Funeral Potatoes Recipe (2024)

Our family’s favorite Funeral Potatoes Recipe starts with frozen diced potatoes, gets mixed with a simple creamy, cheesy mixture, and then it’s all topped off with buttery Cornflakes. These have an odd name, but they’re a definite favorite!

Funeral Potatoes Recipe (1)

Okay, it’s true – these potatoes have a rather unfortunate name.

Funeral Potatoes? Sounds…morbid.

But, they’re the ultimate comfort food side dish and we absolutely love all the cheesy, creamy goodness.

Plus, I’m a sucker for any casserole topped with Cornflakes. It just adds the perfect buttery crunch.

This recipe is very similar to my hashbrown casserole, with just a few key changes.

Table of Contents

What are funeral potatoes?

Funeral potatoes are just a cheesy potato casserole that is popular in the Midwest and within the LDS church.

I’m not Mormon, but my understanding is that funeral potatoes are often brought to dinners and family gatherings held after a funeral.

These have definitely been served at family gatherings after a funeral in my family, but they’re also served at many holiday dinners and just regular family dinners.

They’re simple, cheesy, and always a hit with family and friends, no matter when you serve them.

Ingredient Notes:

Frozen Diced Hash Browns We use plain hash browns here, but you could also use the Potatoes O’Brien package, which has onions and peppers added.

Cream of Chicken Soup – A staple in many casseroles. Use my cream of chicken soup if you don’t like the canned stuff. It’s the perfect swap.

Sour Cream Adds creamy flavor and adds moisture that helps keep the potato casserole from drying out.

Melted Butter – Added to the both the potatoes and the topping.

Seasonings – We use garlic powder, onion powder, and salt.

Cheddar Cheese – Freshly shredded is best for the ultimate creamy cheesy melt, but pre-shredded works too.

Corn Flakes – This cereal gets mixed with some butter to make a perfectly crunchy and buttery topping for the funeral potatoes!

What We Love About This Recipe:

  • It’s pure comfort food!
  • The buttery and crunchy corn flake topping is hard to resist!
  • It’s an easy casserole recipe that you can prepare ahead of time.

How to Make Funeral Potatoes:

Combine: We love how quick and simple this cheesy casserole recipe is. Add all of the creamy, cheesy bits to a mixing bowl and give it a stir. Next, stir in the potatoes. Add this to a 9×13 pan.

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Top: Add cornflakes to a small bowl and drizzle with melted butter. Stir it around to coat and then spoon the cornflakes over the cheesy potatoes.

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Bake: This goes in a 350 degree oven, uncovered, for 55 minutes or until the cheesy hashbrown casserole is hot and bubbly.

Helpful Tip!

Recipe Swaps

  • Cheddar cheese may be swapped for any cheese you like, but cheddar is definitely the classic.
  • The diced hash browns can be swapped for shredded. We prefer the texture of diced, but both work well!
  • Use Ritz crackers, potato chips, or Panko crumbs in place of the cornflakes, if preferred.
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Thawed Vs. Frozen Potatoes

Many people prefer to thaw their frozen diced hash browns before adding them to this casserole.

Personally, I don’t notice much difference in the taste or texture of thawed vs. frozen, so we normally skip that step.

If I think about it, I’ll place the frozen potatoes in the fridge the night before cooking them, but if I don’t remember, no one knows the difference.

Make Ahead:

This funeral potatoes recipe can easily be made in advance.

Assemble the casserole, but skip the cornflake topping. Cover with foil and refrigerate for 1-2 days until you’re ready to bake.

Remove the foil, add the cornflake topping, and bake as directed.

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FAQs:

How to store funeral potatoes?

Leftover funeral potatoes will last for 3 to 4 days in the fridge if they are well covered!

Do I have to include the crunchy topping?

Nope! We love the buttery cornflake flavor it adds, but you can skip it if you don’t like the crunch or the flavor. You can also swap it for something else like Panko.

Can I make my own hashbrowns?

If you want to use homemade hashbrowns you can. But the frozen kind from the store work perfectly, and they are easy!

Leftover Hack!

Slice smoked sausage into rounds and sear in a hot skillet. Add to your leftover funeral potatoes, cover with foil, and bake until it’s all heated through for a quick lunch using the leftovers.

Make It a Meal!

Pair this with…

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Funeral Potatoes Recipe (7)

Recipe

Funeral Potatoes

Funeral Potatoes are often shared with family and friends at the gathering after a funeral, but they're perfect for any holiday dinner or family gathering. Easy, cheesy, and everyone loves them.

4.25 from 12 votes

Print Pin Save

Prep10 minutes minutes

Cook55 minutes minutes

Total1 hour hour 5 minutes minutes

Serves 10

Ingredients

For the potatoes:

  • 16 ounces sour cream
  • 10 ounces cream of chicken soup
  • 2 ½ cups shredded cheddar cheese
  • ¼ cup melted butter
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon onion powder
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 32 ounces frozen diced hash browns

For the topping:

  • 2 cups corn flakes cereal
  • ¼ cup melted butter

Instructions

To make the potatoes:

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease a 9×13 baking dish.

  • Add the sour cream, cream of chicken soup, shredded cheddar, butter, garlic powder, onion powder, and salt to a large mixing bowl and stir well to combine.

  • Stir in the potatoes to coat.

  • Spread into the prepared baking dish.

To make the topping:

  • Add the cornflakes and melted butter to a small bowl and stir to combine.

  • Sprinkle the cornflakes over the potatoes and place dish in the oven.

