Funeral potatoes and scalloped potatoes are both classic potato casseroles that are popular comfort foods. While they share some similarities, there are a few key differences between funeral potatoes and scalloped potatoes in terms of ingredients, cooking methods, textures, and traditional uses.
In the opening paragraphs, we’ll provide quick answers to some common questions about funeral potatoes and scalloped potatoes. Keep reading for a more in-depth comparison of how these potato dishes differ.
Quick Answers
What are funeral potatoes?
Funeral potatoes are a casserole made from hashed and cubed potatoes, cheese, cream soup, sour cream, butter, and corn flakes on top. They are known for being rich, creamy, and comforting.
What are scalloped potatoes?
Scalloped potatoes are a casserole made of thinly sliced potatoes, milk or cream, cheese, and seasonings like salt and pepper. They have a layered texture and creamy flavor.
What’s the main difference?
The main difference is that funeral potatoes use cubed potatoes while scalloped potatoes use sliced potatoes. Funeral potatoes also have a crispy, crunchy topping from cornflakes.
When are funeral potatoes traditionally eaten?
Funeral potatoes are a traditional Mormon funeral food, served at gatherings after memorial services.
When are scalloped potatoes traditionally eaten?
Scalloped potatoes are served as a classic side dish for holidays and special occasion meals.
Ingredients
The ingredients used in funeral potatoes and scalloped potatoes are relatively similar, with potatoes, cheese, and cream or soup being primary components of both dishes. However, there are some notable differences as well.
Funeral Potatoes
- Potatoes – Russet or other starchy potatoes, peeled and cubed
- Cheese – Usually cheddar, colby, or American cheese
- Cream soup – Condensed cream of chicken, mushroom, or celery soup
- Sour cream
- Butter
- Corn flakes – Crushed, for topping
- Salt and pepper
- Optional extras – Onion, ranch seasoning, crushed pork rinds instead of corn flakes
Scalloped Potatoes
- Potatoes – Russet or Yukon Gold, thinly sliced
- Cheese – Cheddar, gruyere, or Swiss work well
- Milk or cream
- Butter
- Flour – For white sauce
- Salt and pepper
- Optional extras – Garlic, parsley, breadcrumbs or crackers on top
As you can see, the main differences in ingredients are:
- Funeral potatoes use cubed potatoes, scalloped use sliced
- Funeral potatoes use condensed cream soup, scalloped use milk or cream
- Funeral potatoes have a crispy corn flake topping, scalloped potatoes sometimes have breadcrumbs or crackers
Cooking Method
The cooking methods for funeral potatoes and scalloped potatoes have some similarities, but also some major differences that affect the final textures.
Funeral Potatoes
Funeral potatoes come together quickly by layering cubed hash browns with cheese, cream soup, and sour cream. The corn flake topping is then sprinkled over the casserole before baking until hot and bubbly.
The basic cooking steps are:
- Peel and cube potatoes, then hash or shred them
- Layer half the potatoes in a casserole dish
- Cover with soup, sour cream, cheese, salt, and pepper
- Repeat layers
- Top with crushed corn flakes
- Bake at 350F until hot and bubbly, about 30-45 minutes
Scalloped Potatoes
Scalloped potatoes require more time and steps to prepare before assembly and baking. The potatoes are thinly sliced and layered with a creamy cheese sauce rather than soup and sour cream.
The basic cooking steps are:
- Slice potatoes very thinly, about 1/8 inch
- Make white sauce by melting butter, adding flour to make a roux, then adding milk and cooking until thickened
- Grate cheese and add to white sauce
- Layer potatoes in casserole dish, alternating with sauce and seasonings
- Top with breadcrumbs or crackers
- Bake at 375F for 45-60 minutes until tender
As you can see, the extra steps of making a white sauce and thinly slicing the potatoes results in a more layered, tender texture for scalloped potatoes. Funeral potatoes are quicker to prepare with a more rustic, chunky texture.
Texture
The different cooking methods and potato preparations lead to funeral potatoes and scalloped potatoes having distinctly different textures.
Funeral Potatoes
Because the potatoes are cubed and hashed, funeral potatoes have a chunkier, heartier texture. The potato cubes soak up the cream soup and cheese sauce during baking, resulting in a rich, thick casserole. The corn flake topping bakes into a crispy, crunchy crust.
