Introducing my Best Funeral Potatoes (Cheesy Potatoes) recipe, a homemade version of the old fashioned hash brown casserole dish, crafted without the usual canned soup. This recipe offers all the creamy, cheesy richness with a healthier, made-from-scratch touch. It is the perfect blend of traditional comfort and modern, wholesome cooking.
This is one of the best cheesy potato casseroles out there, perfect for holiday dinners.
This great side dish is part of my collection of side dish recipes you can make all year round. You will definitely be pleasantly surprised to find recipes like this French Tartiflette, or this Easy sausage, cranberries and walnuts stuffing, perfect for the holidays. Together with this Oven Roasted Brussels sprouts with bacon, Sweet Potato Casserole, and this Cranberry chutney with apples, you could be ready to entertain in style.
Related: 30 Cooking and baking tools for the holidays
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🥔 What are Funeral Potatoes?
Funeral Potatoes recipe is a beloved hot dish or casserole and a comfort food in many American households. This dish got its name because it is often served at after-funeral luncheons or dinners.
However, it is also a favorite at potlucks and family gatherings, where it might go by other names, like Cheesy Potatoes, Church Potatoes, Hash Brown Casserole, or Amish funeral potatoes recipe. This dish is very popular as part of the Thanksgiving, Christmas, or Easter menus.
In my Minnesota home, this cheesy potato casserole is a holiday staple. The comforting dish is perfect for cold winter months and brings joy to our Thanksgiving and Christmas celebrations.
The recipe is traditionally made with hash browns or cubed potatoes, usually frozen, mixed with Cheddar cheese, onions, and a cream soup (such as chicken, mushroom, or celery) or a cream sauce. It's also combined with sour cream and topped with a mix of butter and either cornflakes or crushed potato chips.
When we first moved to the U.S., I adopted the can of cream chicken soup in this recipe, as I didn't know better, but I was not impressed by how salty it was. I was also concerned about the ingredients in the canned soup that did not seem healthy to me.
So, I decided to tweak the recipe for a healthier version, replacing the soup can with a mix of flour, chicken stock, and sour cream. This change kept the creamy texture and taste but cut down on calories and salt.
The revised recipe was a hit, even with friends who originally shared the traditional version with us. It's a testament to enjoying classic flavors without relying on processed ingredients. Now, my hash brown casserole without soup is not only a tradition but a healthier one that we can enjoy guilt-free at family dinners.
💝Why you will love this shredded cheesy potatoes recipe
- A crowd-pleasing side dish: In many households, this potato casserole is the most expected item on the table around holidays. It is a hearty, comforting dish that everyone loves.
- Easy to make ahead and to transport: Bake it a day before you serve it in a dish that can be covered and transported easily to the party.
- No cream of chicken soup: This recipe is for you if you try to avoid the dubious ingredients in the can of cream soup.
📝 Ingredients you need
For this easy recipe, or if I may say, this perfect side dish, you will need the following ingredients.
(Make sure you check the recipe card for full amounts and instructions)
Potatoes:
Frozen hash browns: If you are in the US, you will find frozen shredded hash browns or cubed/diced hash browns. Both versions are great for this dish. They need to defrost before you make the dish.
Fresh potatoes: I had times when traveling to see family overseas, and frozen shredded potatoes were not an option, so I peeled, shredded, and squeezed out the excess water and starch from real potatoes. The result was a casserole that tasted even better than usual.
For best results, use Russet or Yukon Gold potatoes. Russets crisp well and stay fluffy inside, perfect for baking. Yukon Golds offer a creamier texture with a buttery flavor. Both varieties absorb the cheese and other flavors well, making for a delicious and comforting cheesy potato dish.
Other ingredients:
- Melted Unsalted Butter: Adds creaminess and helps to bind the casserole.
- Sour Cream: Gives a creamy and tangy dimension to the dish.
- Grated Cheddar Cheese: Brings a rich, cheesy flavor.
- Chopped Onion (Optional): Provides a subtle flavor boost. You can also use green onions to add some color to the dish.
- All-Purpose Flour: Used to thicken the sauce in the casserole.
- Chicken or Vegetable Stock: Adds moisture and depth of flavor.
- Salt and Pepper: Season according to your preference.
- Corn Flakes (Optional): A crushed cornflakes topping that can be substituted with breadcrumbs, fried onions, or crushed potato chips.
Extra Add-ins:
- Options like chopped ham, cooked bacon, or vegetables can be added to enhance flavor and texture.
👩🍳 How to Make Hash Brown Casserole without Soup
Here's a look at the main steps to explain what goes into making this cheesy potato with hash browns recipe. Make sure to scroll down to the recipe card to look at the steps when you're ready to start cooking.
Step 1. Begin by heating your oven to 350F/180C.
Step 2. Grease a 9x13-inch baking dish with butter or use a nonstick cooking spray.
