Funeral Potatoes Recipe (2024)

FAQs

Why do they call them funeral potatoes? ›

These ooey-gooey potatoes may be named after funerals, because members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints shared them at funerals.

"Try it before you diet," chef Tyson Peterson, originally from Salt Lake City, says of the dish that's most commonly served after LDS funerals or at family events. "Even if you're not from that faith, in Utah they're still called 'Mormon Funeral Potatoes' and have only positive connotation.

The best side dishes to serve with funeral potatoes are blooming onion, bacon-wrapped asparagus, chicken parmesan, pork ribs, feta pasta, sausage rolls, butter lettuce salad, coconut shrimp, salmon burger, steamed broccoli, glazed carrots, cheesy garlic bread, grilled corn on the cob, pasta salad, apple slaw, and beef ...

It's a cheesy potato casserole native to Midwest culture—something you might bring over to a neighbor in a time of need. That homey, neighborly, homecooked goodness is the whole vibe, and that's why they've aptly named themselves Funeral Potatoes.

Why are they called funeral potatoes? Funeral potatoes get their unique name from being a crowd-pleasing casserole served as a side dish at after-funeral luncheons (particularly in the culture of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints).

Substitute fresh potatoes for 30 ounces of frozen hashbrowns. Substitute diced green onions for 3 tablespoons dried chives.

As to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, no foods are banned unless they have tea, coffee, alcohol or illegal drugs as ingredients.

Funeral potatoes (also great potatoes, cheesy potatoes, hash brown casserole, cheesy hash browns, those potatoes, or party potatoes) is a traditional potato hotdish or casserole that is popular in the American Intermountain West and Midwest.

In many communities, close family members and friends gather at the church after the funeral to share a meal prepared by the women's Relief Society. Ham or turkey is served with potatoes, salad, and rolls, followed by dessert.

While no one is sure where exactly funeral potatoes originated, most sources attribute their spread to the Relief Society, a women's organization within the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. One responsibility of society members was attending to the needs of the bereaved, including meals.

What state has funeral potatoes? ›

Funeral potatoes in Utah and Latter-day Saint culture

Made with inexpensive ingredients, funeral potatoes have persisted both because of their low cost and their iconic taste. While we may never uncover their true origins, this dish has a strong association with Utah.

Funeral potatoes are a familiar side dish in the Western and Southern United States. They're popular at gatherings of the Church of Latter-day Saints and the church's associated Relief Society. They're also served widely and in many different variations.

You Say “Potato”, We say “Tater”: Growing Potatoes in the South – Digging Food.

In an interview with NPR, Jacqueline Thursby described how Latter-day Saints had big families and even bigger congregations to feed. The Latter-day Saint life is filled with endless potlucks, giving food to the sick, funerals, weddings, activities and births. Funeral potatoes provided a thrifty solution, she explained.

The most important Indigenous American crops have generally included Indian corn (or maize, from the Taíno name for the plant), beans, squash, pumpkins, sunflowers, wild rice, sweet potatoes, tomatoes, peppers, peanuts, avocados, papayas, potatoes and chocolate.

Additionally, it provides a sense of community and comfort for those grieving. The term "repast" has Latin roots, it means "to eat" and originally referred to any mealtime. However, it has become synonymous with a meal eaten after a funeral over the years.

Food is essential to any funeral reception because it provides comfort and nourishment to grieving people. It can also be a way to honor the life your loved one had shared with others by serving food they enjoyed, which will make this event more memorable than most other funerals in town!

The most common context would be “Couch Potato" which is s person who sits on the couch all day. A childish person could simply be teasing you in a nonsensical fashion.