Cheesy Potato Casserole

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Cheesy Potato Casserole is a favorite at any party or holiday gathering. This dish is so easy to make too! Tender hash browns are mixed with a creamy cheese sauce, topped with corn chips, then baked to golden brown perfection. It’s perfect for feeding a crowd and pairs perfectly with chicken, turkey, and beef.

Cheesy Potato Casserole is one of our favorite side dishes! Sometimes called Funeral Potatoes, this recipe is loaded with seasonings and an amazing cheddar cheese cream sauce. It’s all layered with shredded hash browns. Then, we top the potatoes with parmesan cheese and corn chips and bake until golden brown on top. This truly is the best potato recipe!

Why you’ll love this recipe

So easy to make: This simple recipe is made with basic ingredients, and you don’t even need to thinly slice or shred the potatoes. It just uses frozen shredded hash browns along with seasonings, milk, and plenty of grated cheese.
Incredibly delicious: Potatoes and melted cheese are a match made in heaven. Then top them with some crispy corn chips and their next-level deliciousness.
A major crowd-pleaser! Your guests will love these cheesy potatoes. You can serve them any time of year and they are the perfect side dish for holiday dinners, potlucks, and family gatherings.

Spoon dishing out a serving of cheesy potato casserole.

Ingredients needed

You may have tried other potato casseroles, but this one’s our family favorite! It’s so flavorful and super easy! Here’s what you’ll need:

Potatoes: You need a bag of frozen shredded hash browns to make this easy recipe.
Seasonings: A blend of Italian seasoning, onion powder, garlic powder, salt, and pepper give this dish lots of flavors.
Milk: Any milk variety will work for making the cheese sauce. We like to use almond milk.
Cornstarch: To thicken the cheese sauce.
Cheese: A blend of cheddar cheese and parmesan cheese make this casserole plenty cheesy and super tasty!
Corn chips: This casserole would not be complete without its crunchy topping made out of crushed corn chips.

Shredded potatoes and grated cheese separated into bowls.

How to make this potato casserole recipe

Because this hash brown casserole recipe is made with frozen hash browns, it doesn’t take much effort at all! It’s pretty much just a matter of combining ingredients together and then baking them into a pan of cheesy potato deliciousness with a crunchy topping! Here’s how:

Prep: Preheat the oven to 400ºF. In a large bowl place the hash browns and the Italian seasoning.
Make the cheese sauce: To a medium saucepan add the almond milk, cornstarch, onion, and garlic powder. Whisk until smooth, then place over medium heat and simmer for a couple of minutes, until the sauce thickens. Stir in the cheddar cheese and half of the parmesan cheese, and season to your taste. Once the cheese melts and the sauce is smooth, remove from heat.
Combine cheese with potatoes: Pour the cheese sauce over the hash browns and stir well to combine.

Hash browns and Italian seasoning in a bowl.

Bake: Transfer the hash brown mixture to a baking dish. Top with the remaining parmesan cheese and crushed corn chips. Cover with aluminum foil and bake for 30 minutes, then continue to bake uncovered for 15 minutes more.

Serve: For a little extra color, you can garnish with diced green onion, fresh parsley, or chives. Add salt and pepper to taste. Serve warm and enjoy!

Potato casserole in a white dish topped with corn chips.

Expert Tips

This cheesy potato casserole recipe really is a breeze to make, but here are some tips to make sure you serve up perfect potatoes every time!

Half the recipe: This casserole feeds a crowd (at least 8 servings), but can easily be halved and baked in an 8 or 9-inch square pan. However, keep in mind that leftovers are fantastic!
Cheese: If you have the time, skip the store-bought shredded cheese and grate your own instead. The bags of pre-grated cheese typically contain preservatives and anti-caking agents and do not melt as well as freshly grated cheese.
Make ahead: To make this dish in advance, simply prepare the recipe, then store the casserole in the refrigerator covered with foil until you’re ready to bake it. You can assemble it up to a day in advance.

How you can Customize this recipe

We love these potatoes as-is, but you can add other ingredients to make this recipe your own. Here are some options:

Add protein: Make this side dish into a main course by adding 1 to 2 cups of cooked diced meat such as chicken, ham, or sausage.
Cheese: While cheddar cheese is a classic ingredient in this casserole, feel free to substitute a different variety of cheese such as Colby Jack, mozzarella, or Monterey Jack. You can also do a combination of cheeses!
Topping: Change up the crunchy topping by using cooked crumbled bacon, crushed cornflakes, panko bread crumbs, crumbled crackers, or crushed potato chips.

Funeral potatoes served in a white casserole dish.

Frequently asked questions

Why are they called funeral potatoes?

This dish is sometimes called funeral potatoes because it is often a crowd-pleasing casserole served as a side dish at after-funeral luncheons.

What goes well with cheesy potatoes?

This side dish is one that pairs well with so many other sides and main entrees. It’s great for Easter, Thanksgiving, and summer barbecues! Try it with everything from honey-baked ham or roasted turkey breast to beef tenderloin roast and juicy baked chicken thighs or BBQ chicken breast.

Can I use fresh shredded potatoes, instead of frozen ones?

This recipe uses frozen shredded hash browns and I think fresh would work just fine. However, it would be a major hassle to shred all of the potatoes to make this recipe. I highly recommend just using frozen.

Storage Tips

Storing leftovers: Place any leftover potato casserole in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 to 5 days.
To reheat: Pop individual servings in the microwave and cook for 30-second intervals until it’s warm. You can also place the casserole dish in the oven at 325ºF. If using the oven, loosely cover with foil (since it has already been baked) and place the dish on the center rack for 15 to 25 minutes, until warmed through (the larger the serving, the longer the cooking time).
Freezing: Place leftovers in an airtight freezer-safe storage container or a freezer-safe baggie in the freezer for up to 3 months. Let thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.

Potato recipe made with cheese and topped with corn chips.

More potato recipes to try

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Spooning out a serving of cheesy potato casserole.