To bake:

  • Bake, uncovered, for 50-55 minutes or until potatoes are tender and dish is hot and bubbly.

Tips & Notes:

Make Ahead:Assemble everything but the topping and place in a tightly covered baking dish in the fridge for 1-2 days. Before baking, remove the foil and top with the cornflakes. It may take an extra 5-10 minutes to cook through if baking straight from the fridge.

Potatoes:You may thaw the frozen hash browns in the fridge overnight before adding to the casserole for a softer textured potato. We usually skip this step, but some people do prefer the texture of the potatoes after they’ve thawed.

Nutrition Information:

Calories: 404kcal (20%)| Carbohydrates: 25g (8%)| Protein: 11g (22%)| Fat: 30g (46%)| Saturated Fat: 18g (113%)| Trans Fat: 1g| Cholesterol: 80mg (27%)| Sodium: 785mg (34%)| Potassium: 382mg (11%)| Fiber: 2g (8%)| Sugar: 2g (2%)| Vitamin A: 1001IU (20%)| Vitamin C: 9mg (11%)| Calcium: 271mg (27%)| Iron: 3mg (17%)

Author: Karly Campbell

Course:Side Dish

Cuisine:American

Keyword:holiday, potato recipes

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Funeral Potatoes Recipe (2024)

FAQs

Is funeral potatoes a Mormon thing? ›

Commonly served after LDS funerals, this cheesy potato casserole is the ultimate comfort food. If you've ever encountered Mormon funeral potatoes, you can attest that the salty, crispy, cheesy casserole is one of the most oddly satisfying creations that exists in America — nay, the world.

What are funeral potatoes made of? ›

Ingredients For Funeral Potatoes

Funeral potatoes accommodate numerous substitutions, but all include potatoes as a base ingredient. Most include cheese, a cream-based soup, onions, butter, and a flaky, crunchy topping, which is usually made of potato chips or cornflakes. Some include additions of ham or other meats.

What is the real name for funeral potatoes? ›

Funeral potatoes (also great potatoes, cheesy potatoes, hash brown casserole, cheesy hash browns, those potatoes, or party potatoes) is a traditional potato hotdish or casserole that is popular in the American Intermountain West and Midwest.

Can a woman wear pants to a Mormon funeral? ›

What should I wear to a Mormon funeral? It's appropriate to dress in formal attire at a Mormon funeral. For men, this usually means a suit and tie, and for women, a conservative dress, skirt and blouse, or suit and trousers. Women should make sure to cover their knees and shoulders.

What do Mormons eat at funerals? ›

In many communities, close family members and friends gather at the church after the funeral to share a meal prepared by the women's Relief Society. Ham or turkey is served with potatoes, salad, and rolls, followed by dessert.

Who invented funeral potatoes? ›

While no one is sure where exactly funeral potatoes originated, most sources attribute their spread to the Relief Society, a women's organization within the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. One responsibility of society members was attending to the needs of the bereaved, including meals.

Are funeral potatoes the same as au gratin? ›

There's never a bad time to try your hand at whipping up this dish. You can put together this comforting cheesy potatoes recipe to serve as the perfect introduction to funeral potatoes. Essentially they're the same as a hash brown casserole or a dressed-up version of au gratin potatoes.

How did funeral potatoes get its name? ›

This particular potato casserole became associated with funerals, likely because it's a pretty easy way to feed a lot of people (and Mormons have traditionally had large families), and because having a belly full of starch and cream is nice when you're going through a tough emotional time.

What state is known for funeral potatoes? ›

What state is known for funeral potatoes? The Beehive State is known for funeral potatoes. Like green jell-o and ambrosia salad, funeral potatoes are a beloved food among Utahns. There was even a pin illustrating funeral potatoes that circulated when Salt Lake City hosted the Olympic Games in 2002.

Are scalloped potatoes and funeral potatoes the same thing? ›

Both dishes are associated with special occasions such as holidays, celebrations, and even funerals. A scalloped potato casserole topped with cheese is also known as 'funeral potatoes' in parts of North America.

What is the mother potato? ›

The MOTHER TUBER is the original seed potato planted with the intent to reproduce more potatoes.

When not to use potatoes? ›

Potatoes that have green spots or sprouts can contain toxins, so unless you can completely cut those parts out, it's best to toss them. Store potatoes in a cool, dry, dark place to prevent sprouting and premature spoilage.

What is the best mourning food? ›

You could also bring fresh rolls, cold cuts, cheeses, and potato salad. Drop off a fruit and vegetable platter along with an extra-large sub. Never underestimate the appeal of a warm pizza.

What is the origin of funeral potatoes? ›

While no one is sure where exactly funeral potatoes originated, most sources attribute their spread to the Relief Society, a women's organization within the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Why do they call it funeral potatoes? ›

Legend has it that funeral potatoes derive their name from the practice of eating the dish at funerary services. Since funeral potatoes travel well and are easy to make in batches, it's convenient to make them for crowds.

Why are funeral potatoes popular in Utah? ›

In an interview with NPR, Jacqueline Thursby described how Latter-day Saints had big families and even bigger congregations to feed. The Latter-day Saint life is filled with endless potlucks, giving food to the sick, funerals, weddings, activities and births. Funeral potatoes provided a thrifty solution, she explained.

What do Mormons do for funerals? ›

The service may include prayers and songs. Friends and family may share memories of the deceased—even if they aren't members of the faith. The service may be personalized to reflect the life and beliefs of the loved one being honored. Service leaders often share scripture and church teachings during the service.

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