Step 3. For frozen potatoes, ensure they are fully defrosted. If using fresh potatoes, peel, clean, and either shred or dice them as you prefer, then transfer them to a large mixing bowl.
Step 4. Proceed to melt the butter. Drizzle the melted butter and sour cream over the potatoes.
Step 5. Whisk together the flour and chicken stock in a separate bowl, eliminating any lumps, until it reaches a slightly thinner consistency than sour cream.
Step 6. Gently pour this potato mixture over the potato, butter, and sour cream blend, stirring everything together. Fold in the grated cheese, give it another stir, then evenly spread this mixture into your prepared baking dish.
Step 7. Optional: Do you want to make this funeral potatoes recipe without cornflakes? Just skip the ingredient or replace it with crushed potato chips or breadcrumbs.
Step 8. Place the dish in the oven and bake for 1 hour until golden brown and bubbly.
💡 Expert Tips
- As an alternative, this recipe can also be prepared in a crockpot. Just set it on "Low" for 4-6 hours. It is a great option when you need more oven space during the holidays.
- For added flavor and complexity, feel free to enrich the dish with extra ingredients like chopped ham, cooked bacon, or vegetables.
🍽️ How to serve
This easy cheesy potato casserole is a great addition to your Thanksgiving table but is also great for Christmas, Easter, and other family holidays. This family favorite also works as a tasty potato side dish for meals throughout the year! Serve this popular side dish with:
- Best Thanksgiving and Christmas Turkey Recipes
- Easy Thanksgiving Side Dish Recipes
- 34 Best Roasted Pork Recipes For Christmas
❄️ How to store this easy Funeral Potatoes :
- Refrigerate: Place leftovers in an airtight container and store in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days.
- Freeze: For longer storage, freeze the casserole in a freezer-safe container for up to 2 months. Make sure it's cooled down before freezing.
- Reheat: To reheat, thaw in the refrigerator if frozen, then warm in the oven at 350F until heated through.
🙋♀️ Recipe FAQS:
Yes, you can. Assemble the dish, but do not add the topping. Cover and refrigerate for up to two days. When you decide to bake the dish, add the topping and bake as directed.
This versatile recipe can be cooked in a regular oven or a crockpot.
Set the crockpot 'Low' for 4-6 hours. It's convenient for potlucks or entertaining guests, as it frees up oven space and doesn't need much attention.
From my experience, the crockpot version is perfect for those who like their cheesy potatoes moist and crustless. It's also convenient for busy holidays, as it frees up oven space without sacrificing taste.
This is a great opportunity to make a dish in advance, so you don't get overwhelmed in the kitchen during holidays. Assemble the dish, but do not add the topping. Freeze them covered tightly for up to 3 months. Bring the dish to room temperature(defrosting overnight in the refrigerator is the best way), add the topping, and bake as directed.
Yes. The dish is perfect for large gatherings, church events, funerals, big Thanksgiving parties, etc.
More recipes for the holidays:
📖 Recipe
Easy Funeral Potatoes (Cheesy Potatoes)
Equipment
Ingredients
- 32 ounces frozen hash browns thawed or fresh potatoes diced or shredded
- ½ cup melted unsalted butter
- salt and pepper to taste
- 1 medium chopped onion optional
- 12 ounces sour cream
- 2 cups grated cheddar cheese
- 2 tablespoons all purpose flour
- ¾ cup chicken or vegetable stock
- ½ cup corn flakes optional
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350F/180C.
- Butter a 9x13 inches baking pan.
- Defrost the potatoes if you use frozen ones.
- If you use raw potatoes, peel, wash, shred or dice the potatoes according to your taste. Place them in a large bowl.
- Melt the butter.
- Over the potatoes, pour the melted butter and sour cream.
- Separately, mix flour and chicken stock in a small bowl and make sure there are no lumps. Bring the mixture to the consistency of thinner sour cream.
- Pour the flour and chicken stock over the potatoes, butter, and sour cream and stir to combine.
- Add the shredded cheese, stir again, then place the mixture on the 9x13 inches buttered pan.
- Optional, add the cornflakes on top.
- Bake for 1 hour at 350F/180C.
- Note: You can make the recipe in a crockpot which you can set up on "Low" for 4-6 hours.
Notes
- Refrigerate: Place leftovers in an airtight container and store in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days.
- Freeze: For longer storage, freeze the casserole in a freezer-safe container for up to 2 months. Make sure it's cooled down before freezing.
- Reheat: To reheat, thaw in the refrigerator if frozen, then warm in the oven at 350F until heated through.
Lisa Contreras says
Thank you! I'm going to try this recipe this year for Christmas. We too love cheesy potatoes, and I have been looking for a healthier version, without the cans of soup!
Nancy says
Can you make this a day or two a head and keep in fridge till ready to bake?
Gabriela says
I would keep it unbaked for up to 12 hours in the refrigerator. You can even bake it the day before and reheat it on the day you serve it. I do this during the holidays, to save time and space in the oven.