Easy Funeral Potatoes

Funeral Potatoes are the ultimate comfort food: cheesy, creamy, and topped with just the right amount of crunch. Whether you’re making them for a potluck or just a cozy night in, this cheesy delight is always a crowd-pleaser. Plus, it’s super easy to make!

A serving spoon lifting a portion of comforting funeral potatoes—with a breadcrumb topping from a white dish.
Funeral Potatoes. Photo Credit: Pocket Friendly Recipes

Why you will love making Funeral Potatoes

If you’re in the mood for something deliciously comforting, funeral potatoes are just the ticket. Here’s why they’ll become your go-to for a hearty side dish:

  • Easy to Prep: Just mix the ingredients, spread in a dish, add the topping, and bake!
  • Versatile: Perfect alongside ham, roast chicken, or even at a holiday spread.
  • Always a Hit: These cheesy potatoes never fail to impress at family gatherings like Christmas, Thanksgiving, or Easter.
  • Customizable: Add or swap ingredients to suit your taste or what you have on hand.
  • Great for Leftovers: Even better the next day after the flavors meld in the fridge.

Ingredients You’ll Need

You’ll need all the ingredients in the photograph below.

Ingredients for a recipe, including cubed potatoes, shredded cheddar cheese, chicken soup, panko breadcrumbs, butter, sour cream, paprika, oregano, and salt—everything you need to make classic funeral potatoes—arranged in bowls.
Funeral Potatoes Ingredients. Photo Credit: Pocket Friendly Recipes

How to make Funeral Potatoes with Step-By-Step Instructions

A complete printable recipe and the measurements in both US customary and metric are available in the recipe card below.

Making funeral potatoes is as easy as pie, or maybe even easier! Here’s how to get that perfect cheesy goodness every time.

Prep Your Oven and Dish

Start by heating your oven to 180ºC (350°F). Grab a casserole dish or tray and grease it up well to prevent sticking.

SERIOUSLY GOOD

CASSEROLES

37 EASY RECIPES designed for days when you want one dish to do all the work for you. Expect rich, mouthwatering layers that are just begging to be on your dinner table.

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∙  French Toast Casserole

∙  Crack Chicken Casserole

∙  Four Cheese Ravioli Casserole

∙  Ratatouille Casserole

∙  Sweet Potato Casserole

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Mix It Up

In a large bowl, combine the chicken soup, sour cream, melted butter, salt, and pepper.

Lay the thawed potatoes in your prepared dish and pour the creamy mixture over them. Make sure the potatoes are evenly coated.

A white oval dish filled with cheesy, creamy funeral potatoes on a light textured surface.
Add potatoes and creamy mixture to the dish, top with shredded cheese, and stir lightly.

Add Cheese and Toppings

Sprinkle the shredded cheddar cheese over the potatoes and give it a slight stir to mix. In a separate small bowl, mix the panko breadcrumbs with paprika, oregano, and a bit more salt and pepper.

Bake

Cover the top of the casserole with your panko mixture and drizzle a little extra melted butter over it. Pop the baking dish in the oven and bake for 12-15 minutes, or until the top is golden and crispy.

Serve and Enjoy

Take your funeral potatoes out of the oven, let them sit for a couple of minutes, and then serve hot. Get ready for everyone to ask for seconds!

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A serving spoon lifting a portion of comforting funeral potatoes—with a breadcrumb topping from a white dish.

Easy Funeral Potatoes

Funeral Potatoes are the ultimate comfort food: cheesy, creamy, and topped with just the right amount of crunch. Whether you're making them for a potluck or just a cozy night in, this cheesy delight is always a crowd-pleaser. Plus, it’s super easy to make!
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 12 minutes
Total Time: 22 minutes
Course: Side Dish
Cuisine: American
Keyword: funeral potatoes
Servings: 4
Calories: 705kcal

Ingredients

  • 3 cups frozen diced potatoes thawed
  • 1 ½ cups chicken soup
  • 1 ½ cups sour cream
  • 4 tablespoons butter melted
  • Salt and pepper
  • 1 cup cheddar cheese shredded
  • 1 cup panko breadcrumbs
  • 1 teaspoon paprika
  • 1 teaspoon oregano
  • 2 tablespoons melted butter

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 180ºC (350°F).
  • Mix the chicken soup, sour cream, melted butter, salt, and pepper in a big bowl.
    1 ½ cups chicken soup, 1 ½ cups sour cream, 4 tablespoons butter, Salt and pepper
  • Grease an oven casserole/tray and add the potatoes. Cover with the chicken soup mixture.
    3 cups frozen diced potatoes
  • Top with the shredded cheddar cheese and mix it with a spoon.
    1 cup cheddar cheese
  • In a small bowl, combine the panko, paprika, and oregano. Season it with salt and pepper.
    1 cup panko breadcrumbs, 1 teaspoon paprika, 1 teaspoon oregano
  • Cover the casserole with the panko mix and add a bit of melted butter.
    2 tablespoons melted butter
  • Bake for 12-15 minutes, or until golden brown.
  • Serve hot and enjoy!

