Instant Pot Funeral Potatoes
Looking for a simple side dish? Then check out our instant pot funeral potatoes. They combine everyone’s two favorite ingredients, potatoes and cheese!
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Okay, let me start off by saying I had no idea this hashbrown casserole had anything to do with funerals. It wasn’t until Kim and I were looking for a name for this posting that we discovered that funeral potatoes are the name of potato dishes served at, well, funerals.
Once we noticed the search results, it seemed like the right term to use, so here we are. With that being, said, I still feel like our recipe is basically a hash brown casserole; however, we’ll just call them funeral potatoes.
Now, I know funeral potatoes are usually topped with corn flakes or potato chips. However, we don’t like either of those as a topping, so we used bread crumbs.
When I get to the topping instructions, feel free to use whatever you want to mix with the butter. We totally understand that the name “funeral potatoes” may be a turnoff.
If that’s the case, maybe you’ll like our Instant Pot Penne with Vodka Sauce recipe.
How to Make Instant Pot Funeral Potatoes:
For this recipe you will need an instant pot and a steamer basket, so please make sure you have both of these kitchen tools before making the dish. We have an affiliate link for the steamer basket below, just above the recipe card.
Funeral Potatoes:
First, set your instant pot to saute and add the unsalted butter. If you don’t have an Instant Pot branded device then use whatever setting allows you to saute inside your pressure cooker.
Next, add the onions and cook them until they are soft. It usually only takes about 2-3 minutes.
Go ahead and add the garlic and let everything sauté for another 30 seconds. Don’t let the garlic over cook or it will become bitter.
Now, turn off the instant pot and add all of your seasonings, the salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes.
Then, pour in the chicken broth and give the bottom of the pot a quick scrape to deglaze the pan. If nothing stuck to the bottom, that’s okay, go ahead and give all the ingredients a quick stir before moving on to the next step.
After that, place the steamer basket into the instant pot and pour in the frozen hash browns. The steamer basket should be setting above the liquid.
Put the lid on, seal the cooker, and set it on Manual/Pressure cook for one minute. Once the dish is done do a quick release.
After the pressure has fully released, pour the hash browns into the instant pot with the onions, garlic, and chicken stock. Slowly stir the sour cream and cheese into the hash brown mixture.
Last, transfer the funeral potatoes into an 8-inch baking or casserole dish and set it aside. If you don’t have an 8-inch dish, then use 8×8 or 9×9-inch baking dish. Everything should fit just fine.
Topping and Serve:
First, preheat your oven on the Broil setting. You only need to brown the topping, so the baking dish won’t be in the oven for long.
Storage
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. Reheat in the oven or toaster oven for the best texture.
More Great Potato Recipes
How to Video
Ingredients
Funeral Potatoes
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 1 small white onion, diced
- 4 garlic cloves, minced
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- ⅛ teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 1 cup low-sodium chicken broth
- 26 ounces frozen shredded hash browns
- 8 ounces sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
- ¾ cup sour cream
Topping
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
- 1 cup panko breadcrumbs
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Instructions
- Set the Instant Pot to Sauté, and add the butter. Once melted, add the onion and cook for 2 to 3 minutes until softened.2 tablespoons unsalted butter1 small white onion
- Add the garlic, and cook for 30 seconds. Turn off the Instant Pot, then stir in the salt, pepper, red pepper flakes, and chicken broth. Use a wooden spoon to scrape any browned bits from the bottom of the liner.4 garlic cloves½ teaspoon salt¼ teaspoon black pepper⅛ teaspoon red pepper flakes1 cup low-sodium chicken broth
- Place a steamer basket into the Instant Pot, making sure it sits above the liquid. Add the frozen hash browns to the steamer basket.26 ounces frozen shredded hash browns
- Place the lid on the Instant Pot, and set the valve to Sealing. Cook on Manual/Pressure Cook for 1 minute. When the cook time is up, carefully open the valve for a quick release.
- After the pressure has fully released, remove the lid. Carefully transfer the hash browns from the steamer basket into the Instant Pot liner with the onion mixture.
- Stir in the sour cream and shredded cheddar cheese until the mixture is creamy and well combined. Transfer the hash brown mixture to an 8×8-inch baking dish.8 ounces sharp cheddar cheese¾ cup sour cream
- Preheat the oven broiler. In a small bowl, mix the melted butter and breadcrumbs until evenly combined.2 tablespoons unsalted butter1 cup panko breadcrumbs
- Sprinkle the breadcrumb mixture over the potatoes. Place the baking dish under the broiler for 2 to 3 minutes, or until the topping is golden brown. Watch closely so the topping doesn’t burn.