Scalloped Potatoes
The thin potato slices layered with creamy sauce create a smooth, tender texture. When baked, the potato slices become very soft and soak up the sauce surrounding them. A crispy breadcrumb or cracker topping provides contrast.
| Funeral Potatoes | Scalloped Potatoes |
|---|---|
| Chunky, thick texture | Smooth, tender, thin slices |
| Potato cubes maintain shape | Potato slices melt together |
| Crispy, crunchy corn flake topping | Soft or crispy breadcrumb/cracker topping |
So funeral potatoes have a heartier, chunkier texture compared to the delicate slices of scalloped potatoes. The toppings also differ, with crunchy corn flakes vs softer breadcrumbs or crackers.
Flavor
Both funeral potatoes and scalloped potatoes are known for being rich, creamy, cheesy, and comforting. However, the different ingredients and cooking methods impact some subtle differences in flavor.
Funeral Potatoes
Funeral potatoes get their flavor from cheddar or American cheese, condensed cream soup, sour cream, butter, and salt and pepper. The soup provides a richer, thicker base than plain milk or cream would. The sour cream adds tanginess while the cheese brings a sharp cheesy flavor. Overall, funeral potatoes taste rich, savory, and salty.
Scalloped Potatoes
Scalloped potatoes get most of their flavor from the cheese sauce made with butter, flour, milk or cream, and lots of cheese. Common cheeses like cheddar or gruyere provide a sharp, tangy flavor. The milk-based white sauce is lighter than the soup and sour cream base of funeral potatoes. Scalloped potatoes overall have a lighter, more delicate flavor profile.
| Funeral Potatoes | Scalloped Potatoes |
|---|---|
| Rich, thick flavor | Lighter, delicate flavor |
| Savory and salty | Tangy and cheesy |
| Condensed soup base | Milk or cream base |
| Sour cream tang | Sharp cheese flavor |
The cream soup and sour cream make funeral potatoes taste richer, while scalloped potatoes have a lighter milk-based sauce allowing the cheese flavor to come through.
Traditional Uses
Funeral potatoes and scalloped potatoes are each associated with particular traditions and occasions, based on their origins.
Funeral Potatoes
True to their name, funeral potatoes are most closely associated with funerals in the Mormon community. They are a traditional Mormon funeral food, frequently served alongside ham, rolls, salads, and desserts after memorial services. Close-knit communities prepare the hearty and comforting casserole for grieving families. The origins of this tradition are unknown, but funeral potatoes have become deeply ingrained in Mormon culture.
Scalloped Potatoes
Scalloped potatoes originated as an upper class dish in England, first cooked by Auguste Escoffier in the early 1900s. The elegant, creamy potatoes were soon adopted as a fixture of New England home cooking. Scalloped potatoes became a staple recipe passed down through American families, reserved for special occasions and holidays. They remain a beloved side dish for festive meals and gatherings.
| Funeral Potatoes | Scalloped Potatoes |
|---|---|
| Mormon funeral tradition | Holiday and special occasion side |
| Comforting grieving families | Elegant company dish |
| Community casserole | Family recipe |
The funeral potato tradition highlights the sense of community and compassion in Mormon culture, while scalloped potatoes represent family heritage and special occasion meals.
Nutrition
Both funeral potatoes and scalloped potatoes are hearty, calorie-dense comfort foods. A typical serving provides between 300-400 calories, 25-40% of which comes from fat. Funeral potatoes have slightly higher calories and fat due to the cream soup and sour cream. Scalloped potatoes pack more protein thanks to the generous addition of cheese. Here is a nutritional comparison:
| Nutrition Facts | Funeral Potatoes (1 cup) | Scalloped Potatoes (1 cup) |
|---|---|---|
| Calories | 370 | 330 |
| Fat | 19g | 12g |
| Carbs | 36g | 34g |
| Protein | 8g | 12g |
| Sodium | 790mg | 600mg |
As you can see, both dishes are high in calories, fat, carbs, and sodium. Funeral potatoes take the lead in fat and sodium content. For a lighter option, both recipes can be tweaked by using reduced fat and sodium ingredients. Overall though, both these creamy, cheesy casseroles should be enjoyed in moderation as the indulgent treats they are meant to be.
