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Cheesy Potato Casserole

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By Dinners, Dishes & Desserts
Updated Mar 7, 2024
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Cheesy potatoes are comfort food at its best and across the country, go by many names. Whether you call them funeral potatoes or cheesy hashbrowns, one thing is clear: everyone goes back for seconds when this dish shows up at the party. It’s the perfect combination of decadent ingredients that make you want to just dive right in with the biggest fork you can find.
This scrumptious side dish comes together with just 7 ingredients and in just 10 minutes, you are popping it in the oven. This top-rated, easy-to-prepare potato casserole is one of those classic holiday recipes that legends are made of. Once you serve this superstar side dish, your family will beg that it become part of every holiday tradition. But since it’s so easy to make, why keep it just for the holidays? Serve it with your go-to baked chicken or skillet pork chops recipe, next to brats, burgers, or hot dogs. No judgement here if you make it every night of the week! The cheesy goodness shows no favorites—it loves anything you serve it with!

How Do You Make Cheesy Potatoes?

Our cheesy potatoes recipe is simple! Just 5 ingredients make the ultra-indulgent “sauce”. Sour cream, a can of condensed cream of chicken soup and melted butter are mixed in a jiffy. As if that was not enough amazing flavor, garlic salt and chopped onions play their part in the sweet symphony of taste. Everything is then tossed with partially thawed frozen hash browns and shredded cheddar cheese all in one bowl, for easy prep and clean up. This luscious mixture gets spooned into casserole dish and baked for gooey, comforting easy cheesy potatoes that are popular with every age and every occasion. They can go from breakfast to a potluck as easily as they go from weeknight dinners to a holiday spread.
It may make you feel a little guilty knowing that this irresistible dish was as easy as dump and mix—but shake those feelings off…your family’s mouths will water each time they smell this heavenly concoction bubbling away in the oven.

You can change up the flavor with any of our variations in the FAQ below, for a fresh change of pace while keeping it in your dinner rotation.

For holidays, when oven space it at a premium, during the summer when you want to keep your oven cool, or when you just want to come home to the aroma of these amazing potatoes cooking away, our Slow Cooker Cheesy Potato recipe is just the ticket.

What Do You Serve with Cheesy Potatoes?

While traditionally, you may picture this cheesy potato casserole next to a delicious honey-baked ham recipe on your holiday table, the truth of the matter is, these cheesy hash browns turn any meal into a special one. Try them with flavorful Parmesan-Crusted Pork Chops or our favorite meatloaf recipe for an easy-but-outstanding weeknight dinner. You can even make one of these meals for a special occasion, like an anniversary dinner or birthday celebration, because these potatoes elevate the meal without any extra work!
The creamy goodness of these cheesy hash brown potatoes goes well with practically any chicken, beef, or pork recipe you want to pair them with, whether you are cooking them on the stove top, oven, air fryer or grill, they will be devoured with these potatoes on the side.

How to store cheesy potatoes

Cheesy hash brown casserole is easy to store and reheat for amazing leftovers with lunch at your desk or when you need to pull together dinner in a hurry, because you can give them a quick zap in the microwave to reheat them without another thought.
Any leftovers can be covered and refrigerated for up to 4 days. For the best texture, spoon the remaining potatoes into a microwavable dish or spoon an individual serving of potatoes onto a microwavable plate. Cover with plastic wrap and microwave on High until heated through. Depending on how much of the casserole leftovers you have, this could be 1 1/2 minutes up to 5 or 6 minutes.

We don’t recommend heating the leftovers in the oven, as by the time they are hot enough in the center, the potatoes will have dried out. Freezing leftover potatoes and reheating them also is not recommended as they will be much drier and lose the ooey, gooey texture that makes them so adored.

More About This Recipe

  • Potatoes are an economical, filling, and tasty choice for just about any meal. Whether they are mashed, shredded, sliced or whole, there are so many yummy ways to turn them into the best main dishes or side dishes your family will request again and again. Casual enough for an easy weeknight meal, or dressed up and ready to party, potatoes should frequently get the invitation to your meals. Try any of these amazing potato recipes next time you are wondering what to make.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are other variations of cheesy potatoes?

If you love cheesy hash brown potatoes as much as we do, you will love these variations that are as delicious as the classic version, but offer even more ways to enjoy the yummy dish:
Flavor Twists: Are you a garlic lover? Try Garlic Herb Cheesy Potatoes. For a south-of-the-border flavor, try Mexican Cheesy Potatoes. Or stir in a few tablespoons of chopped fresh herbs such as thinly sliced basil leaves, cilantro, or parsley leaves for a burst of color and flavor.

