Whip up a batch of these delicious gluten-free cheesy potatoes for a cozy and satisfying side dish. Whether planning a festive holiday feast or a regular weeknight dinner, these easy-to-make potatoes will be a hit!
When it comes to gluten-free side dishes, these gluten-free cheesy potatoes, also known as funeral potatoes, are one recipe you'll be happy to have in your back pocket. They are the perfect addition to your holiday gathering from Christmas, Thanksgiving, Easter, and so much more.
You can't beat the comfort of potatoes tossed in creamy cheese and perfectly seasoned; these gluten-free cheesy potatoes will surely please even the pickiest eaters. Their crispy golden crust adds an irresistible texture that will have everyone returning for seconds.
If you love potatoes as much as we do, check out my apple potato leek soup, smashed fingerling potatoes, and crispy breakfast potatoes recipe.
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Are Funeral Potatoes Gluten-free?
I hate to break it to you, but most funeral potato recipes are not gluten-free due to most having some canned soup and are usually topped with cornflakes cereal, which is NOT gluten-free either. This includes the Cracker Barrel hashbrown casserole.
Don't worry; it's easy to make gluten-free cheesy funeral-style potatoes with just a few simple swaps by making our cheesy version of a gluten-free condensed soup and a delicious gluten-free topping that might surprise you.
Ingredients For Cheesy Potatoes
Here are the ingredients you'll need to make this cheesy potato casserole.
- Chicken Stock - Make sure you use gluten-free chicken stock to keep these cheesy potatoes gluten-free. You can also use a vegetable to stock to make this a vegetarian casserole.
- Milk - I prefer the flavor using whole milk. However, you can use what you have on hand. If you want it even creamier, you can use half and half.
- Frozen Potatoes - I find the texture the best when I use frozen diced potatoes, but you can also use frozen shredded hashbrowns. Just make sure you buy gluten-free ones. Brands like Ore-Ida and Simply Potatoes frozen potatoes are labeled gluten-free.
- Cheddar Cheese - I prefer a sharper cheddar cheese that I shred from the block for the best flavor and texture. Not all sliced cheese products at the store are gluten-free due to anticaking ingredients, so make sure they are gluten-free if you use pre-shredded cheese.
- Onion - Yellow onion is my favorite as it adds more sweetness to these cheesy potatoes than white onion.
- Butter - You can use salted or unsalted, depending on your preference.
- Sour Cream - I use a full-fat sour cream for the best flavor and texture.
- Cornstarch - Cornstarch helps us bring our sauce together to coat the potatoes. You can also use arrowroot starch or a 1:1 gluten-free flour if that's all you have.
- Spices - You'll need salt, pepper, garlic, and poultry seasoning.
- Potato Chips - Regular funeral potato recipes call for cornflake cereal, which is not gluten-free. Swapping that out for gluten-free potato chips, we can get that crispy salting topping everyone loves. I like the Kettle brand that is labeled gluten-free.
How to Make?
Step 1. Make the gluten-free cheese sauce.
- Saute the onion in the butter, and then stir in the cornstarch to coat the onions.
- Pour in the milk, stock, and seasonings, stirring the mixture.
- As the sauce starts to thicken, add half of the cheese and let it melt into the creamy goodness.
Step 2. Fold in the sour cream and frozen hashbrowns.
Step 3. Transfer to a baking dish, top and bake.
- Sprinkle the remaining cheddar cheese on top. Add a layer of crushed potato chips for that perfect crunch.
- Bake for about 45 minutes to 1 hour or until the cheesy potatoes are hot and bubbly around the edges. Enjoy the golden perfection!
Tips and Tricks
- Do you have to thaw your potatoes? - Thawing frozen potatoes is optional and depends on personal preference. Typically, I don't thaw them for an extended period. A short time on the counter while I prepare the rest of the casserole is sufficient.
- If you prefer not to use frozen potatoes, you can substitute with small diced or shredded potatoes. However, peel and par-cook them before adding them to the casserole. This ensures they cook thoroughly during the baking process.
