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This easy cheesy potatoes is going to be your new go-to side dish for the holidays. Flavorful potatoes in a cheesy sauce and topping make this the ultimate casserole!

Love potatoes? Try my funeral potatoes, cheesy scalloped potatoes and twice baked potatoes.

Spoonful of the best cheesy potatoes.
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Easy Cheesy Potato Side Dish

If you’re looking for a recipe for cheesy potatoes to add to your Christmas dinner or Thanksgiving menu this year…I’ve got your back!

This is a staple Thanksgiving side dish that is always the first one gone. It tastes amazing served alongside a roasted turkey or baked ham and gets so many rave reviews.

Why This Recipe Works

  • The perfect texture. Creamy from both the sour cream and cream of chicken soup, cheesy from the cheddar cheese and crunchy from the buttery cornflake topping.
  • Easy and quick. Prepared and baked from start to finish in under an hour with minimal ingredients and effort. This is an easy, no-fail side dish!
  • Party potatoes. A potato side by many names – cheesy potato casserole, funeral potatoes or cheesy hashbrown casserole recipe.

Cheesy Potato Ingredients

With a few fridge and pantry staples, this recipe for cheesy potatoes doesn’t require any fancy ingredients!

Cheesy potato ingredients on counter.

Find the full printable recipe with specific measurements below.

  • Hash browns: A large bag of frozen hash browns potatoes. You can either use diced or shredded or even country style with onions and peppers.
  • Sour cream: This adds a bit of tang and contributes to the creamy texture.
  • Canned cream of chicken soup: You can also use cream of celery or cream of mushroom soup. Make a homemade cream of chicken soup if you’d prefer.
  • Butter: This is mixed in with the potatoes and the crunchy topping for some added richness.
  • Onions: I like to include some fresh chopped green onions to help boost the flavor. If you don’t have fresh onions on hand, you can mix in some onion powder instead.
  • Cheese: They wouldn’t be cheesy potatoes without the cheese! I like to grate my own sharp cheddar cheese and then stir it into the potato mixture.
  • Cornflakes: Crush them up, then sprinkle on top before baking. You could also use crushed Ritz crackers, potato chips or panko breadcrumbs as the crunchy topping.

How to Make Cheesy Potatoes

Showing how to make cheesy potatoes in a casserole dish.
  • Preheat oven. Preheat oven and butter a 9×13″ baking dish. Set aside.
  • Mix ingredients together. In a large bowl, combine potatoes, green onions, sour cream, cream of chicken, salt, pepper, 1/4 cup melted butter and cheese. Stir, then spread into casserole dish.
  • Add topping. Top with extra cheese (if desired) and crushed cornflakes. Drizzle remaining melted butter on top.
  • Bake in oven. Bake for 30 to 40 minutes, or until golden brown and bubbling hot.

Expert Tips

  • Thaw. It’s important to thaw the bag of hash browns first before using. If they are still frozen, the excess water could make your cheesy potato casserole runny when baking.
  • Topping. If the cornflake topping begins to brown too fast while baking, feel free to tent the top with foil.
  • Let rest. The potatoes will need to set a bit before serving, so I would recommend letting them rest for about 5 to 10 minutes before digging in.
Spoonful of cheesy potatoes in a white baking dish.

Recipe FAQs

Can I make this cheesy potato casserole with real potatoes?

Absolutely! Boiled or baked and then shredded or cubed should work well in this recipe.

Is this cheesy potato recipe gluten-free?

The dish isn’t gluten-free with the cornflakes, but you can make it gluten-free by swapping them out with a gluten-free cracker or breadcrumb.

Can I make this in my crockpot?

Yes, you can make crockpot cheesy potatoes if you’d like. Simply mix the potatoes, sour cream, cream of chicken, butter, half of the cheese and spices in the slow cooker. Cook on low for 4 to 5 hours. Then sprinkle on the remaining cheese and cook for about 10-15 more minutes until bubbly.

What to serve with cheesy potatoes?