Notes

  • Cheese: While cheddar is classic, feel free to mix it up with different types of cheese like mozzarella for stretchiness or a smoked gouda for a deeper flavor.
  • Add-Ins: Try throwing in some diced onions, green chiles, or bacon bits for an extra flavor kick.
  • Extra Crunch: For an even crunchier top, try mixing crushed potato chips or cornflakes with the panko breadcrumbs.
  • Creamier: If you want your funeral potatoes extra creamy, increase the amount of sour cream or add a dollop of cream cheese.
  • Spice It Up: Add diced jalapeños, a dash of cayenne pepper, or a splash of hot sauce to the potato mixture before baking for a kick of heat.
  • Make Ahead: You can assemble the casserole a day in advance and keep it refrigerated until you’re ready to bake.
  • Broil: For an extra-golden top, pop the casserole under the broiler for a couple of minutes at the end of baking. Keep an eye on it to make sure it doesn’t burn!
  • Gluten-Free: To make gluten-free funeral potatoes, simply use a gluten-free chicken soup and breadcrumbs, or opt for a crushed gluten-free cereal like corn flakes for the topping.

Storage and Reheating Instructions

  • Cool and Airtight: Before storing, let your casserole cool to room temperature, and then transfer the leftovers to an airtight container. 
  • Refrigerate: Store your container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
  • Reheat: To reheat, pop them in the microwave or oven. If using the oven, cover with foil and heat at 350°F until warmed through—this helps prevent the top from burning while everything heats up evenly. To make the top crispy again, bake uncovered for an extra 5 minutes. You can also throw some fresh panko on top before baking.
  • Freeze: You can freeze them either baked or unbaked. Just be sure to wrap the dish well in aluminum foil and it should last for up to two months in the freezer.

Nutrition

Calories: 705kcal | Carbohydrates: 50g | Protein: 16g | Fat: 50g | Saturated Fat: 27g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 13g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 132mg | Sodium: 1130mg | Potassium: 891mg | Fiber: 5g | Sugar: 6g | Vitamin A: 1775IU | Vitamin C: 32mg | Calcium: 361mg | Iron: 3mg
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

SERIOUSLY GOOD

CASSEROLES

37 EASY RECIPES designed for days when you want one dish to do all the work for you. Expect rich, mouthwatering layers that are just begging to be on your dinner table.

Immediate eBook download. No physical book available.

Stylized yellow chef hat above a pocket with a fork symbol on the right side, outlined in black and white.
Two digital tablets display a cookbook cover titled

∙  French Toast Casserole

∙  Crack Chicken Casserole

∙  Four Cheese Ravioli Casserole

∙  Ratatouille Casserole

∙  Sweet Potato Casserole

...and much more!

Includes ad-free recipes like:

Recipe Notes and Expert Tips

Here are some insider tips to make your funeral potatoes even more fabulous:

  • Cheese: While cheddar is classic, feel free to mix it up with different types of cheese like mozzarella for stretchiness or a smoked gouda for a deeper flavor.
  • Add-Ins: Try throwing in some diced onions, green chiles, or bacon bits for an extra flavor kick.
  • Extra Crunch: For an even crunchier top, try mixing crushed potato chips or cornflakes with the panko breadcrumbs.
  • Creamier: If you want your funeral potatoes extra creamy, increase the amount of sour cream or add a dollop of cream cheese.
  • Spice It Up: Add diced jalapeños, a dash of cayenne pepper, or a splash of hot sauce to the potato mixture before baking for a kick of heat.
  • Make Ahead: You can assemble the casserole a day in advance and keep it refrigerated until you’re ready to bake.
  • Broil: For an extra-golden top, pop the casserole under the broiler for a couple of minutes at the end of baking. Keep an eye on it to make sure it doesn’t burn!
  • Gluten-Free: To make gluten-free funeral potatoes, simply use a gluten-free chicken soup and breadcrumbs, or opt for a crushed gluten-free cereal like corn flakes for the topping.

How to Store Leftover Funeral Potatoes

Leftover funeral potatoes? No problem! Here’s how to keep them tasting great for later:

  • Cool and Airtight: Before storing, let your casserole cool to room temperature, and then transfer the leftovers to an airtight container. 
  • Refrigerate: Store your container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
  • Reheat: To reheat, pop them in the microwave or oven. If using the oven, cover with foil and heat at 350°F until warmed through—this helps prevent the top from burning while everything heats up evenly. To make the top crispy again, bake uncovered for an extra 5 minutes. You can also throw some fresh panko on top before baking.
  • Freeze: You can freeze them either baked or unbaked. Just be sure to wrap the dish well in aluminum foil and it should last for up to two months in the freezer.

Our Top 3 Money-Saving Tips for This Recipe

Saving a bit while cooking up this cheesy potato casserole is pretty simple! Here are three savvy tips to keep your wallet happy:

  1. DIY Bread Crumbs: Make your own panko by toasting and crushing leftover bread.
  2. Substitute Soups: Use cream of mushroom soup or cream of celery soup instead of cream of chicken soup if they’re cheaper.
  3. Plan Leftovers: Make a larger batch to cover multiple meals, saving on time and energy costs.

What to Serve with Funeral Potatoes

To add these cheesy potatoes to a diner spread, here are some great ideas to complete your meal:

Perfect Proteins

Funeral potatoes are rich and creamy, so they go beautifully with lighter proteins. Try grilled chicken breasts, baked salmon, or even slices of roasted turkey. These proteins are simple to prepare and their mild flavors complement the bold cheesy goodness of the potatoes.

BBQ Favorites

If you’re bringing funeral potatoes to a barbecue, they’ll pair well with classic BBQ dishes like pulled pork, smoky ribs, or brisket. These rich, flavorful meats balance the creamy texture of the potatoes, making for a hearty, satisfying plate everyone will love.

Potluck Ideas

For potlucks, where variety is the spice of life, pair your funeral potatoes with a mix of other popular dishes. Coleslaw, baked beans, and pasta salad are all crowd-pleasers that balance out the flavors and textures on your plate.

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