Funeral Potatoes Recipe - The Cookie Rookie® (2024)

FAQs

Are funeral potatoes a Mormon thing? ›

Commonly served after LDS funerals, this cheesy potato casserole is the ultimate comfort food. If you've ever encountered Mormon funeral potatoes, you can attest that the salty, crispy, cheesy casserole is one of the most oddly satisfying creations that exists in America — nay, the world.

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.

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 ...

Think of funeral potatoes like an everyman's au gratin or scalloped potatoes. Cheese, cornflakes (or something else carb-filled and crumbly), potatoes, sour cream and condensed soup comprise this delectable dish. It's a casserole dish that can feed a crowd.

What should I wear to a Mormon funeral? It's appropriate to dress in formal attire at a Mormon funeral. For men, this usually means a suit and tie, and for women, a conservative dress, skirt and blouse, or suit and trousers. Women should make sure to cover their knees and shoulders.

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).

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.

The dish is prominent in the predominantly Mormon-populated areas of Utah and Idaho, and may have originated in that region of the United States. Funeral potatoes may be known by other names, such as potato casserole, and is served at other potluck dinners, such as family and church gatherings.

Where did funeral potatoes come from? If conventional wisdom holds true and the Relief Society invented funeral potatoes, this dish was invented in Utah. It's also possible that funeral potatoes were invented in the Midwest. Until March 2023, funeral potatoes are part of a museum exhibit in Iowa per the Deseret News.

Bringing dishes like baked sandwiches, cheesy potatoes and pasta salads are a great way to show your love and support.

What is the best mourning food? ›

Many grocery stores offer ready-to-eat meals in a variety of options. You could also bring fresh rolls, cold cuts, cheeses, and potato salad. Drop off a fruit and vegetable platter along with an extra-large sub. Never underestimate the appeal of a warm pizza.

If you can get over the name, Walmart's 13.6 ounce bag of funeral potatoes that makes 12 servings sounds super easy to make. All you have to do is mix the pouch's contents with six cups of water, spread into a 9x13 baking dish and bake at 375 degrees for 50-55 minutes.

Afterward, family members and friends gather for a meal, also known as a Makaria, or a “mercy meal.” Fish is a typical course that is served and during this time, more stories and memories are shared to honor their loved ones and cherish their time spent on earth.

One area of a funeral service that's traditional in most situations is the providing of food to family and friends who are able to attend. This food is usually provided at the end of the service, and is a form of support offered to those who are grieving.

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.

The long-lasting ingredients of funeral potatoes are almost always inside a Mormon's pantry—a holdover from the Church's post-Depression push for maintaining a three-month food supply at all times. So they're ready to be cooked into a dish at a moment's notice upon hearing of a community member's passing.

The Mormon funeral is a religious service, and offers an opportunity for the Church to teach the gospel. As Mormons believe in life after death, funeral services are generally serious but celebratory events. The service will often contain songs, hymns, prayers, tributes to the person who died, and a sermon.

Mormon funerals include many traditional hymns, prayers, and readings. You and your family shouldn't have to worry too much about picking out the hymns, prayers, readings, etc. that will be used during your loved one's Mormon funeral service.