Description
Comfort comes alive in this classic Pioneer Woman funeral potatoes casserole, blending creamy cheese and crispy potato textures. Home cooks can easily create this heartwarming side dish that brings families together around the table.
Ingredients
Scale
- 30 oz (850 g) frozen shredded hash brown potatoes
- 1.5 cups (180 g) grated monterey jack cheese
- 0.5 cups (60 g) grated sharp cheddar cheese
- 0.25 cups (30 g) grated parmesan cheese
- 1 medium onion, finely diced
- 8 tbsps (113 g) salted butter
- 1 cup (240 ml) milk
- 1 cup (240 g) sour cream
- 0.25 cups (30 g) all-purpose flour
- 2 cups (480 ml) low-sodium chicken broth
- 2 cups (60 g) kettle-cooked potato chips
- kosher salt, to taste
- freshly ground black pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Preparation: Preheat the oven to 350°F and generously butter a 9-by-13-inch baking dish, ensuring complete surface coverage.
- Onion Foundation: In a large skillet, melt butter over medium-high heat. Sauté diced onions until translucent and soft, stirring occasionally to prevent burning.
- Sauce Creation: Dust flour over softened onions, stirring to integrate. Cook briefly to eliminate raw flour taste, then gradually whisk in milk and chicken broth until a smooth, creamy sauce develops. Season with salt and pepper, allowing the mixture to thicken and become velvety.
- Cheese Incorporation: Remove from heat and blend Monterey Jack, sour cream, and sharp Cheddar into the sauce until uniformly mixed. Gently fold frozen hash brown potatoes throughout the creamy mixture, ensuring complete coverage.
- Topping Preparation: Crush potato chips and Parmesan cheese together, then drizzle with melted butter. Toss until evenly coated and crisp.
- Assembly and Baking: Transfer potato mixture to the prepared baking dish, spreading evenly. Scatter the buttery chip and Parmesan topping across the surface. Cover with aluminum foil and bake for 20 minutes, then uncover and continue baking until the top turns golden and edges become bubbly.
- Serving: Allow the casserole to rest for 15 minutes, enabling flavors to meld and the dish to set before serving.
Notes
- Prevent Lumpy Sauce: Whisk milk and broth slowly and consistently to achieve a silky, smooth sauce without unwanted clumps.
- Control Onion Cooking: Sauté onions just until translucent to maintain their delicate flavor and prevent burning or excessive browning.
- Master Cheese Incorporation: Fold cheeses gently into the warm sauce off the heat to create a creamy, well-blended mixture without separation.
- Crispy Topping Technique: Crush potato chips finely and mix thoroughly with Parmesan for a perfectly seasoned, golden-brown crunchy layer.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 11
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 780 mg
- Fat: 25 g
- Saturated Fat: 15 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 45 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 10 g
- Cholesterol: 50 mg