smooth the top.
- 4. Top: Mix crushed cornflakes with 3 tablespoons melted butter. Sprinkle evenly over the casserole.
- 5. Bake: Bake uncovered 45–55 minutes until bubbly and golden.
- 6. Rest: Let sit 10 minutes before serving so it sets.
Tips for Perfect Funeral Potatoes
- Thaw hash browns so the casserole bakes evenly.
- Bake uncovered for a crunchy topping.
- Use freshly shredded cheese for smoother melting.
- Let it rest so it slices neatly.
- If topping browns too fast, loosely tent with foil for the last 10 minutes.
Variations & Substitutions
- Extra cheesy: Add 1 more cup cheddar inside the mix.
- Add veggies: Stir in 1 cup steamed broccoli or peas.
- Crunch swap: Use crushed buttery crackers instead of cornflakes.
- Lighter: Use light sour cream and reduce butter slightly.
- Lazy version: Use diced frozen potatoes instead of shredded hash browns.
Make-Ahead & Freezing
Make-ahead: Assemble (without topping) up to 24 hours ahead. Add topping right before baking.
Fridge: Store leftovers 3–4 days.
Reheat: Bake at 350°F for 15–20 minutes to re-crisp the top.
Freezer: Freeze baked casserole up to 2 months. Thaw overnight and reheat in the oven.
Serving Suggestions & Pairings
- Serve with roasted chicken pieces or turkey
- Green salad or steamed green beans
- Potluck mains like meatballs or pulled chicken
- Brunch with scrambled eggs
Recipe Card
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 50 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour 5 minutes
Yield: 10–12 servings
Category: Side Dish
Method: Bake
Cuisine: American
Diet: Vegetarian
Reader Review: Everyone asked for the recipe. The topping was so crunchy and the potatoes were perfectly creamy.
If you make funeral potatoes, leave a rating and comment. Do you like extra crunchy topping or extra cheese?