The Best Cheesy Funeral Potato Casserole [+Video]

Funeral potato casserole is a creamy, cheesy comfort food packed with rich, savory flavors. Made with tender hash browns, melted cheese, sour cream, and a crunchy golden topping, it’s the perfect balance of smooth and crispy.

Perfect for Christmas, Easter, Thanksgiving or just a cozy Sunday dinner with the fam!

I grew up not knowing about “funeral potatoes,” but moving to Utah introduced me to this classic dish. It’s essentially a cheesy potato casserole or a hash brown casserole, and the funny name comes from its tradition as a side dish often served at funeral luncheons.

This comforting, popular dish is perfect for feeding a crowd, making it ideal for family gatherings, holiday dinners, or even as a main dish when paired with ham. While I’ve never actually had it at a funeral, I’ve enjoyed it countless times during the holidays, and it’s always a hit!

Why Do They Call It Funeral Potatoes?

You might wonder why these cheesy delights are called “funeral potatoes,” and let me tell you, it’s not as gloomy as it sounds! Everyone—seriously, everyone—has their own special recipe for this potluck superstar. While they’re known by different names all over the place, the tradition of serving them at funeral luncheons in Utah is what sticks. I was a bit skeptical at first, thinking, “How good can cheesy potatoes really be?” But after one bite, I was a total convert! The creamy, cheesy goodness combined with that crunchy topping is pure magic. Whether it’s a holiday dinner or a family gathering, these potatoes are always a hit and bring a comforting vibe to the table. So, let’s celebrate this quirky name and dig in!

Variations

Swap the Soup
For a deeper, earthier flavor, substitute cream of mushroom soup for the cream of chicken soup. It adds a subtle richness that pairs perfectly with the cheesy potatoes.

Change Up the Topping
Instead of the classic cornflake topping, sprinkle one of these delicious alternatives on top for a different texture and flavor:

• Ritz Crackers: Crushed Ritz Crackers add a buttery, golden crunch.
• Potato Chips: Crushed potato chips create a salty, crispy topping that complements the creamy casserole.
• Bread Crumbs: Use plain or seasoned bread crumbs for a lightly crisp topping.
• Extra Cheese: Skip the crunch and sprinkle sharp cheddar cheese over the casserole for an extra layer of gooey, cheesy goodness.

Ingredients Needed for Funeral Potato Casserole

Ok, I’m not going to lie about this dish, there is nothing healthy about it. Haha! That is probably why it is so dang good! It’s a dish you want to have on special occasions, but probably not multiple times a week. Here is your grocery list:

• Cream of Chicken Soup – You can use store-bought or make it from scratch yourself. Head to our Cheesy Ground Beef and Rice Casserole post for a from-scratch recipe. You

Maple Glazed Cinnamon Butterflake Rolls [+ Video]

Remember those awesome orange cinnamon butterflake rolls that we made a while back? Well, now we’ve got a maple glazed cinnamon butterflake rolls recipe! If you have never tried a butterflake roll before, the best way I can describe this recipe is maple cinnamon rolls combined with a flaky pull-apart dinner roll. 

We love the simplicity of a butterflake roll, but toss in a thick cinnamon mixture and a sweet maple glaze and forget about the normal rolls, we’re talking a mashup between cinnamon rolls and maple bars!! It’s the new creation, Maple Glazed Cinnamon Butterflake Rolls!

Speaking of cinnamon rolls, you need to bake my apple cinnamon rolls as well! Maybe not all on the same day, but those are equally as delicious! 

These Maple Glazed Cinnamon Butterflake Rolls have two options, a heavy maple glaze like a maple bar, or a very light glaze if you’re looking for something that isn’t as rich. Both are delicious, but for the lighter glaze just use more liquid and a stitch less maple extract.

Our kids love to make these with me but the kitchen shears snipping through the dough with little fingers around does make me a little nervous with our younger children, so we have a deal. I do all the cutting and they get to get their hands all sticky and messy by rubbing the butter c

Smoky Fried Potatoes [+Video]

Learn how to make crispy and flavorful smoky fried potatoes with this easy recipe and step-by-step video tutorial. Perfect for a hearty and satisfying breakfast or a tasty side dish for any meal!

A while back, we did a series of Farm to Table posts with McCormick Gourmet Spices and it was so much fun for us to do as it’s how we live in our own home. It’s so fun to share our passion. This potato side dish recipe taps into my family history too, which is the reason I love cooking and food so much! It connects us!

Family History and Potatoes

These potatoes are really simple and all about using what you have on hand all winter versus buying expensive, out of season produce at the store. My grandpa served in World War II while my grandma held down things back home. Both were from Idaho and we all know what Idaho grows a lot of, potatoes!

Well they were clearly a staple that were kept in cellars to eat all winter long, but they have taken on a little more meaning for my family. Grandpa was honored for the work he did in the Czech Republic after he had passed and Grandma went and learned how to make these potatoes there. Little did we know, they are really just potatoes with seasoning, the salt being key, but Grandma said her secret was that if she called them Czech potatoes the kids all ate them, even the picky eaters. Sometimes you just need a fun name!

They are simple, fried potatoes with smoked paprika and salt and pepper, though occasionally we throw a little garlic powder in there as well. Now whenever we make them we think of them and our history. I’m going to share information below about how to be smart about produce just like my grandparents, so scroll to the end for all our tips!

