The short answer: funeral potatoes are a cheesy hash brown casserole with sour cream, cheese and a crunchy cornflake topping, baked in a 9x13 pan until bubbling. They are a year-round potluck side that also shows up on holiday tables.
- Key numbers: 32 oz frozen hash browns · 9x13 pan · 350°F · 45 to 55 minutes · 10 to 12 side servings
- Top moves: thaw and dry the potatoes, mix cold, add topping just before baking, rest 10 minutes before scooping
- Free and paid next step: get the free recipe book starter pages (we email it to you), or plan the potluck with the Meal Planner & Grocery List ($3.99).
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Prep time: 15 minCook time: 55 minTotal time: 1 hr 20 minServings: 10 to 12 servingsTotal includes 10 min of resting, chilling or rising.
Ingredient amounts and leftover guidance on this funeral potatoes recipe were checked November 5, 2026. Below: ingredients, steps, topping options, make-ahead and storage.
Funeral potatoes ingredients
| Ingredient | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Frozen shredded or diced hash browns | 32 oz (about 2 lb), thawed | Pat dry |
| Sour cream | 2 cups | Full-fat holds better |
| Condensed cream of chicken soup | 2 cans (10.5 oz each) | Or homemade white sauce below |
| Sharp cheddar, shredded | 2 cups | Plus ½ cup for the top if you like |
| Butter, melted | ½ cup (1 stick), divided | Half in the mix, half for the topping |
| Onion, finely chopped | ½ cup | Or 1 teaspoon onion powder |
| Kosher salt and black pepper | 1 teaspoon salt, ½ teaspoon pepper | Taste and adjust |
| Cornflakes, crushed | 2 cups | Or crushed crackers / panko |
Grease a 9x13-inch baking dish. Makes 10 to 12 side servings.
How to make funeral potatoes
- Heat the oven. Set it to 350°F. Grease the pan.
- Dry the potatoes. Thawed hash browns should feel damp, not icy. Squeeze or pat with towels.
- Mix the filling. In a large bowl combine hash browns, sour cream, soup, 1½ cups cheese, ¼ cup melted butter, onion, salt and pepper.
- Spread. Pack into the pan in an even layer. Sprinkle remaining cheese if using.
- Top. Toss crushed cornflakes with the remaining ¼ cup melted butter. Scatter over the top.
- Bake. 45 to 55 minutes, until the center is hot and the edges bubble. The middle should reach a steaming 165°F if you check with a thermometer, matching FoodSafety.gov reheating guidance for leftovers.
- Rest. Wait 10 minutes so scoops hold together.
Homemade sauce (no canned soup)
Melt 4 tablespoons butter in a saucepan. Whisk in 4 tablespoons flour for 1 minute. Slowly whisk in 2 cups milk. Simmer until thick, then season with 1 teaspoon salt, ½ teaspoon pepper and ½ teaspoon garlic powder. Use this in place of the two cans of soup.
Topping and mix-in ideas
| Swap | How to use it |
|---|---|
| Ritz-style crackers | 2 cups crushed + ¼ cup butter |
| Panko | 1½ cups + ¼ cup butter + pinch of paprika |
| Potato chips | 2 cups crushed, skip extra salt in the filling |
| Cornflakes + Parmesan | Classic crumbs plus ¼ cup grated Parmesan |
| Diced ham | 1 to 1½ cups folded into the filling |
| Green chiles | One 4 oz can, drained, for a mild kick |
For more casserole formats, see casserole recipes and chicken and rice casserole. Potato sides that are roasted instead of baked creamy live on roasted potatoes. More potato bakes and sides sit in our potato recipes hub.
Make-ahead, leftovers and freezing
- Fridge assemble: mix and pan up to 24 hours ahead; add topping right before baking.
- Leftovers: cool within 2 hours; keep 3 to 4 days refrigerated per USDA FSIS leftovers guidance and the FoodSafety.gov cold storage charts.
- Reheat: cover and warm at 325°F until the center is hot, or microwave single portions until steaming.
