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Best Cheesy “Funeral” Potatoes

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The original Best Cheesy “Funeral” Potatoes recipe made with southern hash browns, whipped cream cheese, and loaded with cheesy goodness!

I know, I know…not ANOTHER “funeral” potato recipe! Hear me out for a minute… I’ve been making my “funeral” potatoes for 33 years! These are not the “new kid” on the block cheese potatoes.

Cheesy funeral potatoes

This IS the original “cheesy funeral” potato casserole or cheese potatoes.  However, we didn’t call them “funeral” potatoes back then. It was just a new amazing easy cheesy potato casserole that you took to every church potluck and made for every family get-together.

First time I made these I wasn’t even married. A friend gave me the recipe and swore by them. I remember thinking “Cream of Chicken Soup” in cheesy potatoes?

Being young and having little kitchen experience I trusted her and went with it. Generations are grateful I did! They are a staple at every Holiday dinner table! Nobody even has to die for us to enjoy them! (Bonus!)

Casserole Dish filled with the Best Cheesy Funeral Potatoes

How To Make The Best Cheesy Funeral Potatoes

In a large skillet melt 1 stick of REAL butter.  Add one can of Cream of Chicken Soup (Yes… you can substitute cream of mushroom) and one 7.5 oz container of Whipped Philadelphia Chive Cream Cheese.

Tip: If you cannot find Whipped Cream Cheese with Chives you can use one small container of regular cream cheese with chives. Both work equally well it just takes a little longer for the regular cream cheese to melt.

Butter, Soup mix, and cream cheese over heat melting to create cheese sauce

Using a wire whisk blend all ingredients together until smooth and creamy. Add in 1 cup of cubed mild cheddar cheese. You may need to add about 1/4 cup of milk to thin the mixture out.

Adding Cheese to Cream Sauce for Potatoes

Continue mixing until cheese is completely melted and everything is well blended.  It will be very smooth.

Cheese sauce for Cheesy Funeral Potatoes

Fill a large bowl with a thawed 2 lb bag of southern hash browns. Add the creamy cheese sauce and mix together.

Mixing Cheese sauce in with frozen country hash browns with spatula

Now you can bake these two different ways. You can pour the mixture into a 2 quart sprayed baking dish and bake them in the oven…OR…if you need room in your oven for other dishes, you can bake them in a sprayed casserole slow cooker.

It works fantastic, and I love my slow cooker casserole dish.

Potatoes in Slow Cooker Casserole dish

Top with an additional cup of grated cheddar cheese.

Cheese sprinkled on top of cheesy funeral potatoes before baking

If baking in the oven, bake at 350° F, for one hour. If baking in your crock pot casserole dish cook for 2.5 – 3 hours on high or for 5 hours on low.

The potatoes should be “fork” tender.

Slow Cooking Cheesy Funeral Potatoes

You know what happens at this Nest with these delicious mouth-watering potatoes? The photographer doesn’t get a good photo because the piggy’s that live here “snarf” them all!

I seriously had to make another batch just to take a photo for this post! Even at that they don’t photograph very well. So photos aside…just trust me when I say these are the yummiest cheesy potatoes and your family will love them.

The Best Cheesy Funeral Potatoes on a serving plate

These are the BEST cheesy funeral potatoes I’ve ever had…and I’ve had LOTS!

Don’t wait to go to a funeral to have them! (Gads!) I really dislike that they have been nick-named “funeral” potatoes. I deal with it by telling myself it’s because they are “TO DIE FOR”!

This is the perfect side dish for Ham, Pork Roast, (Coffins?) or any main course dish you are making. Just remember…all the other recipes out there are “wannabe’s”!

Here are some of my other Favorite Side Dish Recipes

This is the REAL deal! Lol 😉 Nobody wants 2nd hand cheesy potatoes at their funeral! That would just be…well…”Cheesy”! (Come on…ya knew I was going there!)

Remember you can always follow me on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest. I’d love to have ya join me!

Norines Photo and signature
Yield: 6 servings

Best Cheesy “Funeral” Potatoes

Best Cheesy Funeral Potatoes

The original cheesy "funeral" potato recipe made with southern hash browns, whipped cream cheese, and loaded with cheesy goodness!

Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour
Total Time 1 hour 15 minutes

Ingredients

  • 1/2 cup butter (1 stick)
  • 1 Can Cream of Chicken Soup
  • 1 - 7.5 oz. whipped cream cheese with chives
  • 1/4 cup of milk
  • 1 cup cubed mild cheddar cheese
  • 1 cup grated mild cheddar cheese
  • 2 lb. bag, thawed, southern hash browns (small cubes)

Instructions

  1. In a large skillet melt 1/2 cup butter over medium heat. Add 1 can cream of chicken soup and the whipped cream cheese with chives. Stir until well blended.
  2. Add in 1 cup cubed mild cheddar and 1/4 cup of milk. Continue stirring until cheese is melted and mixture is creamy.
  3. Place bag of thawed hash browns into a large bowl. Add cheese sauce mixture. Stir together.
  4. Pour cheesy hash browns into a sprayed 2 quart baking dish or casserole slow cooker.
  5. Top with 1 cup of grated mild cheddar cheese.
  6. If doing the 2 quart baking dish, bake in a 350° F oven for 1 hour until fork tender.
  7. If making in a casserole crock pot bake on low for 3.5 hours or on high for 2 hours.

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

6 servings

Serving Size:

3/4 cup

Amount Per Serving: Calories: 860Total Fat: 67gSaturated Fat: 28gTrans Fat: 1gUnsaturated Fat: 34gCholesterol: 113mgSodium: 1692mgCarbohydrates: 51gFiber: 4gSugar: 3gProtein: 17g

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Holly

Sunday 7th of April 2024

What size can of cream of chicken?

[email protected]

Tuesday 9th of April 2024

Hi Holly! It's just the standard size (10.5 ounce) is what I use. I'm sorry that wasn't clear in the recipe. Norine

Jenni S

Wednesday 27th of April 2022

Hi Norine I just made your recipe but I added 1lb well drained country sausage crumbled. My guys are all meat eaters. They raved how wonderful it is and requested this becomes a regular meal. I added small side salad and cinnamon applesauce. I had complete meal everyone loved with very little fuss. Easy cleanup and they think I slaved for hours and great on the budget. Thank you for sharing love it

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Wednesday 27th of April 2022

Hi Jenni! I LOVE your addition to this recipe and turning it into a main course! Your side dishes sound perfect too. Thanks so much for sharing with all of us. Come back and visit again soon. Happy Wednesday! Norine

Anna

Wednesday 20th of April 2022

Hi! Can you tell me how long to bake for a double or triple batch?

Thanks!

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Wednesday 20th of April 2022

Hi Anna! I generally bake a double batch for 2 hours. I bake mine in a very deep casserole dish. I think if it is more shallow then I would probably bake it for an hour and half. You can always "fork" test them too. If a fork inserted into the potatoes goes in easily because the potato is soft...then they are done. Hope this helps. Thanks for stopping by and enjoy the potatoes! Norine

Shanna

Sunday 10th of April 2022

Do you always use block cheese and cube it up for the first part and then shred the second cup for the end? Just curious if you ever just buy shredded for the whole? I know when I sold Tupperware for a bit, I was shocked to learn that manufacturers put fine saw dust in with their shredded cheese to keep it from sticking together... I know, scrumptious huh?? Anyway, I would normally shred all the cheese, but - it can be a little time consuming when you're in a hurry... Have you tried both ways? Ever notice a difference? Also, have you ever tried using White cheddar, or sharp or medium cheddar? 😔 for all the questions, was just curious, lol. I'll understand if you can't get to them all.

Thanks, Shanna~

Shanna

Saturday 16th of April 2022

@[email protected], ... also, I've never tried Gouda cheese before, but might be worth a try! Thanks for sharing!!

Shanna

Saturday 16th of April 2022

@[email protected],

Thank you so much for answering my questions so quickly!!! You are on top of things up there in the nest 😂

I bought mild shredded cheddar and I'm going with it! Can't wait to try them, I love all things cheesy, creamy, and fattening!... (Especially if it doesn't have to contain any veggies)

Happy Easter! Shanna~

[email protected]

Monday 11th of April 2022

Hi Shanna! All GREAT questions! Let me see what I can do to help answer them. I have used all shredded cheese to save on time. I've also used sandwich sliced cheese, and cubed block cheese! Sometimes it is just me trying to make it work with what I have on hand. They all variations turn out great. I will share a little secret with you...Lately I've been adding "Gouda" to this recipe and my family is going "NUTS" over it! I think they prefer it to the original recipe. Generally I'm just tossing in 3-4 slices of Gouda lunch slices. I don't generally use "sharp" cheeses in this recipe because my little grandkids and husband aren't super big fans of Sharp cheeses, but you certainly could. You may have to add a little more milk to the recipe to thin out the cheese sauce as sharper cheeses have less moisture in them. Hope this helps. We will be having these potatoes this coming Sunday. My family loves them. Happy Easter! Come back and visit again soon. Norine

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