A classic, comforting, cheesy potato dish gets a hands-off treatment in the Crock-Pot with this recipe.
In the wide realm of potato dishes, there is one that stands out as the most comforting, the cheesiest, and above all, the easiest to make: funeral potatoes. If you’ve never had funeral potatoes, you’ll be happy to learn that no one has to die for you to try them! That’s pretty comforting, if you ask me.
I didn’t grow up with “funeral potatoes” because I’m not from the Midwest. (In the Midwest, this is also considered a “hotdish.”) Instead, I grew up with the southern version, “hash brown casserole.” Regional differences and recipe variation aside, they are virtually the same dish. My aunt, as the family bearer of our particular hash brown casserole variation, declared cubed potatoes superior to shredded potatoes and substituted Cheez Whiz for the cheddar. Our hash brown casserole was never served at a funeral—not once. Only Thanksgiving, and maybe Christmas, if I asked her nicely.
This recipe for funeral potatoes puts an even better spin on the classic dish than Cheez Whiz. It’s made in a Crock-Pot! That means there’s no need to babysit the dish in the oven, no worries about burning it or overcooking it, and it’s basically cooking in its own travel case, so you don’t even need to pack it up to bring somewhere! These delicious, creamy, cheesy potatoes are a hit with nearly everyone, and your whole family (or holiday company) will love them.
Are Crock-Pot Funeral Potatoes Healthy?
As written, this recipe makes a rich, hearty comfort food. Funeral potatoes are an indulgence, and they’re not meant to be extremely healthy, but rather, to be extremely good for the soul. You and your guests will feel cared for and satisfied after a warm helping of this creamy potato concoction, so perhaps it’s the healthiest thing you could bring to a funeral gathering. But it’s full of calories, carbs from the frozen potatoes, and saturated fat from the cheese, sour cream, and soup. There’s not much fiber in it, and there’s only a minimal amount of protein per serving.
There are ways to make it healthier, however, and it will still be full of creamy goodness. Substituting light sour cream, low-fat cheddar, and low-fat cream of chicken soup can help with the fat content. Make it with cream of mushroom soup for a vegetarian-friendly version, and it can be gluten-free too if you’re careful to use gluten-free soup.
Variations For Funeral Potatoes
As I mentioned earlier, there are plenty of regional variations for this recipe, and even plenty of variation between recipes in the same region. But many of them are fairly minor changes, such as using one shape of frozen potato over another and whether to use real cheese or Cheez Whiz. I want to discuss other variations. If you want to turn funeral potatoes into a full meal, or at least a healthier side dish, here are my favorite ways to do it.
- Add more vegetables: This dish could absolutely benefit from more veggies. Use frozen chopped greens, peas, green beans, or broccoli. They can be added in right with the other ingredients.
- Add fresh aromatics: Chopped fresh garlic added in with the other seasonings will give funeral potatoes more flavor and aroma compared to garlic powder. Fresh herbs, especially fresh parsley, chives, or dill, will jazz things up, too. Fresh herbs can be added as garnishes to preserve their fresh flavor.
- Add protein: Throwing in some shredded chicken, pork, or beef will make these potatoes more substantial. Adding both vegetables and protein turns this into a complete, easy meal. My favorite protein to add is crumbled bacon!
- Add crunchy toppings: You can top this dish with cracker crumbs or crumbled chips to add a satisfying crunch to the bite!
How Do I Store Leftovers?
Leftover funeral potatoes will keep in the fridge for 4 days in an airtight container. You can also freeze leftovers in freezer-safe bags or containers for up to 3 months. Let frozen portions thaw in the fridge overnight before reheating. To reheat funeral potatoes, transfer them to a baking dish and cover with foil, then place them in the oven at 350°F for 20 minutes. Uncover for the last few minutes to add a crunch to the top.
Serving Suggestions
My family’s funeral potatoes (sorry, hash brown casserole) were always served alongside other casseroles (“hotdishes”) such as Broccoli Cheese Bake and Green Bean Casserole With Frozen Green Beans. If you are preparing the entire meal surrounding the funeral potatoes, serve them with this Easy Turkey Meatloaf Recipe and a side of Steamed Broccoli for a perfectly comforting, healthy meal.
Ingredients
- 30 ounces frozen shredded hash brown potatoes thawed, about 1 large bag
- 1 can cream of chicken soup 10.5 ounces
- 2 cups sour cream
- 1 medium onion finely chopped
- 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese divided
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- Coat the inside of a 6-quart Crock-Pot or slow cooker with nonstick cooking spray.
- In a large bowl, mix together the thawed hash browns, cream of chicken soup, sour cream, chopped onion, 1 cup of shredded cheddar cheese, garlic powder, salt, and pepper until well combined.
- Transfer the mixture to the Crock-Pot and spread evenly with a spatula.
- Cover and cook on low for 4 hours, or until the potatoes are tender.
- Sprinkle the remaining 1 cup of shredded cheddar cheese over the top of the potatoes. Cover and cook for an additional 10 minutes, or until the cheese is melted.
- Serve the funeral potatoes hot as a comforting side dish.
Nutrition Info:
Nutrition information are estimates only and may vary based on the specific brands, ingredients, and portion sizes you use. This data is provided for informational purposes only.
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