- Serve as a side dish or for breakfast.
Notes
- Store leftovers in the fridge for up to 3 days. Reheat in the oven for the best texture.
I don’t have a steamer basket but I’m going to try to just cook the hash browns in the instant pot pot and see how that turns out. This looks delicious though. Making it tonight
Good Morning Vanessa, thank you for coming back to comment on and rate the recipe card! Kim and I hope the dish turned out well for you. Have a lovely day 🙂
These types of recipes were traditonally known as Mormon Funeral Potatoes. The more modern term is Party Potatoes. Itwas a faster method of making a cheesy scalloped potato. with a more even cook. They were commonly brought to large gatherings, not just funerals, as this recipe can be doubled or tripled when baked in an oven and feed a small army. Mormon families have passed down similar recipes for generations.
These can be baked in an oven for anybody who does not have a steamer bucket, About an hour at 350. You may need to reduce the amount of liquid
We always add more cheese when its done cooking…lol
If you would like to try deep drying them, you can substitute the broth for boullion cubes, substitute sour cream for cream cheese, coat with bread crumbs/panko and chill 30 mins, Then Deep fry
Good morning James, that you for providing that information. It’s really interesting to hear about the history behind a recipe. We’ve never tried deep frying, it sounds like a great way to change up formula. Thanks again for coming back to comment and rate the recipe. Have a great day 🙂
I do not have a steam basket.
What else could I use?
Good Morning Sandy, that’s a great question. Unfortunately, we really don’t have a good answer for you. There aren’t many substitutes for a steam basket inside an Instant Pot, that we are aware of. My only recommendation would be to search in Google and see what you find. Because, we don’t have any Instant Pot/pressure cooker alternatives that would be safe. Sorry we couldn’t assist you more. Hopefully, you’ll find an alternate kitchen tool or are able to purchase a steam basket in the future. Thank you again for coming by and leaving a comment. Have a lovely weekend 🙂
They are called funeral potatoes because of the following:
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (Mormons) have a group of women that are called the Relief Society. When a member of the church passes away and they have a funeral, it is customary for the Relief Society to ask members to bring a dish, or a salad, or rolls, etc. for people to eat at the funeral gathering at the church. One of the most common and easy dishes that are brought to the funerals was hashbrown casseroles. This dish quickly came to be more commonly known as “funeral potatoes”. They have also been called “Mo-Mo’s”. You would be hard pressed to attend an LDS funeral and not find shan, rolls, and Funeral Potatoes. ????
Thank you for letting me know, Dayna! Have a lovely day 🙂
I always saw the term Funeral potatoes and always wondered why it’s called that name. I believe it is more popular in the West and not everywhere. I love how creamy this dish is, sour cream, shredded cheese, and shredded potato sound real yummy!.
Thank you, Michelle! I’m not too sure about the origins of the name myself. But, the more I think about it, the more it seems like another name for hash brown casserole. Either way, it’s tasty, thanks again for commenting, have a lovely day 🙂
LOL I had heard of Funeral Potatoes, but it’s not a New York Thing… I understood from friends, though, that it was the Comfort Food Dish to Pass that tended to turn up back at the house after the funeral in – some parts of the Midwest, maybe? Don’t remember clearly… All that creamy cheesy potato goodness!
I always saw the term Funeral potatoes and always wondered why it’s called that name. I believe it is more popular in the West and not everywhere. I love how creamy this dish is, sour cream, shredded cheese, and shredded potato sound real yummy!.
I think every family has a favorite recipe they provide when someone dies. My MIL made an oatmeal cake with a brown sugar pecan topping. Any time we saw that cake on the counter the first thing we would say is, “Who died?” So the cake became called the Who Died Cake. I don’t believe I’ve ever had this particular casserole but it sounds delicious. I wish I had an Instant Pot so I could make it just like you did.
Such a classic recipe! I think I was vaguely aware that these are sometimes called Funeral Potatoes, but in my family we usually call them “Sunshine Potatoes” – way happier LOL! 😉 Brilliant idea to adapt this for the Instant Pot! I’m so in love with my Instant Pot, for sure!
I have to admit, the title of this recipe had me raising an eyebrow so thank you for the explanation! I’m always looking for new recipes to test out in my instant pot. The hubs is a huge potato fan, I’ll have to test these on him!
I love your take on funeral potatoes and even better that they’re made in the instant pot. Genius!
I always wondered why they would call anything “funeral”….so depressing. Potatoes are so delicious, and these sound great. This is the perfect “crowd pleasing” casserole…for LOTS of happy gatherings LOL!!