Mom’s Famous Cheesy Potato Casserole is an absolute staple when it comes to Holiday cooking. This Cheesy Potato Casserole, or sometimes known as Funeral Potatoes, are made from just 4 simple ingredients and seasonings. This is the perfect side dish for any meal.
This recipe for Funeral Potatoes is Lip Smacking Good!
Cheesy Potato Casserole, otherwise known as Funeral Potatoes around my neck of the woods, is just some good old fashioned comfort food. This is my own mom’s recipe, and let me tell you, it couldn’t be easier or more delicious.
I tend to write about my mom’s recipes a lot, for good reason though, everything she makes is absolute perfection. She cooks like I do.. or rather I cook like she does? She totally cooks by feel, color and taste. She is not a recipe follower, I haven’t ever been either. Now I’m a recipe creator. 😉
I made my funeral potatoes a few times and they just weren’t as good as my mom’s, so finally I texted her to see what I was doing wrong (we can all relate to that, right?) and her reply totally cracked me up. She said she ‘put one can of this in, a regular container of that and enough cheese to make it yellow’. Guess, what, I did that (and wrote down exact measurements for you 😉) and these potatoes are lip smacking good!
If you haven’t tried any of her other recipes I have posted yet, you need to! Her dinner rolls and potato salad would be a perfect addition for Easter Dinner.
What are funeral potatoes?
Mom’s Famous Cheesy Potato Casserole is an absolute staple when it comes to Holiday cooking. This Cheesy Potato Casserole, or sometimes known as Funeral Potatoes, are made from just 4 simple ingredients and seasonings. This is the perfect side dish for any meal.
Cheesy Hashbrown Casserole Recipe Ingredients
- 1 (10.5 oz can) cream of mushroom soup can substitute cream of chicken
- 1 cup sour cream
- 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp pepper
- 1 (26 oz bag) shredded hashbrowns thawed
- 2 cups cornflakes optional
Cheesy Hashbrown Potato Casserole Recipe Substitutions and Variations
Cheesy potatoes are very forgiving and you can substitute quite a few of the ingredients!
- Cream of Mushroom soup– you can substitute cream of chicken if you’d like!
- Sour Cream– plain greek yogurt is a great substitution
- Cheddar Cheese– use your favorite cheese or whatever cheese your have on hand.
- Hashbrowns– I always use frozen hash browns but you can shred or cube leftover baked potatoes if you have some on hand!
Substitute for cream of chicken soup in Cheesy Potatoes
If you are hoping to not use canned soup for this recipe, try this recipe for homemade cream of chicken soup! How to Make Cream of Chicken Soup
How to make Funeral Potatoes
Making Cheesy Potato Casserole is really easy. First you’ll need your favorite Cream of something soup. I like to use Cream of Mushroom rather than Cream of Chicken. That is actually what I did wrong the first couple of times I was testing the recipe out. When using Cream of Mushroom, the casserole tastes much cheesier than when Cream of Chicken is used.
Cream of Mushroom soup, 1 cup of sour cream, two cups of shredded cheese, salt and pepper are combined in a large bowl.
Once that has been mixed together, add in 1 (26 oz) package of thawed hash browns. Stir until combined. Transfer the mixture to your baking dish. This can be made into a thicker casserole by putting it into an 8×8 pan or it can be a thinner casserole if put into a 9×13 pan. The cook time will differ between the two pans. I will give instructions below for the 8×8 pan. If planning on making a thinner casserole, you won’t have to cook for as long.
My mom has always baked it as is, but a lot of people like to add cornflakes to the top for a little crunch. One time, I have even had potato chips on top of the casserole, and that, I think was my favorite.
Bake at 350° for 45 min to one hour. The top will be browned and the internal temperature should read 165°.
Let the casserole cool for about 5 minutes before serving.
How long to cook Cheesy Potatoes
You’ll want to cook your potatoes until the sauce is bubbling and everything is hot throughout. If using a 9×9 pan, bake for 45-60 minutes. If using a 9×13 pan, bake for 30-45 minutes.
Do you cover cheesy potatoes when baking?
I like to cover my cheesy potatoes with foil for the first half of baking and then remove the cover for the second half so the tops get nice and brown and crispy without them burning.
How to serve this Cheesy Hashbrown Casserole Recipe
I generally serve this as a side to ham on Easter or Christmas but it is a great side to grilled chicken or bbq chicken. Cheesy potatoes are also a great potluck item because it is very cost effective and a dish that is easy to transport.
Hashbrown Potato Casserole Storage
Cheesy hashbrown casserole can be stored in the refrigerator or freezer to enjoy later. Make sure to allow the casserole to cool completely and then cover before storing. If storing in the fridge, store for up to 3 days.
If storing in the freezer, make sure you transfer the casserole to an air tight container and then freeze for up to 2 months.
What is the best way to reheat Cheesy Potato Casserole?
If only reheating one portion, I would suggest doing so in the microwave for 30 second intervals until warmed through. If wanting to reheat a large amount, I would suggest reheating them in the oven. 350° for about 30 minutes should do it.
Cheesy Funeral Potatoes Recipe FAQs
Yes!! Just mix it all together ahead of time, transfer to the baking dish and then refrigerate for up to 24 hours before baking. That way, easter morning when you are making everything else under the moon, all you’ll need to do it preheat the oven and pop it in.
Yes, I suggest thawing your hash browns prior to making the casserole because frozen hash browns can lead to soggy casserole that isn’t as flavorful.
This is because there is extra liquid in the casserole, likely from frozen hash browns. Make sure that you use thawed hash browns and gently soak the extra water off with a paper towel.
Funeral potatoes, also known as cheesy potato casserole or cheesy hashbrown casserole, are a popular dish in many regions of the United States. However, they are especially popular in the Western United States, particularly in the intermountain region, which includes states such as Utah, Idaho, and Montana.
In Utah, funeral potatoes are a staple dish at church potlucks, family gatherings, and funeral receptions. They are known for their creamy, comforting texture and delicious flavor, and are often served as a side dish with meat and vegetables.
Funny enough, when the Olympics were held in Utah in 2002, there was a funeral potato pin! They became popular in the state in the later half of the 1900’s but have become more known nationwide since social media, particularly Pinterest has become popular.
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Cheesy Hashbrown Potato Casserole
Ingredients
- 1 (10.5 oz can) cream of mushroom soup can substitute cream of chicken
- 1 cup sour cream
- 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp pepper
- 1 (26 oz bag) shredded hashbrowns thawed
- 2 cups cornflakes optional
Instructions
- Pull the hash browns out of the freezer, and spread them on a cookie sheet and set aside on the counter.
- Preheat the oven to 350°.
- In a large bowl, combine the cream of mushroom soup, sour cream, shredded cheese, salt and pepper. Stirring until completely incorporated.
- Add the thawed hash browns and stir to cover all of the hash browns equally.
- Pour the mixture into a 8×8 or 9×13 pan. Top with cornflakes, if desired. Cover with foil.
- Bake at 350° for 45-60 min (8×8 pan) or 30-45 min (9×13 pan). Bake with the foil on for the first half of the baking time, remove the foil for the second half.
- Serve immediately.
Priscilla Wallace says
Your recipe looks similar to mine, but we add diced onion.
Have you tried to make this in the Instant Pot, ex the 6 qt with the 3 qt inner pot? To save time if someone hadn’t thawed the hasbrowns and didn’t have the full hour to bake.
I know it wouldn’t have the golden cheesy corn flake top unless transferred to a baking dish and put under the broiler in the oven, for a few minutes