Description
Comforting French onion funeral potatoes blend creamy cheese and caramelized onions into a soul-warming side dish. Hearty potato casserole layers create a rich, savory experience you’ll crave at every gathering.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 32 ounces (907 grams) frozen cubed hash browns, thawed
- 2 cups (226 grams) sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
- 1 1/2 cups (345 grams) sour cream
Dairy and Seasoning Ingredients:
- 1/4 cup (57 grams / 1/2 stick) unsalted butter, melted
- 1/4 cup (57 grams / 1/2 stick) unsalted butter
- 1/2 cup (120 grams) chicken broth, room temperature
- 1/2 cup (122.5 grams) whole milk, room temperature
- 2 teaspoons garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon dried mustard
- 1/4 cup (31 grams) all-purpose flour
Onion Ingredients:
- 1 small yellow onion, diced
- 2 large yellow onions, thinly sliced, layers separated (about 4 cups onions)
- 4 cups (32 ounces / 907 grams) vegetable oil
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350F (175C) and prepare a 9×13-inch baking dish with non-stick spray.
- In a large mixing bowl, thoroughly combine thawed hash browns with melted butter, shredded cheddar cheese, and sour cream until well integrated.
- Create the sauce by heating butter in a non-stick skillet over medium heat. Sauté diced onions until they become translucent and soft, approximately 3-5 minutes.
- Add minced garlic and cook for an additional minute. Incorporate flour, salt, black pepper, cayenne pepper, and dry mustard, stirring continuously to eliminate raw flour taste.
- Gradually whisk in chicken broth and milk, maintaining constant movement until the mixture smooths out and thickens.
- Merge the sauce with the potato mixture, ensuring even distribution. Transfer the combined ingredients to the prepared baking dish, spreading uniformly.
- Bake for 45-50 minutes until the casserole becomes bubbly and thoroughly heated.
- While the casserole bakes, prepare fried onions by heating vegetable oil to 350F (175C) in a large saucepan.
- Fry onions in batches, stirring occasionally, until they achieve a pale golden brown color (2-5 minutes per batch). Use a slotted spoon to transfer to a paper towel-lined baking sheet.
- Sprinkle salt over the fried onions and toss to coat. Once the casserole is done, top with crispy fried onions and serve immediately.
Notes
- Customize the heat level by adjusting cayenne pepper for those who prefer milder or spicier dishes.
- Swap hash browns with cauliflower or sweet potato for a low-carb or nutrient-dense alternative.
- Ensure chicken broth is at room temperature to prevent lumpy sauce formation when whisking.
- Use clarified butter or ghee for a richer flavor and higher cooking temperature if desired.
- Prep Time: 25 minutes
- Cook Time: 50 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Appetizer, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 8
- Calories: 323
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 387 mg
- Fat: 22 g
- Saturated Fat: 13 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8 g
- Trans Fat: 0.3 g
- Carbohydrates: 21 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 7 g
- Cholesterol: 46 mg