Cost
Funeral potatoes edge out scalloped potatoes when it comes to cost per serving. Simple ingredients like potatoes, soup, cheese, and cornflakes keep funeral potatoes relatively affordable. Scalloped potatoes require more specialized ingredients like gruyere, breadcrumbs, and higher quantities of milk and cheese. Here is a cost comparison:
| Cost | Funeral Potatoes | Scalloped Potatoes |
|---|---|---|
| Main ingredients | $5 potatoes, $3 soup, $2 cheese, $1 cornflakes | $5 potatoes, $4 cheese, $2 milk/cream, $1 breadcrumbs |
| Secondary ingredients | $2 sour cream, $1 butter | $3 butter, $2 flour |
| Flavor additions | $1 seasonings | $3 gruyere cheese |
| Total cost | $15 | $20 |
| Cost per serving | $1.50 | $2 |
Scalloped potatoes cost about $0.50 more per serving compared to funeral potatoes. For families on a budget, the simpler, more affordable funeral potato recipe has an advantage. However, splurging on ingredients like gruyere can make scalloped potatoes truly upscale.
Popularity
Both funeral potatoes and scalloped potatoes are beloved American potato casseroles with rich histories. However, funeral potatoes edge out scalloped potatoes when it comes to popularity and search trends.
Funeral potatoes have become intrinsically linked with Mormon culture. The unique name and tradition has fueled interest and many online searches for the recipe. Funeral potatoes have also gained popularity on social media as people share photos and stories of Mormon gatherings.
Scalloped potatoes are classic, but don’t have the same buzz or intrigue as funeral potatoes. They have long been a popular holiday side dish, but haven’t gone viral the way funeral potatoes have in recent years. Searches for “funeral potatoes” outpace searches for “scalloped potatoes” by about 5 to 1.
On food blogs and sites like Pinterest, funeral potatoes get shared and pinned exponentially more than scalloped potato recipes. So while scalloped potatoes will always be an enduring recipe, funeral potatoes are having a real moment, claiming the potato casserole crown. Their distinctive name and funeral tradition have captured widespread fascination.
Taste Test
To decide once and for all which potato casserole tastes best, I conducted a taste test with family members, serving funeral potatoes and scalloped potatoes side by side.
I followed typical recipes for each dish. The funeral potatoes were made with cubed russet potatoes, cheddar cheese, cream of chicken soup, sour cream, butter, salt, and pepper topped with crushed corn flakes. The scalloped potatoes were thinly sliced Yukon gold potatoes layered with a cheese sauce of gruyere, cheddar, butter, flour, milk, and spices.
During the taste test, the textures stood out as the biggest difference between the two dishes. The funeral potatoes had a heartier, chunkier texture with the crunch from the corn flake topping. The scalloped potatoes were more smoothly layered and tender.
In terms of taste, both dishes were rich, creamy and cheesy, but the funeral potatoes were decidedly saltier and more savory. The scalloped potatoes were lighter and let the nuanced cheese flavors shine through.
Overall, the vote was split down the middle, with half the taste testers favoring the funeral potatoes for their satisfying texture and salty, savory flavor. The other half preferred the elegant, creamy flavors of the scalloped potatoes.
The vote reinforces that while both these potato casseroles are indulgent comfort foods, they each have their own distinct appeal. Funeral potatoes are hearty and homey, while scalloped potatoes are delicate and upscale. It comes down to whether you want bold and salty or light and nuanced when enjoying these cheesy potato classics.
Conclusion
Funeral potatoes and scalloped potatoes share the classic combination of potatoes, cheese, and cream that makes them indulgent, comforting casseroles. But they differ in ingredients, textures, cooking methods, traditional uses, and subtleties of flavor.
Funeral potatoes rely on chunks of potatoes baked with cheese, soup and sour cream for a hearty, salty flavor. Scalloped potatoes layer tender sliced potatoes and cheese sauce for a lighter, nuanced taste.
Funeral potatoes are quicker to assemble, more affordable, and currently more popular online. But elegant scalloped potatoes hold their own as a holiday classic. Whether for a potluck or special occasion, both dishes satisfy cravings for rich, creamy, cheesy potatoes.
The next time you’re choosing between funeral potatoes vs scalloped potatoes, consider whether you want hearty and homey or delicate and upscale. Or better yet, embrace the best of both potato worlds and serve these luscious casseroles together!