Crockpot Funeral Potatoes (Cheesy Potato Casserole)

These Crockpot Funeral Potatoes are a perfect side dish for most occasions! A classic side dish we all know and love, but in the slow cooker instead! Cheesy, creamy potatoes that end with a crunchy topping. Cheesy potato casserole is perfect for holidays, potlucks, and family gatherings!

Crockpot Funeral Potatoes

A couple of years ago, I came across a cheesy potatoes recipe called “Funeral Potatoes,” and I immediately knew I needed to make them. 

Why? Because my family loves all things potato. We love fries, baked potatoes, potato salad, Au Gratin potatoes, mashed potatoes, potato soup, and well, you get the point.

The same goes for cheese. We love all the cheeses, and this cheesy potato casserole is loaded with cheese. 

Cheesy Funeral Potatoes

The first time I made the Funeral Potatoes recipe, I took it to church. It was not a slow cooker version (I made them in the oven), but besides the cooking method, the recipe was nearly identical to this one. And the potatoes were a big hit!

 I also made the cheesy potato recipe a couple of times for family dinners, and again, my kids were fighting over the last serving. 

But then I realized I could make Funeral Potatoes – Crock Pot version, and I was truly hooked!

What are Funeral Potatoes?

Funeral potatoes are the ultimate comfort food, particularly popular in the American West, especially among members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS).

But this cheesy potato casserole recipe is not just for Mormons (I am not Mormon or LDS) or funerals (nobody’s dead around here).

This crockpot hash brown casserole recipe is great for holidays, family get-togethers, church potlucks and more. Pretty much anywhere you need to bring a side dish, Slow Cooker Funeral potatoes will work!

Why You’ll Love Crockpot Funeral Potatoes

Easy Crockpot Funeral Potatoes Recipe: Funeral Cheesy Potatoes are an easy side dish everybody loves! If you love easy recipes, you definitely need to save this one. It’s the easiest of easy potato recipes.

Saves Oven Space: These are made in the crockpot to free up oven space for busy holiday dinners or large family gatherings. You can start them early in the day since they cook for 6 hours in the slow cooker.

Crowd Pleaser: I never bring home leftovers with this dish. Crock Pot Funeral Potatoes have the classic flavor of potatoes and cheese and are always the first dish empty at any get-together! It’s a family favorite, for sure!

Why are they called Funeral Potatoes?

The name comes from the fact that Funeral Potatoes are often served at gatherings after funerals or other large gatherings, but they are also enjoyed at various other events and family dinners. You might even call them Party Potatoes 😊

Funeral potatoes typically consist of the following ingredients:

• Shredded or cubed potatoes (usually frozen hash browns)
• A creamy sauce made from sour cream, cream of chicken soup (or sometimes mushroom soup), and butter
• Pre-shredded cheese, often cheddar (although I love fresh shredded cheese better!)
• A crunchy topping, typically made from cornflakes, crackers, or breadcrumbs mixed with butter

Funeral Cheesy Potatoes are often baked until golden and bubbly or sometimes (like this recipe) cooked in a slow cooker!

Tools Needed

• Large Bowl and Small Bowl
• 6-Quart Crockpot
• 9×13 Baking Sheet
• Parchment Paper

Ingredients

All of these simple ingredients are easily found at your local grocery store.

• Frozen Cubed Hash Browns 
• Condensed Cream of Chicken Soup
• Salted Butter
• Shredded Cheddar Cheese – Mild, medium or sharp cheddar cheese. Or a mix of cheeses, such as cheddar and Monterey Jack. You really can’t go wrong here.
• Plain Corn Flakes
• Sour Cream
• Salt
• Black Pepper
• Garlic Powder
• Onion Powder

Substitutions

Corn Flakes -I really love the buttery cornflake crust but you can use potato chips instead of the corn flakes and get a very similar flavor and crunch on top of your Crockpot Cheesy Potatoes.

