Keto Funeral Potatoes Casserole Recipe (Cheesy, Creamy, Comfort Food)

There are recipes you make once, and then there are recipes that somehow sneak into your life and never leave. Keto Funeral Potatoes is one of those. It’s cheesy, it’s creamy, it’s comfort food on a spoon. And the best part? You don’t have to break your low carb streak to enjoy it.

I grew up eating the “real” funeral potatoes at church potlucks, holidays, and yes… even funerals. The classic version is a casserole made with shredded potatoes, cream soup, sour cream, and a mountain of cheese. It’s scooped out hot, melty, and everybody goes back for seconds.

When I switched over to keto, that recipe felt like something I’d never get to enjoy again. Potatoes and canned soup don’t exactly fit the low carb bill. But, after a little experimenting in the kitchen, I came up with this keto version that tastes so close to the original, you’d swear it still had potatoes in it.

Let’s walk through it slowly, because this recipe deserves the time.

What Are Funeral Potatoes, Anyway?

The funny name has always caught people off guard. It’s not because the casserole is sad or grim. In fact, it’s the opposite. Funeral potatoes got their nickname because the dish is often served at church gatherings after funerals. It’s warm, filling, easy to feed a crowd, and makes people feel taken care of.

Over time, it became a staple at family dinners, Christmas, Easter, and even just Sunday suppers. So even if you’re not eating it after a funeral, the name stuck.

Traditionally, the casserole is made with frozen shredded hash browns, cream of chicken soup, sour cream, butter, cheese, and a crunchy topping like cornflakes. Carbs galore. But don’t worry, we’re about to make all of that keto-friendly.

Swapping Potatoes on Keto

The biggest swap is, of course, the potatoes. On keto, regular potatoes are off the table because they’re loaded with starch. Instead, I use cauliflower rice.

Before you roll your eyes—yes, I know cauliflower has been the “replacement” for everything on keto. But here’s the trick: when it’s baked into this cheesy casserole, you honestly can’t tell it’s cauliflower. It picks up the creamy sauce and melts right into the cheese.

Other people sometimes use rutabaga, turnips, or even shredded zucchini as potato stand-ins. But for this recipe, cauliflower is the easiest, fastest, and the closest in texture once baked.

Ingredients You’ll Need

Here’s the lineup for our keto funeral potatoes:

• 4 cups cauliflower rice (fresh or frozen, just make sure it’s drained well)

• 1 cup sour cream

• 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese

• 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese

• 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese

• 1/4 cup cream cheese, softened

• 1/4 cup heavy cream

• 2 tbsp butter

• 1/4 cup chopped green onions

• 1/2 tsp garlic powder

• 1/2 tsp onion powder

• Salt and pepper, to taste

For the topping:

• 1 cup crushed pork rinds (you can also use almond flour if you don’t like pork rinds)

• 2 tbsp melted butter

• 1/2 tsp smoked paprika

That’s it. Nothing weird or expensive. Just simple low carb ingredients that turn into pure comfort food.

Step-By-Step Instructions For Keto “Funeral Potatoes” Casserole

Step 1: Prep the Cauliflower Rice

If you’re using frozen cauliflower rice, microwave it first and then squeeze out as much water as possible with a clean kitchen towel. If it’s too watery, your casserole will be mushy instead of creamy.

Fresh cauliflower rice works too—just pulse cauliflower florets in a food processor until they look like rice. Then sauté it for a few minutes in a dry skillet to cook out the moisture.

Step 2: Make the Creamy Base

In a big mixing bowl, combine sour cream, cream cheese, heavy cream, butter, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper. Stir it until smooth. It will look thick, and that’s exactly what you want.

Step 3: Stir in the Cheeses and Veg

Fold in the cheddar, mozzarella, and Parmesan cheeses. Toss in the chopped green onions. Then stir in the cauliflower rice until everything is coated in cheesy sauce.

Step 4: Assemble the Casserole

Grease a 9×13 baking dish with butter or cooking spray. Spread the cauliflower mixture evenly into the dish.

