Slow Cooker Funeral Potatoes Recipe

A Midwestern favorite side dish often taken to families after a funeral theseCrock-Pot Funeral Potatoes are also known as simply "cheesy potatoes". This is a wonderfully delicious side dish recipe perfect for any potluck or family get-together.

Slow Cooker Funeral Potatoes

So this has turned out to be one of my favorite recipes, both for me, my family and my personal friends. They absolutely love when I whip up a batch of Crock-Pot Cheesy Potatoes. It's an easy recipe to put together and makes a great dish to bring at a potluck or as a side dish.

Now where I'm from we call them "Funeral Potatoes" because often big batches are put together and brought over to the family meal after a funeral. They work great with Ham or Roast Beef and are very filling. Kids love them because they are cheesy and they are potatoes and really is that not the best combo?

One of the tricks I use with this recipe, is I use Cream of Celery vs Cream of Mushroom soup because I'm not a huge Cream of Mushroom fan. So, realizing I could use cream of celery instead and it would only improve the flavor got me very excited!

In this recipe I use frozen potatoes because chopping up potatoes for a recipe like this is time consuming and Idaho Potatoes or Russet have quite a bit of starch in them, so when you chop them up for meals like this, then turn colors. So, then have to wash out the excess starch to have a pleasing color.

Between chopping them the right size and then washing out the starch is way more then I'm going to put into a recipe. So I use Ore-Ida Diced Hash Browns because I don't like the texture of shredded hash browns for this, it just becomes too mushy.

The diced hash browns are the perfect texture and stay intact.

Also, I prefer to use chopped onions for the recipe, but if you have family that doesn't like onions, if you shred those onions using a cheese grater, they won't be able to tell they are in the dish (insert my children 🙂 .)

Equipment Needed For Crock-Pot Funeral Potatoes Recipe:

6 Quart, 6.5 Quart Or 7 Quart Slow Cooker
Microwave Safe Bowl
Silicone Spatula
Measuring Cups and Spoons
Cheese Grater

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I add other items to this funeral potatoes recipe?

This recipe, as is, is a great base recipe which can be dressed up however you like. Feel free to experiment with the recipe by adding other ingredients such as bacon, sausage, peppers, etc.

Can I use fresh potatoes instead of frozen diced potatoes in this funeral potatoes recipe?

You can use either russet potatoes or Idaho potatoes by peeling, dicing and soaking the potatoes in cold water to remove excess starch. Drain the potatoes well and proceed with the recipe. Reduce the cooking time by about 1/2 hour if using fresh potatoes.

Can this funeral potatoes recipe be doubled?

Yes, this recipe can easily be doubled. Just place everything in a larger slow cooker and increase the cooking time by about 1 hour.

Do the frozen hash brown potatoes need to be thawed first in this funeral potatoes recipe?

You do not need to thaw the frozen hash brown potatoes before using them in this recipe. However if the frozen potatoes have clumped together a bit in the bag you will want to break up the clumps first before proceeding wit the recipe. And, if you have thawed potatoes that you want to use in this recipe just decrease the cooking time by about 1/2 hour.

Why is this recipe called "funeral potatoes"?

Some people have commented on the morbid name of this recipe. However, this is a popular dish in the mid-west (and other parts of the US too) to make and bring to a funeral for the grieving guests and family to eat. You can also call it "cheesy potatoes" if the name bothers you.

More great slow cooker potato recipes!

Crock-Pot Baked Potatoes

This recipe for Slow Cooker Baked Potatoes is so easy I am not sure why it needs a recipe. But a recipe we have done. Just 2 ingredients (and one is optional)

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Crock-Pot Funeral Potatoes

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Crock-Pot Funeral Potatoes Recipe

This cheesy potato dish is called "funeral potatoes" because it is often brought to feed a family after a loved one has passed away. But you can make these mouthwatering potatoes anytime you are craving a comfort food side dish.

Print Recipe

Crock-Pot Funeral Potatoes Recipe

Crock-Pot Funeral Potatoes

Rating	Votes: 516 Rating: 3.55 You: Rate this recipe!
Servings	8 Servings
Prep Time	10 Minutes
Cook Time	4 - 10 Hours

Instructions

Melt butter on 50% power in microwave enough to get it softened. Pour into a large mixing bowl.
Melt cream cheese in same container as butter on 50% power in 30 second increments, watching very closely to keep it from burning. Cream cheese does not need to be liquid, it just needs to be softened enough to be able to be stirred. Pour into the same mixing bowl as the butter.
Add the cream of celery soup, diced onion, sour cream, garlic and pepper to the bowl and stir well until everything is mixed together.
Add the frozen potatoes and shredded cheese and stir once more to mix thoroughly.
Pour mixture into a 6 quart or larger slow cooker and spread evenly.
Cover and cook on LOW for 8 to 10 hours or on HIGH for 4 to 5 hours until the potatoes and onion are cooked through.

Recipe Notes

To make clean up easier you may wish to either line your slow cooker with a slow cooker liner or spray with non-stick cooking spray. If your slow cooker has a tendency to burn feel free to give the potatoes a stir every couple of hours. Additionally, you may want to carefully lift the slow cooker insert out of it's base and rotate it as some models of slow cookers have hot spots around the edges. Just keep your eye on it to prevent burning.

Nutrition Information

Calories: 691kcal , Total Fat: 49g , Saturated Fat: 28g , Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g , Monounsaturated Fat: 8g , Cholesterol: 56mg , Sodium: 1085mg , Potassium: 590mg , Carbohydrates: 45g , Dietary Fiber: 3g , Sugars: 4g , Protein: 22g , Vitamin A: 14% , Vitamin C: 13% , Calcium: 7% , Iron: 12%

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