Ultimate Cheesy Potato Casserole

Cheesy Potato Casserole is a super easy side dish recipe that sits on all my family holiday tables- Christmas Dinner, Easter, 4th of July, etc…. It is truly a reliable side dish that is creamy and cheesy, who doesn’t love that?! But how could you not love it- it is full of cheese, butter, sour cream, shredded potatoes and then topped with crushed up potato chips.

You may have heard of this cheesy potato recipe by another name: cheesy potato bake, funeral potatoes, cheesy potatoes casserole, party potatoes or hash brown casserole.

Some other excellent potato side dishes to check out are Yukon Gold Mashed Potatoes and Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes!

Easy Side Dish

When you have a lot of labor intensive dishes on a menu, especially during holidays, you need a simple and foolproof side dish you can throw together.

The only skills required to make this dish are stirring and a little chopping. It is easy enough for every level of home cook!

Ingredients

This is a recipe that is full of pretty simple ingredients. The list may look long, but there really isn’t any prep, besides stirring, involved:

Hash Brown Potatoes: I have used both frozen hash browns that are thawed and the refrigerated hash brown potatoes (usually labeled Simply Potatoes) and they both work!

Cream of Chicken Soup: the recipe calls for cream of chicken, but I know cream of celery or cream of mushroom soup both work!

Potato Chips: these are used for your topping. However you can omit them completely or sub in cornflakes cereal mixed with a little melted butter.

Shredded Cheese: Use whatever cheese you have on hand. Mild cheddar, sharp cheddar, or Colby jack will all work just fine!

How to Make Cheesy Potato Casserole

Start by preheating the oven to 350 degrees F. Then grab a deep 9×13 baking dish.

In a very large bowl mix together the hash browns, melted butter, chopped green onions, shredded cheddar cheese, sour cream, cream of chicken soup, and seasonings. Stir until everything is combined.

Pour it into the casserole pan. Then crush the potato chips and sprinkle over top.

Cover with aluminum foil and bake for 30 minutes. Then remove the foil and bake another 20 minutes until the top is turning golden brown and the top of the potatoes are bubbly.

Let cool for about 5-10 minutes before serving.

Variations

Here are a few ideas to change up the recipe to suit your taste buds:

• Use cubed potatoes instead of shredded
• Try using southern style hash browns, the one with onions and peppers, for a different twist.
• Cut the calories by using plain Greek yogurt instead of sour cream.
• Use whatever cheese you have on hand. Mild cheddar, sharp cheddar, Colby jack will all work just fine!
• Add a packet ranch dressing mix for a new flavor profile.
• Stir some crispy bacon.
• Add a 4 oz can of diced green chilies.

Topping Options

This recipe for cheesy potato casserole is topped with crunched up plain potato chips.

• You can also try sour cream and onion chips, cheddar potato chips, cheddar and sour cream… would all make yummy options.
• French fried onions (like the ones on top of green bean casserole)
• corn flakes mixed with some melted butter (make sure you don’t buy frosted flakes!)

Make Ahead

This easy cheesy potato casserole can 100% be made ahead for easier dinner prep, especially when you have larger family gatherings, like a holiday dinner.

Simply prepare them completely and pour into your 9×13 pan, however leave the crunchy topping off until it is time to cook.

Keep in the fridge for up to 2 days.

If you are baking straight from the fridge you may need to add 5-10 minutes to the cooking time.

Serving at Dinner

This cheesy potato casserole recipe is a perfect side dish for just about any protein; Grilled burgers, Steaks, Ham, Pot Roast, BBQ Meatballs, Pork Tenderloin or Meatloaf.

All you have to do is add a veggie, like this Oven Roasted Asparagus , Green Beans, or Broccoli Bacon Salad and you are all set for dinner.

Serving at Brunch

Remember these Cheesy Potatoes are not just for dinner, they make a great side dish at brunch too.

They pair perfectly with Sausage Egg Cups, or Ham & Egg Casserole. Put together a fresh fruit bowl, a green salad and some store bought pastries and you have a wonderful brunch spread that is easy to prepare!.

More Amazing Potato Side Dishes

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