Easy cheesy potatoes are a classic recipe made with diced potatoes in a creamy cheese sauce. Topped with a buttery cornflake topping it’s a simple and comforting side dish!

A casserole dish with easy cheesy potatoes.

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Cheesy Potato Casserole

These easy cheesy potatoes are the epitome of comfort food that you may have also heard called funeral potatoes or hash brown casserole! They are a staple side dish at Christmas dinner and always on my Thanksgiving menu.

This recipe for cheesy potato casserole is quick to make with frozen diced potatoes and a creamy cheesy sauce. I always keep the ingredients on hand for this cheesy potato bake and for busy weeknight dinners you can make turn it into a crockpot cheesy potatoes!

Ingredient Notes

Diced potatoes in a bowl, with cornflakes, shredded cheddar cheese, cream of chicken soup, sour cream and butter on the counter for the casserole.

Find the full printable recipe with specific measurements below.

  • Hash browns: A large bag of thawed frozen hash browns potatoes. My family prefers diced potatoes but you can use shredded. Real potatoes will need to be parboiled.
  • 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, use 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 thawed diced 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 cheesy potatoes for 30 to 40 minutes, or until golden brown and bubbling hot.
A serving spoon in easy cheesy potato casserole.

Tips and Variations

  • 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.
  • Using real Russet potatoes. Make this easy cheesy potatoes recipe from scratch! Boil or bake potatoes and then shred or cube them and proceed with casserole.
  • Topping. If the cornflake topping begins to brown too fast while baking, feel free to tent the top with foil. Instead of cornflakes, try crushed potato chips or Ritz crackers.
  • Let rest. The party potatoes will need to set a bit before serving, so I would recommend letting them rest for about 5 to 10 minutes before serving.

Make Ahead and Storage

  • Store: Store leftover cheesy potato casserole in an airtight container for up to 4 days. Do not freeze leftovers.
  • Make Ahead: Prepare cheesy potatoes but leave off the cornflake topping. Cover and refrigerate up to 48 hours. Bring to room temperature then sprinkle the cornflake topping over the potatoes and bake as directed
  • Freeze: You can freeze the assembled casserole without the cornflake topping before baking. I prefer to prepare it in a disposable pan for easier clean up. Cover the pan tightly, then freeze up to 2 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge, add topping an bake.
A white plate with a serving of cheesy potatoes.

Want more cheesy potato recipes? Try cheesy mashed potatoes, cheesy scalloped potatoes and ham, or this au gratin potatoes recipe.

More Potato Side Dish Recipes

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Spoonful of cheesy potatoes in a white casserole dish.

Easy Cheesy Potatoes Recipe

5 from 121 votes
Recipe by: Jamielyn Nye
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 30 minutes
Total Time: 40 minutes
Servings: 16
Easy cheesy potatoes are a classic recipe made with diced potatoes in a creamy cheese sauce. Topped with a buttery cornflake topping it's a simple and comforting side dish!
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Ingredients 

  • 1 (30-ounce) bag diced or shredded hash browns , thawed
  • 1-2 cups 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

  • Prep. 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.
  • Combine ingredients. In a medium bowl, stir together 30 ounce hash brown potatoes, 1-2 cups sour cream (more if you like extra creamy), 1 can cream of chicken, 1 bunch green onions (or 1/2 teaspoon onion powder), 1 teaspoon salt, 1/2 teaspoon pepper, 1/4 cup butter, and 1 1/2 cups shredded cheese until combined. Spread into the baking dish. Top with extra cheese, if desired.
  • Bake. Spread 1-2 cups crushed cornflakes over the top. Drizzle with 1/4 cup 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. 
  • Serve. Let rest 5 minutes before serving. Enjoy while warm! 

Last step: Please leave a comment and rating after you make the recipe.

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.