What are funeral potatoes and why are they called that?

Funeral potatoes are a cheesy hash brown casserole — frozen shredded potatoes baked with cream of chicken soup, sour cream, cheddar, and a crispy buttered cornflake or cracker topping. The name comes from a decades-long tradition in Utah's LDS (Latter-day Saint) communities, where ward members bring food to families after a funeral. This dish became the default because it travels well, feeds a crowd, uses pantry staples, and holds in a warming oven. The name stuck even as the dish traveled outside Utah. It became so iconic that when Salt Lake City hosted the 2002 Winter Olympics, organizers sold 'Funeral Potatoes' souvenir lapel pins.

What is the viral TikTok funeral potatoes recipe?

The most-shared TikTok version uses a 30-oz bag of frozen shredded hash browns (not thawed), one can of cream of chicken soup, one cup of sour cream, four tablespoons of melted butter, two cups of shredded sharp cheddar, a diced onion, salt, and pepper. Mix in a large bowl and spread in a 9x13 pan. Top with two cups of crushed cornflakes mixed with four tablespoons of melted butter. Bake at 350°F for 40–45 minutes until the edges are bubbly and the cornflake crust is deep golden. The contrast between the crispy, buttery topping and the creamy, cheesy potato layer underneath is the whole point.

Can I make funeral potatoes ahead of time?

Yes — this is one of the best dishes to make ahead. Assemble the potato layer and refrigerate it overnight, covered tightly. Add the cornflake topping right before baking (never the night before — it gets soggy). Pull the dish out of the refrigerator 30 minutes before baking to take the chill off. It may need an extra 10–15 minutes in the oven if going in cold. Once baked, it holds well in a low oven (170°F) for up to two hours, making it ideal for potlucks and holiday spreads.

Should I use frozen or fresh potatoes?

Frozen shredded hash browns are the original and best for this dish. They're already par-cooked, which means they soften and absorb the creamy base in exactly the right way during baking without going mushy or staying crunchy. Fresh shredded potatoes contain too much moisture — they steam instead of bake, making the dish watery. If you want a chunkier texture, frozen diced hash browns (not shredded) also work well; add 10 minutes to the bake time. Avoid refrigerated fresh-cut potato products — the starch content differs from frozen and the casserole stays too firm.

What are the best substitutions for cream of chicken soup in funeral potatoes?

Three real options: (1) Cream of mushroom soup for a slightly earthier, vegetarian-friendly base — flavor is nearly identical once the cheese and sour cream go in; (2) A quick homemade swap: melt two tablespoons of butter, whisk in two tablespoons of flour, add one cup of chicken broth and 1/2 cup of whole milk, season, and simmer until thickened — richer and lower sodium; (3) For a Velveeta version (also going viral), skip the cream soup entirely and melt 8 oz of Velveeta with 1/4 cup milk, then use that as your base alongside the sour cream and hash browns. Each works. The Velveeta version is more orange and more intensely salty; the homemade base is the most nuanced.

What is the tater tot version of funeral potatoes?

A popular TikTok riff replaces shredded hash browns with a full 32-oz bag of frozen tater tots. Use the same cream of chicken, sour cream, cheddar, and onion base, then press the tater tots in a single flat layer on top instead of mixing them in. They bake up into a crunchy, structured crust that replaces the cornflakes. This version has more visible texture and more potato flavor per bite. The interior is saucier and looser than the shredded version. If you try it: use a shallow 9x13 pan, not a deep baking dish, so the tots crisp properly.

Why does my funeral potatoes casserole come out watery?

Three causes: (1) Thawing the hash browns fully before mixing — they release their liquid into the casserole. Use them mostly frozen, or if thawed, squeeze them dry in a towel first; (2) Using a covered baking dish — always bake uncovered so steam escapes; (3) Under-baking — the casserole needs to hit full bubble (around 40–45 minutes at 350°F) for the starch in the potatoes to fully absorb the liquid. If the center is still jiggly when you pull it, give it 10 more minutes. A fully cooked funeral potatoes casserole should hold its shape when scooped.

Funeral Potatoes — Utah’s Legendary Cheesy Hash Brown Casserole

Name: Funeral Potatoes
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 45 min
Total time: 55 min
Yield: 10
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 30 oz frozen shredded hash browns (one standard bag) — do not fully thaw; 1 can (10.5 oz) condensed cream of chicken soup, undiluted; 1 cup full-fat sour cream; 4 tablespoons salted butter, melted (for the filling); 1 small yellow onion, finely diced (about 3/4 cup); 2 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese (about 8 oz, freshly grated melts better); 1 teaspoon garlic powder; 1/2 teaspoon onion powder; 3/4 teaspoon kosher salt (taste the filling before adding — canned soup already has salt); 1/2 teaspoon black pepper; For the cornflake topping:; 2 cups corn flakes, crushed to rough pea-sized pieces; 4 tablespoons salted butter, melted

The viral TikTok funeral potatoes are a Utah cheesy hash brown casserole with a crispy buttered cornflake crust. Mix, top, bake. About 10 minutes of actual work, 45 minutes in the oven, serves a crowd of 10.

The dish has been a Utah potluck staple for decades — TikTok just introduced it to the rest of the country. The contrast between the creamy, cheesy potato base and the crunchy, buttery cornflake topping is why it travels so well from the church hall to the algorithm.

What Makes This Recipe Work

Two things separate a great funeral potatoes casserole from a watery, limp one. First: use the hash browns mostly frozen. Fully thawed hash browns release liquid as they bake and make the filling soupy. Frozen shreds absorb the creamy base as they cook through, giving you the dense, scoopable texture you want. Second: bake uncovered the whole time. The cornflake topping needs direct oven heat to go genuinely golden and crunchy. Cover it and you get steamed cornflakes, which is not the point.

The Cornflake Topping vs. The Tater Tot Version

The classic TikTok-viral version uses crushed cornflakes mixed with melted butter. The crust bakes up crunchy, buttery, and slightly sweet against the savory potato layer beneath. Crush the flakes to rough pea-sized pieces — not powder (goes dense) and not whole flakes (slide off when serving).

The tater tot version, also trending, layers frozen tater tots flat across the top instead of mixing in the potatoes. The tots crisp into a structured, thicker crust. If you go that route, use a shallow 9x13 pan and skip the cornflakes entirely.

The Velveeta Variation

The Velveeta version is darker orange, saltier, and more intensely cheesy. Skip the cream of chicken soup and instead melt 8 oz of Velveeta with 1/4 cup of milk in a saucepan over low heat, stirring until smooth. Use that as your creamy base along with the sour cream. Everything else stays the same. It’s richer and less subtle, which is exactly what some people want from a potluck dish.

Funeral Potatoes

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