Description

Funeral Potatoes is a comforting and creamy casserole featuring tender hash browns, savory onions, shredded cheddar cheese, and a crunchy cornflake topping. This classic dish, often served at family gatherings and potlucks, combines simple ingredients for a rich, cheesy, and satisfying side that’s baked to golden perfection.

Ingredients

Scale

Potato Mixture

30 ounces frozen hash browns, thawed for 30 minutes before cooking
½ large yellow onion, chopped
1 tablespoon butter
1 teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon ground black pepper
½ teaspoon garlic powder
2 cups sour cream
2½ cups shredded cheddar cheese
1 can (10.5 ounces) cream of chicken soup

Topping

3 cups crushed corn flakes

Instructions

Sauté Onions: Add 1 tablespoon of butter to a medium-sized skillet and heat over medium-high heat. Cook the chopped onions until they are soft and translucent, about 5 minutes. This step adds depth of flavor to the casserole.
Mix Ingredients: In a large mixing bowl, combine the thawed hash browns, sautéed onions, salt, black pepper, garlic powder, sour cream, shredded cheddar cheese, and cream of chicken soup. Stir everything together thoroughly to create a creamy, well-seasoned mixture.
Preheat Oven: Set your oven temperature to 375°F (190°C) to prepare for baking the casserole.
First Bake: Spread the potato mixture evenly into a 9×13 inch casserole dish. Bake uncovered for 30 minutes. Remove from the oven and stir the casserole well to ensure even cooking and heating throughout.
Continue Baking: Return the casserole to the oven and bake for an additional 20 to 30 minutes, until the edges and the center start bubbling—this indicates it is fully cooked.
Prepare Topping: While the casserole bakes, place the corn flakes into a gallon-sized Ziploc bag and crush them with a rolling pin or similar tool to create a crunchy topping.
Add Topping and Final Bake: Once the casserole is bubbly and cooked through, remove it from the oven and evenly sprinkle the crushed corn flakes on top. Return the dish to the oven and bake for another 5 minutes. Watch carefully so the topping does not burn but becomes golden and crispy.
Serve: Remove the casserole from the oven and serve immediately while hot and creamy with a crunchy topping.

Notes

Thaw hash browns for about 30 minutes to avoid excess moisture and to ensure even cooking.
You can substitute cream of chicken soup with a homemade cream sauce for a fresher taste.
For a vegetarian version, use cream of mushroom soup instead of cream of chicken soup.
If you prefer a lower-fat option, consider using reduced-fat sour cream and cheese.
Crushing the corn flakes just before topping keeps them crispy after baking.
This casserole reheats well and is perfect for make-ahead meals.

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 55 minutes
Category: Casserole
Method: Baking
Cuisine: American

Keywords: funeral potatoes, cheesy hash brown casserole, comfort food casserole, easy potato casserole, cornflake casserole, side dish