This cheesy potato casserole is a family-favorite side dish – it's simple, super creamy, cheesy, and a perfect side dish for your favorite protein and veggies. Cheesy potatoes (funeral potatoes) are a cozy, comforting, satisfying, crowd-pleasing side!
Preheat the oven to 375ºF/190ºC and grease your baking dish.
Peel and chop the potatoes into 1/4-1/2-inch pieces and place them in a saucepan with cold water. Bring it to a boil, then allow the potatoes to simmer until fork-tender (usually 8-14 minutes, depending on their size).If the pieces are much smaller, reduce the cooking time accordingly. If you're using frozen potatoes, make sure they're thawed and stir them directly into the cheesy sauce.
Drain the potatoes and leave them to cool slightly. Meanwhile, shred the cheddar cheese.
Melt the butter in a medium saucepan over medium-low heat. Then add the sour cream, cream cheese, soup, and half the cheddar cheese and stir well.
Add the potatoes to the baking dish, pour over the cheesy sauce, and mix well to assemble. Sprinkle over the remaining cheddar. You can optionally add a crunchy topping, too. For the topping, combine your crushed crunchy ingredient (i.e., Ritz crackers, breadcrumbs, or cornflakes crushed by hand in a Ziplock bag) with about two tablespoons of melted butter and sprinkle that over the potatoes before baking. Alternatively, crush potato chips directly over the casserole (no butter necessary).
Bake in the oven at 375ºF/190ºC for 30-35 minutes or until the top is browned and bubbling.
Allow the casserole to rest for a few minutes, then optionally garnish with parsley/chives, and serve.
Video
Notes
Use freshly grated cheese: Pre-grated cheese doesn't properly melt in the same way.
Stir well: Ensure the potatoes and sauce are thoroughly mixed before baking.
Adjust the texture: You can use cubed potatoes or shredded potatoes (hash browns) - it just comes down to personal preference.
If using frozen potatoes: Thaw them first; otherwise, they'll add excess liquid to the casserole, and it may become soupy.
Recipe Variations:
Add 1-2 cups of vegetables - like frozen peas or corn, green beans, shredded broccoli, zucchini, etc.
Add some onion - fresh and pre-sauteed or dried onion flakes.
Mix in some shredded chicken, diced ham, or bacon for protein.
Stir in some finely chopped green onions for little bites of freshness.
If you want to add a little spice, stir in a can of green chiles, freshly sliced jalapeno, or chili/cayenne pepper. You could also serve it with hot sauce.
Mix in a little seasoning like Cajun spice or Ranch seasoning to give the potatoes more flavor.
Check the blog post for more tips and serving recommendations!