Grilled Cheesy Potato Casserole Recipe

Whether you call them funeral potatoes, party potatoes, cheesy potatoes, or a creamy hash brown casserole, Easy Grilled Cheesy Potato Casserole is pure comfort food. It has crisp golden edges, a buttery crunchy topping, melted cheddar cheese, and tender potatoes baked together in a cast iron skillet on the grill.

I first tasted a version of this cheesy potato casserole at a wedding shower, where the bride’s mother had made a large pan of what she called funeral potatoes. It was one of those simple, old-fashioned side dishes that disappeared almost immediately. Spoonful after spoonful went onto plates before most of the other food had even been touched.

When I asked for the recipe, I realized it was made with familiar comfort food ingredients: hash browns, sour cream, cheddar cheese, cream of chicken soup, butter, and a cornflake topping. It may not be fancy, but it is the kind of dish people remember, request, and go back for again.

Because I love cooking in cast iron and enjoy using the grill whenever possible, I decided to make a grilled version. The result was even better than expected. Cooking this cheesy potato casserole in a cast iron skillet gives it browned edges and a crisp bottom that are hard to duplicate in a regular baking dish. The grill adds a fun outdoor cooking element, while the inside stays creamy, rich, and satisfying.

This easy grilled cheesy potato casserole is a crowd-pleasing side dish for cookouts, holiday meals, potlucks, family dinners, and backyard barbecues. It pairs especially well with grilled meats, roasted chicken, pork tenderloin, steak, shrimp, baked beans, asparagus, or a fruit crisp for dessert.

How to make Easy Grilled Cheesy Potato Casserole

To make this grilled cheesy potato casserole, start by setting up your barbecue grill for indirect cooking. Indirect grilling means the heat source is on one side of the grill while the skillet sits away from the direct flame or charcoal. This lets the casserole bake gently with the lid closed, similar to an oven, while still giving it that wonderful grilled character.

Preheat the grill until the grate temperature is about 350 to 400 degrees. A 12-inch cast iron skillet works especially well for this recipe because it holds heat evenly and helps create the browned, savory crust around the edges.

Melt butter in the cast iron skillet, then sauté the finely diced onion with minced garlic, kosher salt, and pepper until the onion is tender and fragrant. Move the skillet away from direct heat and stir in the defrosted cubed hash browns, sour cream, cream of chicken soup, and freshly shredded extra sharp cheddar cheese.

For the topping, combine crushed cornflakes with melted butter and fresh parsley. Sprinkle the mixture evenly over the top of the potato casserole. Close the grill lid and cook indirectly for 30 to 40 minutes, or until the casserole is hot and bubbly, the topping is crisp, and the edges are golden brown.

Can I cook this in the oven or does it have to be grilled?

Yes, this cheesy potato casserole can also be finished in the oven. After sautéing the onion, garlic, salt, and pepper in butter, stir in the remaining casserole ingredients, add the topping, and bake at 350 degrees for 30 to 40 minutes. The oven version is still creamy and delicious, although the cast iron grill method gives the edges a particularly nice crust.

What if I don’t have a cast iron skillet, can I use another pan?

You can use another grill-safe pan as long as it is similar in size and safe for barbecue cooking. Cast iron is recommended because it heats evenly, withstands grill temperatures well, and creates the best browned edges. A different pan will still work, but it may not produce the same crisp crust.

What should I serve with my Easy Grilled Cheesy Potato Casserole?

• Smoky brown sugar crusted pork tenderloin
• Grilled triple berry crisp in a cast iron skillet
• Sticky Asian grilled chicken thighs
• Bourbon bacon grilled baked beans
• Bourbon bacon ham and pineapple kabobs on the grill
• Grilled teriyaki steak
• Grilled bang bang shrimp
• Herb butter spatchcock chicken and roasted vegetables
• Easy grilled Parmesan asparagus

This creamy grilled potato casserole is hearty enough for a holiday table but easy enough for a casual weekend meal. Because it uses frozen hash browns, there is very little prep work, and the casserole comes together quickly. The most important step is making sure the hash browns are completely defrosted before mixing them with the sour cream, soup, and cheese.

For the best texture and flavor, shred the cheddar directly from a block rather than using pre-shredded cheese. Full-fat sour cream and full-fat cheese also give the casserole a richer, creamier finish. Once the topping is golden and the center is hot, let the skillet rest briefly before serving so the potatoes can set slightly.

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