Potato Picks: Rather than use hash browns, try one of these amazing cheesy potatoes that starts with sliced or mashed potatoes. Cheddar and Bacon au Gratin Potatoes deliver cheesy potatoes in the form of sliced potatoes or Brie Mashed Potatoes serve up silky, cheesy potatoes with the richness of brie cheese.
Add a Crunchy Topping: Mix 1 cup Progresso™ plain panko crispy breadcrumbs or 1 cup crushed corn flakes cereal with 2 tablespoons of melted butter. Sprinkle over the potato mixture before baking. If you like, you can also add a tablespoon of taco seasoning, paprika or smoked paprika with the breadcrumbs. Delish!

Stir in Veggies: Stir in a cup or two of cut-up cooked veggies, such as broccoli, cauliflower, or carrots. Or toss in a 12-oz bag of frozen (thawed) mixed veggies and you won’t even need to coax the little ones to eat their veggies!

Main Dish Cheesy Potatoes: Make these side dish potatoes into the main event with these amazing recipes: Try Pork Chops with Cheesy Potatoes or Cheesy Chicken and Sweet Potato Casserole.

Can you make cheesy potatoes ahead of time?

Whether you want to take the heat off last-minute meal preparations or are planning for a potluck or get-together, you can easily make this cheesy hash brown casserole in advance. Mix the casserole as directed in the recipe through Step 3—however do not partially thaw the hash browns first—they will thaw overnight! Cover the unbaked cheesy hash browns with plastic wrap and refrigerate it until the next day. About a half an hour before you are ready to bake it, let the dish of potatoes sit on the counter to come to room temperature. Uncover and bake is as directed in the recipe.

Why are Cheesy Potatoes called Funeral Potatoes?

This delicious cheesy hash brown casserole is frequently served at funeral gatherings and potlucks since they are so easy to make and always a hit. So, they are frequently referred to as the funeral potatoes recipe, which immediately has everyone understanding just exactly what to expect from this irresistible dish.
Also known as cheesy hash browns, hash brown casserole or party potatoes, these universally loved potatoes are the ultimate sharable comfort food, no matter what the occasion. Maybe they should be called “second serving” potatoes, because everyone always comes back for more when they make their appearance on the table!

What is a good substitute for cream of chicken soup in cheesy potatoes?

You can use whatever can of condensed cream soup you have on hand or is on sale. Cream of mushroom or cream of celery soup would be equally delicious in place of the cream of chicken soup in this Cheesy Potatoes recipe. Just remember to add it straight from the can…there is no need to dilute it with water or milk before you use it for these delectable potatoes, to get the thick and gooey cheesy casserole texture you’d expect from this dish.

Cheesy Potato Casserole

  • Prep Time 10 min
  • Total 55 min
  • Ingredients 7
  • Servings 8
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Ingredients

  • 1 pint (2 cups) sour cream
  • 1 can (10 3/4 oz) condensed cream of chicken soup
  • 1/2 cup butter, melted
  • 1 tablespoon garlic salt
  • 1 cup chopped onions
  • 1 bag (30 oz) frozen country-style shredded hash brown potatoes, partially thawed
  • 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese (8 oz)

Instructions

  • Step 
    1
    Heat oven to 350°F.
  • Step 
    2
    In large bowl, combine sour cream, condensed soup and melted butter. Stir until well blended. Add garlic salt, chopped onions, partially thawed hash brown potatoes and shredded cheese. Stir until well blended.
  • Step 
    3
    Spoon into ungreased 13x9-inch (3-quart) casserole or glass baking dish.
  • Step 
    4
    Bake uncovered 45 minutes or until potatoes are tender. Let stand 5 minutes before serving.

Nutrition

470 Calories
35g Total Fat
10g Protein
28g Total Carbohydrate
3g Sugars

Nutrition Facts

Serving Size: 1 Serving
Calories
470
Calories from Fat
310
Total Fat
35g
54%
Saturated Fat
20g
101%
Trans Fat
1g
Cholesterol
95mg
31%
Sodium
1000mg
42%
Potassium
150mg
4%
Total Carbohydrate
28g
9%
Dietary Fiber
1g
7%
Sugars
3g
Protein
10g
% Daily Value*:
Vitamin A
20%
20%
Vitamin C
8%
8%
Calcium
25%
25%
Iron
8%
8%
Exchanges:
1 Starch; 0 Fruit; 1 Other Carbohydrate; 0 Skim Milk; 0 Low-Fat Milk; 0 Milk; 0 Vegetable; 0 Very Lean Meat; 0 Lean Meat; 1 High-Fat Meat; 5 1/2 Fat;
Carbohydrate Choice
2
*Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.

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