Creamy Cheesy Potato Bake with Frozen Hash Browns

This crowd-pleasing cheesy potatoes with hash browns casserole comes together in minutes using frozen hash browns, sour cream, cream of mushroom soup, and plenty of cheddar cheese. Also known as funeral potatoes, this classic comfort-food side dish is creamy, cozy, and goes with just about everything. It’s a recipe made popular in the Best of Bridge Cookbooks, where it’s called Swartzy’s Hash Browns.

Why You’ll Love this Recipe

Not long ago, we were invited to a neighborhood potluck dinner. I struggled to know what to take, but ended up choosing to make this popular cheesy hash brown casserole recipe. It was such a hit that I made it again for my family just a few weeks later. They loved it, too!

There are so many reasons to love this recipe. Here are a few of them:

• Made with simple ingredients, this cheesy potatoes casserole is an easy recipe that can be ready for the oven with just a few minutes of prep.
• If you are looking for a recipe to transport to a potluck or party, this one is it! This popular recipe is perfect for holiday dinners, a lazy sunday brunch, or yes, even a funeral potluck.
• Known as a comfort food casserole recipe, it’s a perfect side dish that compliments main dishes like ham, meatloaf, pork, or beef. It’s perfect for dinner parties. Find a whole bunch of dinner party recipes here.
• It can be made ahead and frozen – ready to put in the oven when ready to use.

Ingredients for this hashbrown casserole recipe

Note: a printable recipe card is provided with the exact amounts for your convenience.

• Frozen diced hash brown potatoes – I prefer diced hash browns over shredded for this recipe -for their hearty texture
• Sour cream – Adds richness and tang to the creamy sauce
• Cream of mushroom soup – The classic base that brings everything together
• Milk – Helps loosen the sauce so it bakes up creamy
• Melted butter – Adds flavor and richness
• Shredded cheddar cheese – Sharp cheddar gives the best flavor
• Salt and pepper – To season to taste

Step by Step instructions for cheesy potatoes with frozen hashbrowns

(Refer to the recipe card above for specific instructions.)

Substitutions and variations for this comforting side dish:

• Other “cream of” soups can be substituted for the cream of mushroom soup. Cream of chicken soup, cream of cheddar soup, or cream of celery soup would all yeild delicious results with this recipe.
• You can omit the 1/2 cup milk and use another can of cream of soup for more creamy goodness in this recipe. In fact, the original Schwarties Hash Browns recipe called for 2 cans of cream of mushroom soup and no milk.
• Turn this cheesy hashbrown casserole recipe into a one pan dinner by adding in 2 cups cooked, diced ham or cooked & diced breakfast sausage and serve it as a main dish.
• For a decadent topping, sprinkle on the top of the casserole before baking one of the following: 1 cup shredded parmesan cheese or 1 cup panko bread crumbs or 1 cup crushed corn flakes or potato chips.
• Use different cheeses or a mixture of cheeses in this casserole for a different cheesy sauce flavor.

Other Potato Recipes

• Roasted Smashed Potatoes are also a great crowd pleasing side dish
• Classic Potato Salad with egg is a great side dish all year round.
• Baked potato with cheese sauce can be a side dish, or even turned into a main dish!
• Scalloped potatoes with mushroom soup is so quick to put together with canned soup.
• Easy, crispy diced roasted potatoes is a great side dish that goes with so many things!

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