Cheesy Hashbrown Casserole with Corn Flakes Topping

You have to try this Cheesy Hashbrown Casserole with Cornflakes Topping! AKA Funeral Potatoes, this recipe is a classic crowd-pleaser that’s quick to whip up and seriously delicious. With cheesy, creamy goodness, this simple casserole is the ultimate comfort food.

If you love easy holiday side dishes try my Cracker Barrel cheesy hash brown casserole, chicken and hash brown casserole, green bean casserole with sour cream and corn casserole!

this recipe!

What are cheesy funeral potatoes?

Say hello to one of our favorite dishes EVER.

You’ve likely already heard about ‘funeral potatoes’ or ‘cheesy hashbrown potatoes’. If you haven’t…..you’re in for a treat.

Delicious ‘funeral potatoes’ are often served at after-funeral luncheons and church potlucks because they are the ultimate comfort food and so pleasing to most people.

Made with thawed, frozen hash browns in a creamy sauce that is made up of cream of chicken soup, sour cream and shredded cheddar cheese.

They’re topped with buttery cornflakes cereal – you won’t believe how much flavor they add to the dish!

Typically made in a 9×13-inch casserole dish, they can also be made into individual servings for meal prep and this easy side dish casserole recipe reheats well from frozen or leftovers.

These cheesy potatoes make a delicious side dish for breakfast, lunch or dinner. If you love Cracker Barrels’ cheesy potatoes, then these will quickly become a family favorite for holiday dinner, special occasions and busy weeknights too.

Why we love this recipe

• ultimate comfort food – this easy hash brown casserole is everything that you want a warm, cozy casserole to be. Cheesy – did I say cheesy? So delicious!!
• crowd favorite – the entire family loves this recipe. It makes a nice big batch and if you’re lucky, you’ll have leftoevers and they reheat well!
• delicious with breakfast, lunch or dinner!

If you love cozy casseroles, try these next!

Sweet Potato Casserole

Scalloped Potatoes with White Potatoes & Sweet Potatoes

Green Bean Casserole

Ruth’s Chris Sweet Potato Casserole

Ingredients & Substitutions

This simple casserole is made with basic ingredients that you can always find in the grocery store.

• Butter – you can use salted or unsalted butter.
• Onions – regular yellow cooking onions, or sweet Vidalia onions are perfect for this recipe.
• Fresh garlic (optional)
• Frozen hash browns potatoes, thawed
• Condensed cream of chicken soup (we like to use Campbell’s)
• Sour cream – we used full-fat sour cream or you can also use a lightened-up version.
• Salt & black pepper
• Cheddar cheese, sharp or medium – we love the flavor of sharp cheddar cheese, or you can use any of the best cheese for melting.
• Cornflake cereal
• Chopped green onions or chives (optional but tasty garnish)

Substitutes & Variations

If you prefer to leave out the onion, you could add in 1 teaspoon of onion powder. We love the flavor that the sautéd onions gives to this dish.

For a change, add 1 red, yellow, green or orange bell pepper, diced with the onion in the frying pan.

Chage up the toppings – If you don’t care for Cornflakes, you could substitute buttery Ritz crackers instead. Equally delicious is crushed potato chips! (leave out the butter)

Make it vegetarian by substituting the cream of chicken soup with cream of mushroom soup or cream or celery soup.

How long does it take to thaw a bag of hashbrowns?

It takes approximately 30 minutes to thaw a bag of hashbrowns. Place the in the sink in a colander and let them thaw. Alternatively, spread them out on a cookie sheet and they will thaw a bit faster.

How to make cheesy hash brown casserole

You can see the full recipe card with an ingredients list and instructions at the bottom of this page. Below, you will find step-by-step photos to help you along the way with some helpful tips.

Note: Hashbrowns must be completely thawed before you begin the recipe. This will take about 30 minutes.

Preheat oven to 350°F. Lightly grease a 9×13-inch baking dish and set aside.

In a large skillet, melt 2 Tablespoons of butter and sauté onions for a few minutes, until softed. (add in the garlic too if using)

In a large mixing bowl, combine the hashbrowns,cooked onions, , cream of chicken soup, sour cream, salt, pepper and 1 and 3/4 cups of the shredded cheese.

Next, spread the potato mixture into the prepared baking dish, then top with remaining cheddar cheese.

Melt butter, either on the stovetop or in the microwave in a microwave-safe dish for about 25 seconds .

Combine the melted butter with crushed cornflakes and sprinkle evenly on top of the casserole. 

Bake in 350 degrees F oven for 55 to 60 minutes or until cooked throughout and bubbly.  You will see bubbling at the edges. 

Top Tips for making this recipe

Thaw the hashbrowns 30 minutes before starting the recipe.

If making ahead, plan to cook them right before serving.

Storage, Freezing and Make Ahead Instructions

The best part of a side dish is leftover casserole right?

Store these cheesy potatoes by covering with plastic wrap, or place leftovers in an airtight container for up to 4 days.

To reheat, microwave in 30 second intervals. You can also reheat in a 350°F oven for 10-15 minutes in an oven-safe dish, covered with foil.

For helpful tips about how to reheat a casserole, see our helpful article!

Make Ahead

You can make this casserole in advance and put it in the fridge for up to 24 hours. Prepare the casserole as directed with the cheese topping and leave out the crushed corn flake topping.

What to serve with cheesy hashbrown casserole

There are so many ways to enjoy hashbrown casserole!

Breakfast – with ham and eggs and million dollar bacon or your favorite breakfast casserole recipe and your favorite quiche recipe.

Lunch – enjoy cheesy potatoes on the side with a sandwich, burger or submarine.

Dinner – funeral potatoes pair well with steak, burgers, pork and salmon. I can’t think of anything that doesn’t taste delicious with cheesy potatoes!

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