- Freeze: wrap the unbaked pan (no topping) up to 2 months; thaw overnight before topping and baking.
Funeral potatoes are potluck food year-round. They fit holiday spreads when you need a make-ahead potato side, but you do not need a holiday to bake them. If you want a potato-based casserole for the same table, compare this hashbrown casserole before choosing your side.
Plan the potluck and save the recipe
- Meal Planner & Grocery List, $3.99. Weekly menu grid and aisle-sorted shopping list.
- Family Recipe Binder, $6.99. Fillable casserole pages and cards.
- Family Life Admin Bundle, $15.99 (
$23.95bought separately). Includes both printables above plus three more household organizers.
Browse every planner in our printables shop.
Frequently asked questions
What are funeral potatoes? Funeral potatoes are a cheesy hash brown casserole made with frozen shredded or diced potatoes, sour cream, cream of chicken soup or a homemade white sauce, shredded cheese and a crunchy topping of cornflakes or crushed crackers. The name comes from potluck comfort food often brought to gatherings after a funeral, but the dish shows up at holidays, church dinners and weeknights too.
How do you make funeral potatoes? Thaw frozen hash browns, mix them with sour cream, condensed soup or a quick homemade sauce, onion, melted butter and cheese, spread in a greased 9x13 pan, top with buttered cornflakes or crackers, and bake at 350°F until bubbling and golden, about 45 to 55 minutes.
Do you thaw hash browns for funeral potatoes? Yes, thaw the hash browns for funeral potatoes before mixing. Thaw them in the fridge overnight or microwave in short bursts, then pat dry. Excess ice water makes the casserole watery. Diced and shredded styles both work; shredded melts into a creamier bake.
Can you make funeral potatoes ahead of time? Yes, you can make funeral potatoes ahead of time. Assemble the casserole without the crunchy topping, cover and refrigerate up to 24 hours. Add the topping just before baking. You can also bake it fully, cool and reheat covered at 325°F until hot in the center. Leftovers keep 3 to 4 days in the fridge per USDA leftovers guidance.
Can you freeze funeral potatoes? Yes, you can freeze funeral potatoes. Freeze the unbaked casserole without the topping for up to 2 months. Thaw in the fridge overnight, add the topping and bake, adding 10 to 15 minutes if it is still cold in the center. Freezing after baking works, but the topping softens.
What is the crunchy topping on funeral potatoes? The classic topping is crushed cornflakes tossed with melted butter. Crushed Ritz-style crackers, panko or potato chips also work. Use about 2 cups of crumbs and 3 to 4 tablespoons of butter.
How many people does a 9x13 pan of funeral potatoes serve? A standard 9x13 pan serves about 10 to 12 as a side dish, or 6 to 8 as a main with a salad. For a big potluck, double the recipe in two pans.
Can funeral potatoes be made without canned soup? Yes, funeral potatoes can be made without canned soup. Melt 4 tablespoons of butter, whisk in 4 tablespoons of flour for 1 minute, then whisk in 2 cups of milk and simmer until thick. Season with salt, pepper and garlic powder, then use it in place of two cans of condensed soup.
Are funeral potatoes only for holidays? No, funeral potatoes are not only for holidays. They are a year-round potluck and casserole staple. They often appear on holiday tables, but this page treats them as an anytime cheesy potato side, not a Thanksgiving-only dish.
How do I plan potluck sides like funeral potatoes? The Meal Planner & Grocery List ($3.99) from HomeBase Paper Co. puts the casserole on the weekly menu with an aisle-sorted list for hash browns, sour cream and cheese.
Where can I save my funeral potatoes recipe? The Family Recipe Binder ($6.99) from HomeBase Paper Co. has fillable recipe pages for casserole ratios and topping notes so the potluck version your family likes is written down.
Sources
- USDA FSIS: Leftovers and food safety fsis.usda.gov
- FoodSafety.gov: Cold food storage charts foodsafety.gov
- FoodSafety.gov: Safe minimum internal temperatures foodsafety.gov