Best Funeral Potatoes Recipe – How To Make Cheesy Funeral Potatoes

Practically every holiday there’s an argument in the Ramsey household: How many pans of cheesy potatoes should we make? Obviously enough for the holiday meal in question, but how much EXTRA are we going to want? The inevitable answer: As much as possible, so we end up making enough to feed a party of 50 (when we usually have a group of maybe 15). So, imagine my surprise when I learned that a dish I’d been fighting over and eating my entire life actually had a name that was not simply cheesy potatoes. Don’t be fooled by the name—the only thing deathly about this casserole is how absolutely delicious it is. Read on for everything you need to know about making this staple family recipe:

What are funeral potatoes?
Funeral potatoes are a traditional Mormon dish, and a staple of the state of Utah. How they made their way into my Kansas City-bred family’s repertoire, I have no idea, but it’s probably because they are equal parts insanely easy and ridiculously cheesy and delicious. 

The prep is laughably easy—all you need are frozen hash browns (we used the shredded kind, but cubed works great too), cream of chicken soup (like any casserole worth celebrating), sour cream, plenty of cheese, onion, and salt and pepper. If you’re against canned soup, you could also make a quick and creamy sauce with butter, flour, milk, and chicken stock. The piece de resistance is a crunchy topping of Corn Flakes that pairs perfectly with the creamy, salty, cheese overload that lies within. 

Why are they called funeral potatoes?
We know: the name does sound like a bummer. The story goes that these bubbling beauties were named so after becoming a traditional comfort food for post-funeral gatherings. While I can’t say its a bad idea—they are basically comfort in a pan—but I prefer (and suggest we all) eat them on happier occasions, especially Thanksgiving, Christmas, or any time comfort food is an absolute necessity. 

Storage and make ahead:
If you have any leftovers, store them in an airtight container in the fridge (or in the casserole dish covered in plastic wrap) for 4-5 days. If you’d like to make this casserole ahead of time, assemble up until the Cornflake topping, then cover and refrigerate. When ready to bake, top with the buttery Cornflakes and bake (keep in mind that it might take up to 20 minutes longer to bake—keep an eye on it). 

Made these potatoes? Let us know how it went in the comments below!