How to Make the Ultimate Party Potatoes

2023-07-27
How to Make the Ultimate Party Potatoes
Prep Time:
10 mins
Total Time:
1 hr
Servings:
10
Yield:
10 cups

If you've ever been to a potluck in the Midwest, chances are you've seen (and devoured) party potatoes. They go by many different names including Funeral Potatoes, Potato Cornflake Casserole, Cheesy Potatoes, and Hash Brown Cheesy Potatoes. No matter what you call them, they're comforting, creamy, and a breeze to whip up for a crowd. A few shortcuts, like frozen hash brown potatoes, cream of chicken soup, and pre-shredded cheese make this party potato recipe easier than ever.

How to Make Party Potatoes

This recipe for party potatoes starts with frozen hash brown potatoes. You can buy them shredded or diced and either will work for this recipe but our Test Kitchen tasters preferred the diced variety. Thaw potatoes on the counter for 15 minutes to help them break apart and mix together better. This is also a great way to use up stale cereal. The corn flakes will crisp up as they cook.

  1. Mix the potatoes with the other ingredients including shredded cheese, cream of chicken soup, and sour cream.
  2. Spread the mixture into a 13x9-inch baking dish.
  3. Top with a buttery corn flake topper
  4. Bake until golden-brown and bubbly.

How to Customize Party Potatoes

If you want to mix up your funeral potatoes recipe, try one of these easy ideas.

  • Add some frozen stir fry veggies or sautéed diced onions to the casserole.
  • Use your favorite shredded cheese—Monterrey Jack and Colby Jack are good options.
  • If you don't have cornflakes, try using crushed saltine or butter crackers.
  • Make it a meal by tossing in some shredded chicken.
  • Make vegetarian party potatoes by swapping in a can of cream of mushroom soup or cream of cheddar cheese soup instead.

Can You Make Party Potatoes in the Slow Cooker?

You can make slow cooker party potatoes, simply mix the filling ingredients in the slow cooker and cook on low for 3-5 hours. To get the crispy topper, bake the topping ingredients (minus the cheese) on a sheet pan until crisp and sprinkle on just before serving.

Ingredients

  • 30 to 32 ounces frozen diced hash browns

  • 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese

  • 16 ounces sour cream

  • 10 1/2 ounces cream of chicken soup

  • 6 tablespoons salted butter, melted, divided

  • 1/4 teaspoon salt

  • 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

  • 2 cups corn flakes

Directions

  1. Preheat oven to 350ºF. In a large bowl combine diced potatoes, 1 1/3 cups of the cheese, sour cream, cream of chicken soup, 1/4 cup of the melted butter, salt, and pepper.

  2. Spread mixture evenly into a 13x9-inch baking dish.

  3. In a medium bowl combine cereal, remaining 2/3 cup cheese, and remaining 2 tablespoons melted butter.

  4. Sprinkle mixture over potatoes in dish.

  5. Bake until potatoes tender and top is golden brown, 50 to 60 minutes.

Nutrition Facts (per serving)

536 Calories
40g Fat
36g Carbs
10g Protein
Nutrition Facts
Servings Per Recipe 10
Calories 535.8
% Daily Value *
Total Fat 40.4g 52%
Saturated Fat 16.1g 80%
Cholesterol 69.8mg 23%
Sodium 1032.5mg 45%
Total Carbohydrate 35.9g 13%
Dietary Fiber 2.6g 9%
Total Sugars 2.9g
Protein 9.8g 20%
Vitamin D 0.3mcg 2%
Vitamin C 6.5mg 7%
Calcium 230.3mg 18%
Iron 2.5mg 14%
Potassium 422.7mg 9%
Fatty acids, total trans 0.9g
Vitamin D 13.4IU
Alanine 0.3g
Arginine 0.2g
Ash 4.2g
Aspartic acid 0.6g
Caffeine 0mg
Carotene, alpha 3mcg
Choline, total 33.7mg
Copper, Cu 0.2mg
Cystine 0.1g
Energy 2244.2kJ
Fluoride, F 8.1mcg
Folate, total 40.6mcg
Glutamic acid 1.7g
Glycine 0.2g
Histidine 0.2g
Isoleucine 0.4g
Leucine 0.7g
Lysine 0.4g
Methionine 0.2g
Magnesium, Mg 33.3mg
Manganese, Mn 0.2mg
Niacin 2.8mg
Phosphorus, P 243.3mg
Pantothenic acid 0.7mg
Phenylalanine 0.4g
Phytosterols 0mg
Proline 0.8g
Retinol 225.8mcg
Selenium, Se 9.6mcg
Serine 0.3g
Starch 23.4g
Theobromine 0mg
Threonine 0.3g
Vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol) 3.1mg
Tryptophan 0.2g
Tyrosine 0.4g
Valine 0.5g
Vitamin A, IU 852.6IU
Vitamin A, RAE 229.3mcg
Vitamin B-12 0.6mcg
Vitamin B-6 0.3mg
Vitamin K (phylloquinone) 12.1mcg
Water 112.4g
Zinc, Zn 1.4mg

*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

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