Step 5: Add the Crunchy Topping

Mix the crushed pork rinds, melted butter, and smoked paprika in a small bowl. Sprinkle it evenly over the casserole.

Step 6: Bake It

Bake uncovered at 375°F (190°C) for about 30–35 minutes, or until the top is golden brown and the cheese is bubbling.

Step 7: Cool and Serve

Let it cool for 10 minutes before serving. This helps it set so you don’t end up scooping soup instead of casserole.

What It Tastes Like

Imagine creamy scalloped potatoes and cheesy hash browns had a baby, and that baby happened to be keto-friendly. That’s the best way I can describe it. It’s cheesy, slightly tangy from the sour cream, buttery, and the pork rind topping gives you that perfect crunch you didn’t know you were missing.

When I served this to my family the first time, nobody guessed it was cauliflower. They just ate it like it was the real thing and asked for seconds.

Tips to Nail This Recipe Every Time

• Drain the cauliflower well. I can’t stress this enough. Too much liquid will ruin the texture.

• Use sharp cheddar. The stronger the cheese flavor, the closer it tastes to the “original” funeral potatoes.

• Don’t skip the topping. The crunchy layer makes a huge difference. Without it, it feels a little flat.

• Make ahead. You can prep the casserole up to 2 days ahead of time, cover it, and keep it in the fridge. Just add the topping right before baking.

• Freezer friendly. Wrap it tightly and freeze for up to 2 months. Bake straight from frozen, just add about 15 extra minutes.

Fun Variations

• Add protein: Toss in shredded rotisserie chicken, diced ham, or cooked bacon to turn this into a full meal.

• Make it Tex-Mex: Add chopped green chiles, taco seasoning, and use pepper jack cheese.

• Broccoli twist: Replace half the cauliflower with small broccoli florets for a cheesy broccoli casserole feel.

• Buffalo style: Stir in a couple tablespoons of buffalo sauce and swap mozzarella for blue cheese crumbles.

What to Serve with Keto Funeral Potatoes

This casserole can be the star of the table or play sidekick to your main dish. Here are some ideas:

• With roasted chicken and a simple salad

• Next to a big juicy steak

• Alongside turkey for a holiday meal

• Paired with grilled salmon and asparagus

• Or, let’s be honest, eaten straight out of the baking dish standing in the kitchen

It’s rich, so you don’t need a lot on your plate to feel satisfied.

Why This Works So Well on Keto

One of the hardest things about eating low carb is missing out on comfort foods. Bread, pasta, potatoes—those are the foods that feel like a hug when you’re having a rough day.

This recipe fills that gap without kicking you out of ketosis. Cauliflower keeps the carbs down, but the mix of cheeses, sour cream, and butter bring in the fat that keto relies on. It’s satisfying, filling, and doesn’t taste like “diet food.”

My First Time Making This Keto Version

The first time I made this, I wasn’t sure it would work. I remember standing over the bowl thinking, “There’s no way cauliflower is going to taste like potatoes.” But once I pulled it out of the oven, the smell hit me first—cheese, butter, garlic. When I scooped the first bite, it looked exactly like the old funeral potatoes I grew up with.

I took that bite, and yep, it was close enough to make me grin. That’s when I knew I had a keeper. Now it’s a regular on our dinner table, especially for holidays.

Nutritional Info (Per Serving)

This will vary a little based on brands, but here’s a rough estimate for one serving (out of 8):

• Calories: 280

• Fat: 22g

• Protein: 12g

• Carbs: 5g (Net: 3g)

• Fiber: 2g

That’s a whole lot better than the traditional recipe, which can clock in at 30–40 carbs per scoop.

Conclusion

Keto Funeral Potatoes casserole is the dish that proves low carb comfort food is not just possible—it’s better. It tastes like the classic version most of us grew up with but without the carb crash afterward.

If you’re cooking for family or friends who aren’t even keto, don’t say a word. Just serve it. Chances are they won’t even know the difference.

So the next time you want a cheesy side dish that feels like home, pull out this recipe. Whether it’s a weeknight dinner, a potluck, or yes, even a funeral, this casserole has a way of bringing people together around the table.

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