Ingredients for Fried Potatoes

You only need a few household ingredients to make these home fries. Here is everything you will need:

• Vegetable Oil: cooks the potatoes so that they are crispy outside and soft inside
• Russet Potatoes: , chopped in 1″ pieces
• Smoked Paprika: adds the smoky flavor , or Hungarian paprika
• Salt: adds flavor
• Garlic Powder: adds flavor
• Black Pepper: adds flavor and a little heat
• Butter: adds extra flavor

The measurements for each ingredient can be found in the recipe card at the end of the post. Keep scrolling for all the details.

How to Make Smoky Fried Potatoes

As you can see from the video, this crispy potatoes recipe is all made on the stove top and in one pan. It is so easy to pan fry potatoes! Here are the basic steps:

1. Prep: Heat a cast iron skillet over medium heat.
2. Toss: When the skillet is hot, add the oil. Once it is shimmering, add the potatoes and spices and toss everything together to coat.
3. Cook: Leave the potatoes alone and let them cook for about 10 minutes. Add a lid if desi

Quick and Easy 3-Ingredient Unleavened Bread Recipe

This Quick and Easy 3-Ingredient Unleavened Bread Recipe requires just three simple ingredients! Last year, we decided to do a Nativity dinner with our children to help us remember Jesus Christ at Christmas, and this Unleavened Bread Recipe quickly became a favorite among the kids.

When planning the dinner, I researched foods that might have been typical in Jerusalem during the time of Christ’s birth, particularly around the Passover week. I aimed to create a meal that closely resembled what people would have eaten during that time, and this recipe fit perfectly!

Unleavened bread was one food that kept coming up in my research. It was simple and would go perfectly with the other recipes I had planned, like our easy homemade hummus.

Complete Nativity Dinner Menu:

• Jerusalem Herb Chicken Thighs
• Hummus
• Wild Rice
• Naan
• Roasted Pear Salad
• Creamy Garlic Brussel Sprouts
• Chewy Gingerbread Man Cookies

What Ingredients Do I Need to Make Unleavened Bread?

You only need three ingredients for this recipe—well, technically just two if you don’t count water, which I don’t really consider an ingredient!

• All Purpose Flour
• Salt
• Water

There’s really no reason not to make this bread! With all the ingredients on hand and no rising time required, it couldn’t be easier!

How to Make Unleavened Bread

You thought the ingredient list was simple? Wait until you see just how easy it is to whip this up! Ready? Let’s dive in!

• Combine the flour and salt in a bowl and stir together.
• Add the water and stir until the dough forms a cohesive ball.
• Knead the dough for 5 minutes. And before you groan about kneading, remember—it builds both muscle and character!
• Preheat your skillet on the stovetop over medium-high heat. Then, divide the dough into 5 to 7 balls, depending on how large you’d like your pieces of bread to be.
• Roll out each piece of dough on a lightly floured surface until it’s approximately 6 inches in diameter.
• Cook each piece on a hot skillet for about 2 minutes on each side.
• Serve hot, and for an extra special touch, brush on a bit of melted butter or olive oil and sprinkle with fresh herbs. I like to choose the herb based on what I

Roasted Brown Sugar Acorn Squash

Brown sugar and butter fuel this delicious, fall-inspired side dish. This roasted brown sugar acorn squash recipe hits those sweet and savory notes that are so craveable.

Roasting an acorn squash brings out it’s natural sweetness, and topping it with brown sugar and a little butter with warm fall spices almost makes you feel like you’re eating a dessert. This makes a perfect side dish for Thanksgiving or Christmas and pairs so well with just about any main dish.

The Biggest Pumpkin

I gave my pumpkin warm milk every single week for many, many weeks in a row because I’d heard that was the secret to growing the biggest, best pumpkin Vancouver Washington had ever seen.

Months of padding through the slowly drying out grass, stopping to see how much produce was growing (aka sneaking raspberries as fast as Mom could can them) had brought me to the reality that my pumpkin was in need of saving.

And I tried. I really did. But in the end, one pumpkin bit the dust while the other looked exactly the same as all my siblings. I don’t remember where I’d heard the tip or why I was so dertermined to make it happen, but looking back I can see that while nothing good came of it, nothing bad did either. I’m trying hard this year to remember that the tips we get for growing a successful garden may not always produce blue ribbon winners, but it did create the desire to see something through.

One good thing did come of the garden my parents planted. Acorn squash to the rescue.

While my little plant didn’t grow up extra ginormous, it did help me to embrace new foods and this is one of them. All these years later and I can sill remember the feel of mashing my little helping of acorn squash, loaded with butter and brown sugar and listening for the sound of the garage door shutting which meant it was time to eat!

Ingredients for Roasted Acorn Squash

The ingredients for this recipe are few and simple which is exactly how a side dish should be! Here is what you will need:

• Acorn Squash: any size will work just fine for this recipe
• Olive Oil: used to keep the squash from sticking to the pan and to help caramelize
• Salt and Pepper: used to season the squash as it roasts
• Butter: adds flavor and helps brown and caramelize the squash
• Dark Brown Sugar: adds sweetness and rich flavor
• Kosher Salt: cuts through the sweetness and enhances all the flavors
• Cinnamon: adds flavor and warmth to the dish
• Cardamom: adds flavor and that signature fall taste

Keep scrolling down to see the measurements needed for each ingredient. All the details are contained in the recipe card where you can also print or save the recipe.

How to Cut Acorn Squash

Cutting an acorn squash, or any kind of squash, can get more exciting than it needs to be. Let’s keep all our digits and do it the right way!

Be sure you are using a sharp knife. Lay the squash on its side on a cutting board