Can you Make Cheesy Potatoes Ahead of Time?
You can make these gluten-free funeral potatoes ahead of time.
- Make the cheesy potatoes up until you transfer them to a baking dish. (Be sure to LEAVE OFF the potato chip topping at this time.
- Cover and store the cheesy potatoes in the fridge for 1-2 days.
- When you are ready to bake, take the casserole dish out of the oven and add the potato chip topping.
- Bake as you would fresh. The cooking time may vary if the potatoes remain cold in the fridge.
Can you Freeze Cheesy Potatoes?
- To freeze funeral potatoes, follow the make-ahead instructions, but instead of the fridge, place the covered potato casserole into the freezer.
- Let the cheesy potatoes thaw in the fridge overnight before baking them.
- On baking, add the potato chip topping and bake as you would fresh. The baking time might vary slightly, like with them being in the fridge.
These gluten-free cheesy potatoes can be frozen for up to three months.
What to Serve with Cheesy Potatoes?
You can serve these gluten-free cheesy potatoes any night of the week, with dinners like my crispy cheddar chicken or my classic gluten-free fried chicken. No need to save them for a special occasion if you don't want to, but they are delicious then, too!
More Gluten-Free Casseroles
📖 Recipe
Gluten-free Cheesy Potatoes
Ingredients
For the cheesy potatoes.
- 4 Tablespoons Butter
- 1 Medium Onion I prefer yellow
- 4 Tablespoons Cornstarch
- 1 Cups Chicken Stock
- ¾ Cup Milk
- 1 Teaspoon Salt
- ½ Teaspoon Pepper
- ½ Teaspoon Garlic Powder
- ½ Teaspoon Poultry Seasoning
- 1 25-30 Ounce Bag Frozen Hashbrowns Diced or shredded
- ½ Cup Sour Cream
- 2 ½ Cups Cheddar Cheese Shredded
For the topping.
- 2-3 Cups Potato Chips Crushed, I prefer the Kettle brand
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
- Lightly butter a casserole dish and set it aside.
- In a large pot over medium heat, melt the butter.4 Tablespoons Butter
- Once the butter is melted, add the onion and let it cook until it has softened and become translucent. This should take about 5 minutes.1 Medium Onion
- Once the onions are cooked, stir in the cornstarch and stir for about a minute until no dry starch is visible.4 Tablespoons Cornstarch
- Slowly whisk in the chicken stock and milk, along with the spices.1 Cups Chicken Stock, ¾ Cup Milk, 1 Teaspoon Salt, ½ Teaspoon Pepper, ½ Teaspoon Garlic Powder, ½ Teaspoon Poultry Seasoning
- Let the mixture simmer until it starts to thicken up, about 5 minutes.
- Once thickened stir in about half of the cheddar cheese, and let it melt into the sauce.2 ½ Cups Cheddar Cheese
- Take the pot off the hear and let it cool for 1-2 minutes.
- Once slightly cooled, stir in the sour cream, and frozen potatoes.1 25-30 Ounce Bag Frozen Hashbrowns, ½ Cup Sour Cream
- Transfer the potato mixture to the prepared baking dish.
- Top the potatoes with the remaining cheese and spread the crushed potato chips over the cheese.2-3 Cups Potato Chips, 2 ½ Cups Cheddar Cheese
- Bake for 45 minutes to 1 hour, until the casserole is baked through and the edges are bubbly.
- Let the cheesy potatoes rest for about 5-10 minutes before serving and enjoy!
Notes
- Do you have to thaw your potatoes? - This is a personal preference. I never tend to thaw the frozen potatoes for very long, just long enough for them to sit on my counter while I make the rest of the casserole.
- If you don't want to use already frozen potatoes, you can substitute some small diced or shredded potatoes. I do suggest peeling and cooking them before adding them to the casserole to make sure they cook all the way through during baking.
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