Smoked Cheesy Potatoes

This classic Smoked Cheesy Potatoes is taken to a whole new level when you make it on your electric smoker! It’s made with hash browns and topped with a buttery Corn Flake topping then smoked for the ultimate flavor on your Traeger pellet grill. If you are looking to make a holiday meal on your smoker, this needs to be on your menu!

If you love cheesy potatoes, then I have just the new side dish for you! Smoked Cheesy Potatoes Casserole – this one is full of everything you will love! Loads of cheese and potatoes with the perfect crunchy topping – delish!! It’s also frequently called Funeral Potatoes because it’s often served at funerals.

If you’re making Twice Smoked Spiral Ham with Honey Glaze or Smoked Prime Rib this a delicious side dish to serve with it! We also love it with our famous Smoked Ribs!

Why You’ll Love Smoked Cheesy Potato Casserole

• This dish is great for a potluck or any holiday meal.
• This recipe makes a huge amount so it is perfect if you are serving a crowd. It is one of my favorite side dishes to share!
• There is very little prep or mess involved in making this creamy casserole that is sure to wow even the pickiest of eaters.

Ingredients Needed for Smoked Potato Cheese Casserole

• Frozen hashbrowns – Diced or shredded, make sure these are thawed when you are ready to bake your casserole.
• Butter – Salt or unsalted.
• Cream of chicken soup – Any condensed “cream of” canned soup can be used.
• Sour cream – Adds a bit of tang and contributes to the creamy texture.
• Milk – We used 2%, but skim would work fine too.
• Onions – I always grab the frozen chopped onions and use them as a shortcut! If you don’t have any onions just add some onion powder to replace them.
• Sharp cheddar cheese – I think a cheddar cheese gives this the best flavor, but Swiss, Jack or your favorite cheese will work. As always, buy the block and grate it yourself for best “meltability”.
• Seasonings – Pepper, Garlic Salt
• Corn flakes – Can substitute Rice Krispies, Panko breadcrumbs or crushed Ritz crackers

We always use a disposable aluminum pan to make this since it goes on the smoker and makes for easy clean up. A regular cake pan will work, but it might get damaged while in the smoker.

How to Make Smoked Funeral Potaotes

1. Preheat the smoker to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
2. Spray a 9” x 13” foil pan with cooking spray. Mix the potatoes, butter, sour cream, condensed soup, milk, onions, cheese, salt and pepper in a large bowl. Pour into prepared foil pan.
3. Combine crushed corn flakes and melted butter. Sprinkle over potato mixture in foil pan.
4. Place on smoker and cook for 1 hour or until potatoes are cooked and topping is golden brown.

Mix-In Ideas!

If you want to make this a meal, throwing in some cooked diced or shredded chicken, bacon or diced ham is amazing! Add a cup or two of your desired meat. Even leftover ground hamburger that’s been cooked would be great. It would resemble our favorite Hobo Packets.

Can I use Fresh Potatoes in this Casserole?

If you’d rather use fresh potatoes instead of the frozen hash brown potatoes, you can! We recommend peeling and dicing your potatoes, then boil them until tender. After that just use them in the recipe to replace the hash browns.

You will need about 2 lbs fresh potatoes. Use red potatoes which will hold their shape better than a Russet potatoe.

Make Ahead Tips!

If you are serving this while having company or want to plan ahead, you can assemble this Cheesy Potato Casserole up to 3 days before you smoke it. Store it covered in the refrigerator.

When you are ready to smoke it, simply remove from the refrigerator and let it sit out at room temperature while your smoker comes up to temperature. Then smoke as the directions state. Cook time may be 10-15 minutes longer since it was cold when you put it on the smoker.

Can I Make This Potato Casserole in the Oven?

Love this cheesy potato casserole, but don’t want to smoke it this time?

Simply preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit and bake it for about 1 hour or until edges are bubbling and the topping is golden brown.

Can I make this in the Crock Pot?

This is a great option when you are hosting a party or coming home and need this recipe ready.

Simply combine everything in the crockpot except the topping. We skip the topping when in the Crockpot because it won’t crisp up, but sprinkle on a little extra cheese at the end of cooking.

It takes about 4-5 hours on low for this recipe in the slow cooker.

How to store leftovers

If you have any leftovers, store them in the fridge in an airtight container up to three days.

How to reheat

You can easily reheat the cheese potato casserole on the stove top, in the oven or in the microwave. We recommend adding a new cornflake topping if you want it to be crispy after storing it in the fridge.

This classic cheesy potato casserole is brought to a whole new level when you cook it in the smoker. It is sure to be a crowd pleaser at every gathering you bring it to. With super easy prep and hardly any clean up, this casserole is sure to make it’s way into your regular rotation.

Serving Suggestions

• A grilled pork loin is another no fuss option to add to the table with the cheese hasbrown casserole.
• Grilled Caesar Salad is a nice, light accompaniment to your cheesy potatoes!
• Cheesy Grilled Garlic Bread is perfectly crusty bread filled with cheesy, buttery garlic goodness!
• Don’t forget dessert? Whip this Grilled Apple Dump Cake in 10 minutes!