If you haven’t tried this cheesy potato casserole recipe, it’s a must this year! We always make it for Thanksgiving with turkey or on Christmas and Easter with spiral ham, roasted vegetables, and potato rolls.

Can I make this cheesy potato recipe ahead of head time?

Yes, to make ahead prepare in a baking dish as directed, but leave off the cornflake topping. Then cover and refrigerate for 1 to 2 days. When you’re ready to bake, let the dish sit at room temperature while the oven preheats. Then sprinkle the cornflake topping over the potatoes and bake as directed.

Freezing Instructions

To freeze this potato side dish, prepare according to instructions (don’t add the cornflake topping). Pour it into a baking dish or a disposable pan for easier clean up. Cover the pan tightly, then freeze up to 2 months.

When ready to enjoy, let thaw in the fridge overnight. Add the topping just before baking, then bake as directed (it may need to bake a few minutes longer since it was frozen, so just keep an eye on it).

5 star review

“My favorite potatoes, not just for holidays, but al year long! They are always requested, because everyone loves them! They are the first thing to go every year!”

-Kristyn
Plate with the best cheesy potatoes.

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Spoonful of cheesy potatoes in a white baking dish.

Cheesy Potatoes Recipe

5 from 106 votes
↑ Click stars to rate now!
Author: Jamielyn Nye
This easy cheesy potatoes is going to be your new go-to side dish for the holidays. Flavorful potatoes in a cheesy sauce and topping make this the ultimate casserole!
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 30 minutes
Total Time: 40 minutes
Servings: 16

Video

Ingredients 

  • 1 (30-ounce) bag diced or shredded hash browns , thawed
  • 1 (16-ounce) container sour cream
  • 1 (10.5-ounce) can cream of chicken soup (or celery or mushroom)
  • ¼ cup melted butter
  • 1 bunch green onions (or 1/2 teaspoon onion powder)
  • 1 teaspoon Kosher salt
  • ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
  • 1 ½ cups shredded cheddar cheese , plus more if desired

Topping

  • 1-2 cups crushed cornflakes (or ritz crackers or panko crumbs)
  • ¼ cup melted butter

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 350°F. Butter a 9×13-inch baking dish. Make sure your potatoes are mostly thawed and drain any excess water.
  • In a medium bowl, stir together potatoes, sour cream, cream of chicken, green onions (or onion powder), salt, pepper, butter, and shredded cheese until combined. Spread into the baking dish. Top with extra cheese, if desired.
  • Spread crushed cornflakes over the top. Drizzle with butter. Bake 30 to 40 minutes, or until golden brown and bubbling hot. If using cubed potatoes instead of shredded hash browns, bake 40 minutes. 
  • Let rest 5 minutes before serving. Enjoy while warm! 

Notes

Lighten the dish: Omit the cream of chicken soup, crushed cornflakes and extra butter on top. Also, use light sour cream and less cheese.
Make-ahead: Prepare in a baking dish as directed, but leave off the cornflake topping. Then cover and refrigerate for 1 to 2 days. When you’re ready to bake, let the dish sit at room temperature while the oven preheats. Then sprinkle the cornflake topping over the potatoes and bake as directed.
Freezing: Prepare the dish according to instructions (don’t add the cornflake topping). Pour it into a baking dish or a disposable pan for easier clean up. Cover the pan tightly, then store in the freezer for up to 2 months.
When ready to enjoy, let thaw in the fridge overnight. Add the topping just before baking, then bake as directed (it may need to bake a few minutes longer since it was frozen, so just keep an eye on it).

Nutrition

Calories: 264kcal | Carbohydrates: 25g | Protein: 6g | Fat: 16g | Saturated Fat: 9g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 4g | Trans Fat: 0.2g | Cholesterol: 44mg | Sodium: 519mg | Potassium: 236mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 773IU | Vitamin C: 8mg | Calcium: 115mg | Iron: 5mg

Nutrition provided is an estimate. It will vary based on specific ingredients used.

Course: Side Dish
Cuisine: American

Did you make this recipe? Don’t forget to give it a star rating below!

Pan of cheesy potatoes.

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