Cheesy, creamy, and hearty, these Funeral Potatoes bring comfort and flavor to any occasion!
Despite its somber name, this cheesy hash brown casserole is the ultimate comfort food dish. Since it’s incredibly rich and hearty, not to mention mouthwateringly delicious, people tend to bring it to large gatherings, particularly after funerals, to offer a sense of warmth and comfort to those in mourning. However, you can often find it on the menu at more cheerful events, too.
In fact, my family regards this casserole as a staple dish for a number of different holiday celebrations, especially Easter and Christmas. Whenever we gather for potluck-style meals, you can count on someone bringing funeral potatoes. It’s well-loved by both adults and kids—and usually the first dish to disappear—which is why I often like to make a double batch.
Speaking of double batches, I personally love how affordable this dish is to feed a crowd. It’s also easy to make, and the flavor is reliably amazing. It’s cheesy, creamy, and has a slight tang from the sour cream. Plus, the buttery cornflake topping adds a satisfying crunchy element. Perfect as a side dish for brunch, lunch, or dinner, once you make it, I’m fairly certain it’ll become one of your most requested dishes.
Are Funeral Potatoes Healthy?
Like most comfort foods, funeral potatoes are decidedly not healthy. Though the cheese and dairy are good sources of calcium, this recipe has no shortage of fat or sodium. Therefore, it should be consumed in moderation.
Still, you can make some simple changes to lighten it up. For one, try swapping the cream of chicken soup with a reduced-fat version. Additionally, using low-fat sour cream and one cup of cheese instead of two cups can cut down on the overall fat content. It’s also easy to make this dish gluten-free by opting for gluten-free versions of the cream of chicken soup and cornflakes. Furthermore, if you’d like to make this dish vegetarian-friendly, you can substitute the cream of chicken soup with cream of mushroom soup instead.
Can I Use A Different Topping?
Cornflakes are a great topping for this dish, since they add a delightfully crunchy contrast to the creamy potatoes. However, you can definitely swap it out with a number of different options. Ritz crackers offer a similar crunch and level up the buttery flavor. Simply crush up to two sleeves (about 60 crackers) and mix it with the melted butter. You could also substitute the cornflakes with one cup of panko breadcrumbs or plain crushed potato chips. Another flavorful option? Top the casserole with one cup of crispy fried onions.
How Do I Store Leftovers?
Given how tasty this dish is, leftovers are likely to be rare. But if you do happen to have any leftover casserole, let it cool completely and store it in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. You can also freeze it up for up to 3 months. Place it in the fridge to thaw overnight before reheating.
Serving Suggestions
For larger potlucks, I’d recommend serving the funeral potatoes alongside other classic casseroles, like this Chicken And Broccoli Rice Casserole and Crock-Pot Green Bean Casserole. If you’re serving this for a regular brunch, lunch, or dinner, the potatoes would pair well with a wide variety of proteins, including Brown Sugar Pork Chops, Shake-And-Bake Chicken, and Slow-Cooker Beef Brisket. Since it’s so rich, I usually like to serve a refreshing salad alongside it as well, like this Italian Salad.
Ingredients
- 2 pounds frozen, diced hash browns thawed
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter melted
- 1 can condensed cream of chicken soup 10.75 ounces
- 2 cups sour cream
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
- 2 cups corn flakes lightly crushed
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter melted for topping
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350°F and grease a 9×13-inch baking dish.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the thawed hash browns, 1/2 cup melted butter, cream of chicken soup, sour cream, salt, pepper, and cheddar cheese. Stir until well mixed.
- Transfer the potato mixture to the prepared baking dish, spreading it out evenly.
- In a small bowl, mix the crushed corn flakes with 2 tablespoons of melted butter, then sprinkle the mixture over the top of the potatoes.
- Bake in the preheated oven for 45-50 minutes, or until the casserole is heated through and the topping is golden brown.
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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