Cream of Chicken Soup – Cream of Mushroom soup is a great alternative to cream of chicken. The flavor will be slightly different, but it’ll still be a great dish!

Cubed Hash Browns – You can also make Crockpot funeral potatoes with shredded hash browns. I prefer the texture of the cubed potatoes more, but it won’t change the flavor at all.

How to Make Funeral Potatoes

This is such an easy recipe that you’ll add it to your list of favorite recipes and make it all the time!

1. Prepare your crockpot dish by spraying it with nonstick cooking spray. 
2. In a large mixing bowl (or your actual crockpot dish), combine the potatoes, sour cream, cream of chicken soup, shredded cheese, salt, pepper, garlic powder, and onion powders. Give it a good stir until it’s all combined well.
3. Pour the mixture into the greased slow cooker.
4. Melt 1 stick (½ cup) butter and pour over the top of the ingredients in the slow cooker. Stir again.
5. Put the lid on the crockpot and cook on low for 6 hours or until done. Stir once about halfway through.

6. During the last 30 minutes of cooking, while the crockpot is doing its thing, preheat the oven to 250°F and line a 9×13 baking sheet with parchment paper. 
7. Melt the remaining ¼ cup butter and add it to a small mixing bowl with the cornflakes. Stir and lightly crush the mixture until the butter coats all the cornflakes.
8. Spread on the prepared pan and bake for 15 minutes or until golden brown and crunchy. Once finished, set aside.
9. Once the potatoes are finished, sprinkle the crunchy corn flake toppings over the cheesy hashbrowns and enjoy! 

Toppings

You can make your Crockpot Cheesy Potatoes even fancier with one or both of these extra toppings.

• Diced Green Onions
• Real Bacon Bits are a great addition to any recipe, right?

Gluten-Free Funeral Potatoes

You can easily make a gluten-free version of Cheesy Crockpot Potatoes. Most of the key ingredients for this recipe are already gluten-free, so you just need to make sure that they all are. Here are the 3 ingredients you need to check the labels on:

• Gluten-free cream of chicken soup
• Gluten-free cornflakes or potato chips – Most brands of cornflakes are not gluten-free, but there are some out there. You could also go with potato chips that are gluten-free.
• Gluten-free hash browns. You’d think that hash brown potatoes should be gluten-free because potatoes themselves are naturally gluten-free, but you’ll want to check the label to verify because some brands have a flour coating on them.

Pro Tips

• You can cook Crock Pot Cheesy Potatoes on high for only 2-3 hours, but I tend not to like what it does to the dairy when cooked on high. It doesn’t change the flavor, but I think the texture is a tad gritty. So, I prefer actual slow cooking!
• Do not put the lid back on the crockpot once the cornflakes have been added or the excess moisture in the crockpot will make them soggy.
• Add more or less seasonings based on your preferences.
• If you don’t want to worry about the oven, you don’t have to bake the cornflakes, but I think it’s worth the effort to get that perfect texture on the top.

Serving Suggestions

Make a main dish, like Pork Tenderloin or Mississippi Roast, add this delicious side dish and maybe a cucumber salad, and you’re set with a hearty meal!

It’s best served warm straight out of the crock pot, but my kids will also eat Crockpot Hashbrown casserole at room temperature if there are any leftovers left out later in the evening.

Storage Directions

• Refrigerator:  We never even have them for the next day, but if you do, store any leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 1 week. 
• Freezer: Freeze in an airtight container for up to 3 months. If you plan to freeze them, wait to add the cornflakes.

FAQ

More Amazing Side Dishes

• Instant Pot Corn on the Cob
• Cheesy Broccoli Cornbread Recipe (with Jiffy Mix)
• Easy Crockpot Collard Greens
• Instant Pot Black-Eyed Peas
• Easy Green Beans with Bacon & Brown Sugar (Step-by-Step Video)
• BBQ Baked Beans (Instant Pot + Stovetop)