Lightened-Up Funeral Potatoes (Printable version)

Comfortable cheesy casserole with shredded potatoes, Greek yogurt sauce, and a crispy cornflake topping.

# What You’ll Need:

→ Potato Base

01 - 1 (28 oz) bag frozen shredded hash brown potatoes, thawed
02 - 1½ cups reduced-fat shredded cheddar cheese
03 - ½ cup diced yellow onion
04 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
05 - ½ teaspoon kosher salt
06 - ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper

→ Lightened Sauce

07 - 1½ cups plain Greek yogurt (2% or nonfat)
08 - ¾ cup low-sodium chicken or vegetable broth
09 - 1 tablespoon olive oil
10 - 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
11 - ½ teaspoon onion powder
12 - ½ teaspoon garlic powder

→ Topping

13 - 2 cups cornflakes, lightly crushed
14 - 2 tablespoons melted unsalted butter

# Directions:

01 - Preheat oven to 350°F. Lightly grease a 9x13-inch baking dish and set aside.
02 - Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add diced onion and cook until softened, approximately 3 minutes. Stir in minced garlic and cook for 1 minute more.
03 - Sprinkle flour over the onion mixture and stir constantly for 1 minute to combine.
04 - Gradually whisk in chicken or vegetable broth until smooth and thickened, about 2-3 minutes.
05 - Remove from heat and stir in Greek yogurt, onion powder, garlic powder, salt, and pepper until creamy and fully combined.
06 - In a large bowl, combine thawed hash browns, shredded cheddar cheese, and the yogurt sauce. Mix thoroughly until well incorporated.
07 - Spread the potato mixture evenly in the prepared baking dish.
08 - In a small bowl, toss crushed cornflakes with melted butter until evenly coated. Sprinkle mixture evenly over the casserole.
09 - Bake uncovered for 40-45 minutes until bubbly and golden brown on top.
10 - Allow to cool for 5-10 minutes before serving.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It tastes indulgent and creamy but won't derail your better intentions.
  • That crispy cornflake topping gives you the textural contrast that makes people come back for thirds.
  • You can make it ahead and bake it whenever—perfect for potlucks or busy weeknights when you need something that feels special.
02 -
  • Thaw your hash browns completely and squeeze out moisture—this prevents a watery, disappointing casserole that tastes more like mashed potatoes than creamy comfort.
  • Add yogurt off the heat, always—I learned this the hard way watching it separate into grainy curds, a mistake that taught me respect for dairy science.
  • Don't skip the butter on the cornflakes or they'll stay pale and stale-tasting instead of transforming into that addictive crispy topping.
03 -
  • Assemble the entire casserole the night before and refrigerate it unbaked—just add 5 extra minutes to the baking time since it starts cold.
  • Squeeze your thawed potatoes over the sink using clean kitchen towels; dry potatoes are the difference between creamy and watery.
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