Hash Brown Potluck Potatoes – An Easy, Cheesy Funeral Side Dish

This easy cheesy hash brown potatoes is a warm and comforting side dish that is perfect for any family gathering, potluck, or get-together.

Whether you call them cheesy potatoes, potluck potatoes, funeral potatoes, or hash brown potatoes, this delicious and hearty casserole side dish is easy to make and great for any gathering, holiday dinner, or as a simple weeknight dinner side dish.

With just a few basic ingredients and 10 minutes of prep work, you can have a warm and comforting side dish that goes with pretty much any main dish you serve. Thanksgiving turkey, holiday ham, even a catfish fry – these hash brown potluck potatoes go with it all and are always a crowd pleaser.

Most potluck potatoes are made using diced potatoes, but my recipe features shredded potatoes and a topping of breadcrumbs or panko. It’s a family recipe from my husband’s side, and one I make often. Even if it’s just for a filling side dish that provides our family with loads of leftovers, it’s a perfect go-to. (And good news, the leftovers taste just as delicious as freshly made!)

Ingredients For Hash Brown Potluck Potatoes

*Scroll down to the bottom of this post to see the full recipe, including exact measurements and amounts. You can also print out the instructions. I go into a bit more detail about the recipe here first, just in case you need it.

The ingredients are separated into two categories: the main ingredients and the topping. If you are making the dish ahead of time or freezing it, leave off the topping until you are ready for baking.

Main Ingredients

• Shredded Hash Brown Potatoes – Use either shredded or cubed potatoes. If you want to, make your own. ( I like the time savings of using a bag of frozen potatoes.)
• Butter – You will use melted butter for both the main ingredients as well as the topping. I use salted butter because that is what we have on hand, but unsalted also works fine.
• Cream of mushroom soup – Use one can of store-bought soup or make your own homemade cream of anything soup. To turn the base recipe into mushroom soup, either saute 1/3 cup of diced fresh mushrooms in a small amount of fat until softened, or add 1 tablespoon of dehydrated mushroom powder. (The dehydrated powder is what we use.)
• Cream of chicken soup – Use one can of store-bought soup or one serving of my homemade soup recipe made as-is.
• Onions – Chopped fresh or frozen onions work well. (I always dice up an onion and freeze it in 1/4 cup quantities. That way, I can just pull some out when a recipe calls for onions without needing to dice.)
• Sour Cream – Mixed with the condensed soups, the sour cream is the base of the creamy “sauce”.
• Shredded Cheddar Cheese – Of course, you have to have shredded cheese if you are having cheesy potatoes! We typically use a mild cheddar cheese.
• Salt and Pepper – The seasonings are one of those things you add to taste. There is already a decent amount of salt in the cream of soups, the butter, and the cheese, so I usually only add probably about 1/2 tsp or so, and the same with the pepper. Each person can always add more when they are eating it.

Topping

• Breadcrumbs – I have used all sorts of items for the breadcrumbs, including panko, Italian seasoned breadcrumbs, and regular breadcrumbs. You can also probably swap these out for crushed cornflakes, but I’ve never personally tried them before.
• Butter – The additional melted butter provides an extra richness to the topping.
• Shredded Cheddar Cheese – The cheese is added to the very top of the dish to give it a delicious, somewhat crispy top to the casserole. It’s my favorite part!

Instructions For Hash Brown Potluck Potatoes

Preheat your oven to 350º Fahrenheit. You are going to need a 9×13″ casserole dish and a large mixing bowl (I use a 4-quart one). If you are planning on freezing the dish, use a heavy-duty aluminum foil pan or freezer-safe casserole dish. (See Frequently Asked Questions below for more information on making ahead or freezing.)

As for the bowl, get one that is quite a bit larger than you think you will need. Trust me on this one because having a large mixing bowl will prevent you from having a mess on your hands when stirring everything together!

Add all of the main ingredients together into a large bowl. If you are using frozen hash browns, use them as is. Don’t thaw them out first. Mix carefully until everything is well combined.

Alternatively, if you want to add everything but the hash browns to the bowl and stir them until smooth first, feel free. You can then easily mix in the hash browns. I just like to do it all at the same time. It doesn’t matter as long as everything is well mixed together and evenly distributed.

Dishing & Baking

Add the mixed main ingredients into the 9×13″ casserole dish. Spread out the top so it is nice and even. You don’t want to press the ingredients into the dish; Just even out the top so the topping can sit smoothly. If making ahead or freezing, stop here. Cover with plastic wrap and place in your refrigerator or freezer.

Take your breadcrumbs or panko and sprinkle them over the top of the main ingredients. Next, drizzle the top with melted butter. This doesn’t have to be perfect, but get it as evenly spread out as you can. Lastly, sprinkle the shredded cheese over the top.

Cover the casserole dish tightly with aluminum foil. Bake it for one hour in the preheated oven. After the one hour is up, remove the foil and continue baking for an additional 30 minutes. The top should be nice and bubbly, and the cheese should be melted. Serve warm.

Store any leftovers in an enclosed container in the refrigerator. To reheat the leftovers, we just use our microwave. However, you can also cover the dish with foil and heat it in your oven at 350º F for 20 to 30 minutes or until heated through. Enjoy!

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you make hash brown potluck potatoes ahead of time? Yes! You can make and assemble the main ingredients 1 to 2 days ahead of time, but leave off the toppings. Wrap the casserole in foil or plastic wrap and keep it in your refrigerator until you are ready for baking. Add the toppings and bake as instructed. You might need to add an additional 10 to 15 minutes to your baking time.

Can you freeze potluck potatoes? Yes! Just like the make-ahead version, leave off the topping but otherwise make as instructed before baking. Use a foil 9×13″ baking dish or a freezer-safe container. Cover tightly with plastic wrap, then wrap in foil or use a large, 2.5-gallon plastic bag. I love these for freezing whole casseroles: Hefty Slider Jumbo Storage Bags, 2.5 Gallon Size (Product Link). Label and freeze for up to 3 months. Allow the dish to thaw out overnight in your refrigerator. Add your toppings, then bake, adding 10 to 15 minutes to the baking time if needed.

What to serve with hash brown potluck potatoes? This is really one of the most versatile recipes out there because it goes with about any main dish (at least in my opinion!). Some of our favorites are:

• Oven-Baked Ribs
• Pepperoncini Pepper Smash Burgers
• Dutch Oven Roast Beef
• Pork Panko Crispy Chicken Tenders
• Slow Cooker Pulled Pork

Until next time, thanks for stopping by!
– Chelsea

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