Description
Funeral Potatoes are a comforting and creamy baked casserole featuring tender O'Brien potatoes mixed with cheese, sour cream, and flavorful seasonings, all topped with a buttery, crunchy layer of crushed potato chips. Perfect for family gatherings and potlucks, this dish combines creamy, cheesy goodness with a delightful crispy topping for a hearty side or main dish.
Ingredients
Potato Mixture
- 28 ounce package frozen cubed O'Brien potatoes, thawed (with or without peppers)
- 1 teaspoon garlic salt
- 1/2 teaspoon pepper
- 1 teaspoon dried onion flakes
- 1 Tablespoon dried chives
- 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
- 10.5 ounce can cream of chicken soup
- 2 cups sour cream
Topping
- 2 cups finely crushed potato chips (measured after crushing)
- 3 Tablespoons salted butter, melted
Instructions
- Thaw Potatoes: Place the frozen cubed O'Brien potatoes into the refrigerator to thaw overnight, or leave them on the counter for about an hour until thawed.
- Preheat Oven and Prepare Dish: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Spray an 11x7-inch baking dish with nonstick cooking spray; alternatively, you can use a 9x13-inch dish for a thinner casserole.
- Mix Seasonings and Cheese with Potatoes: In a large bowl, combine the thawed potatoes with garlic salt, pepper, dried onion flakes, dried chives, and shredded cheddar cheese. Mix thoroughly to evenly distribute the seasonings.
- Add Cream Soup and Sour Cream: Stir in the cream of chicken soup and sour cream to the potato mixture until fully incorporated, creating a creamy consistency.
- Spread Mixture in Dish: Transfer the mixture into the prepared baking dish, spreading it out evenly.
- Bake Covered: Cover the dish with nonstick foil and bake in the preheated oven for about 45 minutes or until the casserole is bubbly and heated through.
- Add Crunchy Topping: Remove the foil and evenly sprinkle the finely crushed potato chips over the top of the baked potatoes.
- Drizzle Melted Butter: Pour the melted salted butter evenly over the potato chip topping to add flavor and aid browning.
- Bake Uncovered: Return the dish to the oven and bake uncovered for an additional 10 minutes to crisp up the topping.
- Broil for Golden Finish (Optional): For a more golden-brown topping, place the casserole under the broiler for 1-2 minutes, watching closely and moving as needed to avoid burning.
- Cool and Serve: Allow the casserole to cool for about 10 minutes before serving so it sets up and is safer to eat.
Notes
- The casserole can be made ahead and refrigerated before baking; just add extra baking time if baking from cold.
- You can substitute cream of chicken soup with cream of mushroom soup for a different flavor.
- If you prefer, use crushed Ritz crackers or breadcrumbs instead of potato chips for the topping.
- To make this dish gluten free, ensure the soup and chips are certified gluten free.
- For a vegetarian version, use cream of mushroom soup and omit any meat-based ingredients.
