If you’re looking for an easy side dish for your next gathering, look no further than these party potatoes. Super simple to throw together and, oh so decadent and delicious, party potatoes have it all – warm, ooey-gooey goodness and a wonderfully buttery crunch.
Ever Harc is reader supported, therefore, this post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Affiliate, I may earn a small commission when you click on these affiliate links at no additional cost to you. You can read my full disclaimer here.
Party Potatoes By Any Other Name Would Still Taste As Delicious
Chances are, you are already familiar with party potatoes. Depending on your region, you may know this dish by one of many other names – funeral potatoes, company potatoes, potato casserole.
I actually grew up calling them funeral potatoes. Anytime someone passed away in our inner circle, you can be sure that this potato dish would be found at the funeral service or delivered directly to the bereaved for an easy meal option.
After all, the last thing someone wants to do while grieving is cook. And while we can’t take away someone’s pain from loss, we can support others by helping with some of the routine tasks so that they can focus on healing. Party potatoes are the type of comforting dish that nourishes the body and the soul.
Hence the name funeral potatoes.
Even so, after suffering through many a strange look and awkward attempts at explaining what funeral potatoes are, I’ve opted to refer to them as party potatoes moving forward.
Regardless of what you call them, they are seriously delicious.
Party Potatoes Are Perfect For Feeding a Crowd - Oh, And They’re Full of Butter
Party potatoes offer an affordable way to feed a large group of people and are easy to make. So it’s no surprise that this dish is a staple at gatherings of all types – holiday meals, social events and, yes, even funerals. Not to mention they’re warm, hearty and satisfying.
This potato side dish is packed with everything you could want in comfort food – butter, sour cream, butter, cornflakes, butter, potatoes, butter. Oh, and did I mention butter? Well, there’s a fair amount of butter involved. A whole cup of it, in fact. You can certainly scale down the butter, but for big family meals and gatherings, I don’t mind a little indulgence.
Besides, the butter is distributed across the whole casserole, so it’s not like you’re eating a whole cup of butter on your own. Not that I would look down on you if you did. As someone who reportedly ate full sticks of butter and left a trail of empty wrappers behind the couch as a child, I’m hardly in a position to judge 😉
For the record, I have no recollection of this chain of events, but both of my parents stand by this story…
Party Potatoes Are a Great Make-Ahead Dish
I’m not going to lie, I love making big family meals. I am quick to volunteer for hosting Thanksgiving, birthday parties and the like. And not just because I’m a control freak (although…..).
I just love feeding people. My dominant love language is Acts of Service, and cooking for others falls within this category.
Even so, it is often a daunting and sometimes stressful undertaking. So I prepare by making a menu early. Then I break down the various tasks and divide them to be completed over several days.
The more that can be accomplished ahead of time, the greater the chance that everything will go smoothly on the day of the event. It also allows me to mingle and spend time with everyone rather than just run around like a chicken with my head cut off.
So selecting dishes that can be prepped ahead of time is a must for me. And party potatoes fit the bill for a make-ahead dish without the sacrifice of flavor.
Party potatoes can be fully assembled and refrigerated up to two days in advance. When assembling ahead of time, hold off on adding the cornflake topping until ready to bake.
Party Potatoes Freeze Beautifully
Party potatoes also freeze well. Oftentimes, when making this dish, I double it so that I can freeze some for a future meal.
To freeze, mix everything together as directed and add to your casserole dish of choice. Just like the refrigerated make-ahead version, don’t add the cornflake topping at this time. Securely cover and freeze for up to 3 months.
When ready to cook, move to the refrigerator and allow to thaw overnight. Just before baking, add the cornflake topping and bake as directed.
Pro Tip: Be sure to check out the casserole dishes at your local thrift shops and yard sales. You can usually pick up used casserole dishes for a similar price to disposable aluminum baking dishes. Next time you make party potatoes or any other casserole to give to someone, you’re also gifting them something they can continue to use rather than something they will just toss.
Check Out These Other Side Dish Recipes:
Need A Dish For Your Next Get-Together? You'll Love These!
- Cherry Pineapple Dump Cake – An Easy, 5 Ingredient Dessert
- The Best Chewy Brown Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies
Make these now or pin for later!
Possible Variations for Party Potatoes
I like to try different things when I cook and party potatoes are no exception. And as always, I invite you to do the same! Don’t be afraid to experiment or substitute for things that you like or have readily available. Here are some possible variations to try:
- Try substituting the cornflake topping with Ritz or saltine crackers, potato chips, Cheez-its, Rice Krispies Cereal, Chex Cereal or even Frosted Flakes.
- Make it a complete meal by adding ham, turkey or even ground beef. You could even sneak in some green veggies such as peas or broccoli.
- This version of party potatoes uses a mixture of sour cream and plain Greek yogurt because I like the consistency and flavor of this combination. However, I have made it successfully using only sour cream and only Greek yogurt as well.
- Instead of cream of chicken soup, you could use cream of mushroom or cream of celery. If you like things super cheesy, you could even try cheddar cheese sauce.
- I prefer to use the homestyle hash browns for this recipe, but I have made it with shredded hash browns as well. I’ve even used cut-up leftover baked potatoes. Both of these variations were equally delicious, but there is a difference in texture.
Method
Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
Grease a 13” x 9” baking dish. Pro Tip: Grease your pan with the wrapper from your stick of butter. There should be just enough residual butter to get the job done, and you’ll be able to use every last bit of butter from your stick 🙂
In a large bowl, mix together the sour cream, Greek yogurt, cream of chicken soup, melted butter and shredded cheese.
Add the hashbrowns to the large bowl and mix thoroughly.
Add to your greased baking dish and set aside.
Crunch up your cornflakes and mix with the melted butter.
Add the cornflake mixture to the top of your potato mixture.
Bake, uncovered, for 45 – 60 minutes or until bubbly.
Serve immediately and enjoy!
If you’re looking for some color, garnish with green onion, chives, parsley or even dill.
Party Potatoes
Ingredients
Potato Mixture
- 1 32 oz bag of frozen country-style hash browns
- 2 cups sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
- 1 cup sour cream
- 1 cup plain Greek yogurt
- 1 10.5 oz cream of chicken soup
- ½ cup butter, melted
Cornflake Topping
- 3 cups cornflakes
- ½ cup butter, melted
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Grease a 13” x 9” baking dish.
- In a large bowl, mix together the sour cream, Greek yogurt, cream of chicken soup, melted butter and shredded cheese.
- Add the hashbrowns to the large bowl and mix thoroughly.
- Add to your greased baking dish and set aside.
- Crunch up your cornflakes and mix with the melted butter.
- Add the cornflake mixture to the top of your potato mixture.
- Bake, uncovered, for 45 - 60 minutes or until bubbly.
- Serve immediately and enjoy!
Notes
Did you enjoy this party potato recipe? Let me know in the comments!
Like this post? Share it!
My grandma made something similar to this and it was delicious!
I bet it was! In my experience, everything grandma makes is delicious 🙂 And it’s hard to go wrong with a potato casserole. Thanks for visiting today!