Cheesy Potato Casserole: the cozy side dish that will have everyone coming back

If you've been searching for an effortless side dish to serve with your weeknight dinners, look no further than this irresistible cheesy potato casserole. This sensational recipe is also perfect for holidays or parties where you have a large crowd to feed – it's always popular with guests. It's creamy, tangy, and absolutely delicious!

Cheesy potato casserole is similar to funeral potatoes but is made without a topping. That said, you can easily add a topping to your cheesy potato casserole, or mix in tasty additional ingredients to take it to the next level. Serve it with anything you like – roast turkey, stews, burgers, fried chicken…everything goes with cheesy potato casserole!

Cheesy Potato Casserole Ingredients

You only need six ingredients to make this mouthwatering cheesy potato casserole.

You'll need potatoes, of course. Russet, Yukon Gold, Idaho, Maris Piper, and King Edwards are the best options. Look for starchy, floury potatoes – basically any type of potato you'd normally bake.

Butter adds richness and flavor. For best results, use salted butter.

You'll also need sour cream to give the sauce its creamy texture and tangy flavor, plus some cream of chicken soup.

Sharp cheddar cheese is the cheese of choice for this recipe, but any good melting cheese will work here.

Finally, you'll need some chopped green onions to add a bit of bite to the casserole and complement the rest of the flavors.

How to Make Cheesy Potato Casserole

Cheesy potato casserole is such an easy, delicious side dish to make, you'll be whipping it up all the time. Start by heating your oven to 375F and spraying a baking dish with cooking spray. Put your potatoes in a large pot, then add water. Bring the water to a simmer and cook the potatoes for 12 to 14 minutes until they become fork-tender. Drain and allow them to cool for several minutes.

Melt butter in a medium saucepan. Once the butter has melted, take the pot off the heat and stir in the sour cream, cream of chicken soup, green onions, and 1 ½ cups of cheese. Put your potatoes into the prepared baking dish and pour the cheese sauce over them. Toss everything well to coat the potatoes, then add the rest of the cheese.

Bake the casserole for 27 to 32 minutes or until it has browned and the cheese is bubbling. Serve with your favorite main dish, and enjoy!

Tips for the Best Cheesy Potato Casserole

For a vegetarian-friendly cheesy potato casserole, use cream of cheddar soup instead of cream of chicken.

You can use hash browns instead of potatoes. If you do, you'll need about 30 ounces.

Grating the cheese yourself will ensure it melts more evenly.

Add tasty extras to make your cheesy potato casserole heartier and more delicious. Try chopped bell peppers, broccoli, sausage, or shredded chicken.

Jazz up your cheesy potato casserole with toppings like crumbled bacon, crushed Ritz crackers, cornflakes, breadcrumbs, fried onions, or potato chips. Melt a little butter and toss them with the topping of your choice to help them brown up.

Swap out the cheddar cheese or use a mixture of cheeses. Mexican cheese mix, edam, gouda, gruyere, mozzarella, Jack, and goat cheese would be excellent, too.

How to Serve Cheesy Potato Casserole

With its tangy cheese flavor, cheesy potato casserole goes with loads of dishes. Serve it as a side dish with pot roast, stews, roasts, fried pork chops, fried chicken, barbecue ribs, honey-glazed ham, and so much more! The real question is what doesn't go with cheesy potato casserole?

How to Store Cheesy Potato Casserole

You can assemble your cheesy potato casserole and pop it in the fridge for 2 to 3 days before baking it. If you have leftovers, let them cool, then transfer them to an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 3 days.

Can You Freeze Cheesy Potato Casserole?

You can totally make this cheesy potato casserole ahead of time to freeze and reheat later or freeze any leftovers you might have. Let the casserole cool slightly, wrap it, and freeze it for up to one month. When you're ready to enjoy it, leave it on a countertop to thaw for about an hour, then bake it at 400F for one hour until heated through and bubbling.

Instructions

Preheat your oven to 375F. Spray a casserole dish with cooking spray.

Place potatoes in a pot. Cover with water and season with salt. Bring to a simmer and cook for 12 to 14 minutes until fork-tender.

Drain and cool for several minutes.

Melt butter in a saucepan.

Remove from heat and mix in sour cream.

Pour in the cream of chicken soup.

Add green onions.

Add 1 ½ cups of cheese.

Transfer the potatoes to the baking dish. Pour the cheese mixture over the potatoes and toss well to combine.

Garnish with remaining cheese.

Bake for 27 to 32 minutes or until the casserole has browned and the cheese is bubbling.

Garnish with extra green onion. Serve and enjoy!

Notes

Use a 9×13-inch casserole dish to make your cheesy potato casserole.