Funeral potatoes are a casserole of frozen hash browns, cheddar, sour cream and cream of chicken soup, usually baked under a buttery topping. The three recipes we read agree on that base, then split on the topping, the bake time and how much butter goes in. Here’s how they compare, so you can pick one for the holiday table.
We haven’t made any of these, so every amount belongs to the recipe it’s credited to. Where they disagree, we say so!
How do three funeral potatoes recipes compare?
All three use frozen potatoes, a can of cream of chicken soup, sour cream, cheddar and a 350°F oven. Holmes Cooks (first posted January 2021) and Sassy Cassy’s (November 2018) add a cornflake topping. Donuts2Crumpets (September 2014) skips it.
| Holmes Cooks | Donuts2Crumpets | Sassy Cassy’s | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Potatoes | 2 lb frozen hash browns, cut | 28 to 32 oz frozen Southern-style hash browns | 2 lb frozen potatoes, diced or shredded |
| Soup | 1 can cream of chicken | 1 can cream of chicken | 1 can cream of chicken |
| Sour cream | ½ cup | 16 oz | 1 cup |
| Cheddar | 2 cups | 12 oz sharp | 2 cups, half on top |
| Butter | 1 stick, melted | 1 stick, melted | 1 stick in the mix, plus ½ cup for the topping |
| Seasoning | Garlic, black pepper, red pepper flakes | Onion powder, salt, pepper | ¼ cup chopped onion, salt, pepper |
| Topping | 3 to 4 cups Corn Flakes, drizzled with butter | None | 2 cups cornflakes tossed in butter |
| Bake | 1 to 1½ hours at 350°F | 60 to 75 minutes at 350°F | 30 to 45 minutes at 350°F |
| Dish and serves | 13 by 9 inch, serves 10 | 9 by 13 inch, serves 12 | 9 by 13 inch, servings not listed |
The bake times are the big surprise. All three use a 9 by 13 dish and a similar amount of potatoes, yet one says 30 to 45 minutes and another says up to an hour and a half. Watch for the signs they all share: bubbling edges and a browned top.
Why are they called funeral potatoes?
Nobody in our sources can say for sure where the name comes from. Wikipedia’s article on the dish says it doesn’t explain where the name comes from. It does say the dish is tied to Utah and the LDS Church, and that recipes appear in Relief Society cookbooks dating to the early 20th century.
Holmes Cooks says the dish is especially popular in the LDS Church, and that the author had assumed it was a Southern creation. Wikipedia lists other names, too: “Texas potatoes” in Texas and “party potatoes” in Iowa.
Which funeral potatoes recipe should you make?
It depends on whether you want a crunchy top. Choose Holmes Cooks or Sassy Cassy’s if you want cornflakes, and Donuts2Crumpets if you’d rather skip the topping and the butter that goes with it. Here’s how we’d sort it:
- Crunchy topping, bigger batch: Holmes Cooks, which uses 3 to 4 cups of Corn Flakes.
- No topping: Donuts2Crumpets, which microwaves the frozen hash browns for 10 minutes first.
- Shortest bake: Sassy Cassy’s, though it’s also the only one that doesn’t list servings.
Holmes Cooks lists about 325 calories a serving for its version. The other two don’t give a number.
Can you make funeral potatoes ahead or freeze them?
Yes, funeral potatoes can be made ahead, and two of the three recipes tell you how. Holmes Cooks says to assemble it without the Corn Flakes, cover it and chill it overnight, then add the topping before baking. If it can’t chill overnight, the author adds 30 minutes to the cook time.
Donuts2Crumpets says you can assemble it, cover it and chill it until you bake, though cold potatoes may need more time. It also says the casserole can be frozen before baking if the potatoes weren’t defrosted. Sassy Cassy’s has no storage notes.
One commenter in an r/Old_Recipes thread says “We call it ‘Cracker Barrel hashbrown casserole’ in So. IL. We don’t put corn flakes on it though” and adds that it “freezes really well too.” That’s one person’s experience, not a tested rule, so do check yours!
More potato casseroles on the table
If you like the restaurant version, our Cracker Barrel hashbrown casserole copycat is a close cousin, and the Mission BBQ cheesy potatoes page is another cheesy potato bake. Planning the whole menu? See our Thanksgiving side dishes ranked for where potatoes fit, and the Taco Bell cheesy fiesta potatoes page for another fast-food potato side. For a vegetable bake, try our broccoli casserole compared page.
Funeral potatoes questions people ask
Do funeral potatoes need cream of chicken soup?
All three recipes here use a can of it. Wikipedia says cream of mushroom or celery also appears in versions of the dish.
Do you have to use cornflakes?
No. Donuts2Crumpets leaves the topping off, and Wikipedia lists crushed crackers and potato chips as other toppings.
What size dish do you need?
A 9 by 13 inch dish, per all three. Donuts2Crumpets told a commenter that two 8 by 8 pans should take about the same time, with checking starting around 45 minutes.