You’ll love these Crockpot funeral potatoes for an easy dish that will be a big hit at any potluck. It’s the richest and most creamy side dish you will ever make, and the slow cooker does all the work!
There’s nothing quite like cheesy hash browns to comfort you on a cold winter day, and this slow cooker version is just as creamy and delicious as the classic, but with the added convenience of cooking in your crockpot!
Whether you’re serving them at a potluck or family gathering, or just want a cozy side dish for dinner, these slow cooker cheesy potato casserole recipe is sure to please.
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Why We Love Crock Pot Cheesy Hashbrown Casserole
- The slow cooker does the heavy lifting in this recipe.
Our cracker barrel hashbrown casserole copycat recipe has long been a big hit on the blog, but, there are times when you don’t have the oven space for it, like during the holidays, parties, or family dinners. So, we decided to see if you could make it in the slow cooker and it was just as delicious as oven-baked! - Plenty of cheese melted to perfection.
We used Colby jack shredded cheese to balance the cheddar with a pleasantly light flavor. Plus, it melts very well to create that beautifully thick and gooey slice of crockpot funeral potatoes that you crave. - Easy recipe using pre-shredded potatoes.
The recipe is essentially mixing all the ingredients and heating them up! So easy and tasty.
Want more cheesy potato recipe? Try our Instant Pot red skin mashed potatoes, breakfast red potatoes, loaded hash brown casserole, and Instant Pot smashed potatoes for a dose of delicious potato goodness!
Ingredient Notes and Substitutions
- Shredded hash browns – fresh or frozen (we prefer Ore Ida or Simply Potatoes brands)
- Colby jack cheese or sharp cheddar – freshly shredded is best. Use both cheeses for extra flavor!
- Onion – finely chop for best results.
- Dry ranch dressing mix – see our DIY recipe in the recipe for the best homemade ranch yet!
Recipe Variations
- Mix in some chopped cooked bacon or crumbled sausage for a hearty breakfast casserole with ham and cheese.
- Stir in a can of green chiles or diced jalapeños for a bit of spice.
- Add some frozen corn, diced bell peppers, or other veggies to make it a complete meal.
- Use gluten-free hash browns to make this slow cooker dish gluten-free.
- Replace the ranch dressing with Italian seasoning for a flavor change.
- Try other shredded cheese like pepper jack, Swiss, or Gouda. Gruyere would be delicious too!
- Use Velveeta or American cheese instead of shredded cheese for an extra cheesy casserole.
- To substitute sour cream, use a 1:1 ratio of either plain Greek yogurt, cream cheese, or cottage cheese in place of the sour cream.
Tips for Thawing Frozen Hash Browns
Our preferred way to thaw shredded potatoes is to spread them evenly on a baking sheet and let them sit at room temperature for 30-60 minutes.
- To make the process a bit quicker, place the baking sheet in a 175°F oven for 15 minutes.
You also have the option to thaw the hashbrowns in the refrigerator overnight. Put them frozen in a colander in the fridge with a dish underneath to catch moisture.
- For the best texture and taste, we suggest you keep thawed hash brown potatoes in the fridge for no more than 3 days before using them.
🎯 TFN Pro Tip
Whether fresh or frozen, DO NOT RINSE the hash browns. Shredded potatoes will soak up the water and release moisture into your casserole. No one wants that!
Recipe Tips – Cheesy Hash Browns Crockpot Recipe
- If using frozen hash browns, make sure they are thawed before mixing ingredients.
Check above section for info on thawing hash browns overnight or on the countertop for about an hour. - Finely chop onions before mixing in.
You want the taste of onions, but no big bites of them.
- Add plenty of dairy to the hash browns.
Making this recipe with shredded cheese, sour cream, and softened cream cheese adds so much flavor and creaminess, plus keeps the hash browns from drying out in the slow cooker.
- Top with even more cheese before serving.
Adding a layer of grated cheese and chopped onions gives the casserole a great presentation and extra flavor!
Serving Suggestions
This cheesy, gooey, rich, and satisfying slow cooker funeral potatoes is great with all your favorite comfort foods!
Serve as a delicious side dish alongside frozen chicken tenderloins Instant Pot or Bisquick chicken for an ultimate comfort food dinner.
This crockpot cheesy potatoes are also fantastic with a bowl of cream of mushroom soup, Crockpot pork chops with ranch dressing, buttermilk fried pork chops, and the best turkey meatloaf.
You can add more shredded cheddar cheese for extra cheesy goodness or top it with a cup sour cream and bacon bits.
Recipe FAQs
Sure you can! As-is, this cheesy hashbrown casserole recipe is vegetarian. However, you can add cooked chopped ham or turkey, crumbled cooked bacon, or cooked and crumbled sausage.
We love to double the recipe of this Cracker Barrel cheesy hash brown recipe. Cook one, then add another to a foil casserole container to freeze – see our Hashbrown Casserole for baking directions.
Then, you have one to serve the family that night and one in the freezer. You never know when you’ll need to bring a hot dish to a BBQ or potluck or share as part of a meal train.
The baked casserole will keep well for up to 4 days in the refrigerator. Let the leftovers cool completely before transferring them to a sealed container and storing them in the fridge.
For the easiest prep and reheating, we highly recommend you use a foil pan to make and freeze the casserole. That way, you can quickly go from freezer to oven!
Make the Instant Pot cheesy potatoes casserole recipe as instructed, but do not bake. Instead, wrap the casserole with a layer or two of foil and keep it in the freezer for up to 3 months.
Bake from frozen (uncovered) in a 375°F oven as directed in the original recipe, but add another 15 minutes to the cooking time.
Love Easy Dinner? Here’s More Recipes…
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Crockpot Funeral Potatoes
Equipment
- crock pot (slow cooker)
Ingredients
- ½ cup melted butter
- 30 ounces shredded hash browns fresh or thawed from frozen
- ½ cup yellow onion peeled and finely chopped
- 12 ounces Colby jack cheese freshly shredded (3 cups shredded), divided
- 2 cups sour cream
- 4 ounces cream cheese softened
- 1 packet dry ranch dressing mix *See recipe Notes on making dry ranch seasoning yourself
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
garnish
- ½ cup thinly sliced green onions green part only
Instructions
- Prepare the slow cooker by spraying the liner with non-stick cooking spray.
- To a very large mixing bowl, add melted butter, hash browns, yellow onion, 2 1/2 cups of shredded cheese, sour cream, cream cheese, dry ranch dressing, and pepper.
- Pour the mixture into the prepared crock pot. Cover and cook on high power for 3 1/2 hours, or low power for 5-6 hours. **Check on it every 2 hours (if possible) as some slow cookers cook hotter and faster than others.
- Just before serving, garnish the top of the funeral potatoes with the remaining 1/2 cup of grated cheese and the sliced green onions.
Notes
- 2 tablespoons buttermilk powder
- 1 tablespoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon dried parsley
- 1 teaspoon dried chives
- 2 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon dried dill
Nutrition
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