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Chicken Divan is a classic casserole filled with creamy cheesy deliciousness and packed with hearty broccoli! The flavor combination of chicken, broccoli, and cheddar will forever be one of my favorites, and it’s no wonder that this recipe has been enjoyed by families for generations! Serve this over some rice, mashed potatoes, or biscuits!
When it comes to casserole recipes, this has to be in my rotation! Chicken Divan is so creamy, cheesy, and comforting. It’s a super easy casserole to make as well! It barely takes any time if you have leftover chicken that’s waiting to be used. It’s the perfect dinner option for busy weeknights. Just because there are minimal ingredients, that doesn’t mean it’s sacrificing any flavor. I remember making this recipe a very long time ago with the variation of adding curry powder, but I haven’t been able to find the recipe I used since then! So, dwelling upon the fact that I can never find that recipe again, I decided to make my own chicken divan recipe without the curry powder. It came out super delicious!
How to make Chicken Divan
A simple recipe that can be made within 30 minutes is a recipe that can be made during busy weeknights. It’s make-ahead friendly for those days that you really can’t cook! (Full ingredient amounts and complete instructions are available in the recipe card down below).
- Cooked Chicken: Leftover chicken breasts or rotisserie chicken are perfect for this recipe. If you don’t have cooked chicken sitting in your fridge, you can bake or panfry 2-3 chicken breasts (about 2 lbs. worth) that have been cubed, then set aside to make with the casserole.
- Condensed Cream of Chicken or Mushroom Soup: Either one works fine! Try to find a soup that is lower in sodium, otherwise, the casserole may become too salty.
- Fresh Broccoli: The classic chicken divan calls for fresh heads of broccoli that is cooked to a crisp tenderness then shocked in an ice bath to prevent further cooking. You can cut this time by using thawed frozen broccoli. I just think the fresh broccoli tastes better!
- Shredded Cheddar Cheese: Sharp or mild works! You can also swap it out for white cheddar. Shredding your own cheese will create a gooey and melty cheese since there’s no anticaking agent on it, but you can use a pre-shredded bag.
- Salt, Pepper, Garlic Powder, Onion Powder, Ground Dry Yellow Mustard: You can omit the dry mustard if you wish. I added it because adds a kick of flavor and rich, savory undertones to any dish.
- Milk & Sour Cream: Used for the creamy sauce.
- Yellow Onion: I added this to cut through the taste of the condensed soup. You can, however, completely omit this.
Preheat the oven to 400F. In a large pot, bring water to a boil then add in the broccoli. Cook until the broccoli is crisp-tender (slight crunch, but you can easily cut it with a knife). Drain the broccoli well and set aside. In a skillet, melt 1 tbsp of butter and cook the onions until softened. Set aside. In a large mixing bowl, combine together the soup, seasonings, some cheddar, milk, and sour cream. Stir in the broccoli and chicken. Spread the mixture into a 3 qt baking dish or a 9×13 baking dish. Top with the remaining cheese. Bake, uncovered, for 18-20 minutes, or until the casserole is bubbling and hot. Serve immediately.
Tips & FAQs
- Storage: Keep in an airtight container for up to 3 days.
- Make Ahead: This can be prepared and covered in the fridge up to 2 days in advance. If you are going to bake this right from the fridge, add an extra 15 minutes to the baking time.
- Freeze: This can be frozen after baking for up to 3 months. Allow it to cool completely, and store it in a freezer-safe container in the freezer.
- Variations:
- Mayonnaise can be used instead of sour cream.
- Use frozen broccoli instead of fresh broccoli. Just pat it dry after thawing.
- Add in some cauliflower or asparagus for extra veggies.
- Mix together crushed Ritz crackers or panko breadcrumbs with some melted butter to make a crunchy topping.
- Add a bit of curry powder for some spice.
- What is Chicken Divan? According to Wikipedia, this dish was created and named after the Divan Parisien Restaurant in NYC’s Chatham Hotel, where it was served as a signature dish in the 20th century.
Want the recipe? Click print below! Let me know how it came out for you by tagging me on Instagram (@missravenskitchen) and using #missravenskitchen! Follow my Facebook page for updates as well! Let me know if I need to tweak anything.
Chicken Divan
Ingredients
- 3 cups cooked chicken breast (about 2 lbs), cubed
- 1 1/2 lb fresh broccoli, cut into bite-size pieces
- 1 medium yellow onion, diced
- 1 tbsp butter
- 10.5 oz can condensed cream of chicken OR mushroom soup, low sodium
- 1/2 cup milk
- 2/3 cup sour cream
- 1 1/2 to 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese, divided
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp onion powder
- 1/2 tsp ground black pepper
- 1 tsp ground dry yellow mustard
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400F.
- Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Cook the broccoli in the water until crisp-tender (slight crunch, but you can easily cut it with a knife), about 2-3 minutes. Drain well.
- In a small pan, melt the butter over medium heat and cook the onions until softened and translucent, about 5 minutes.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine together the condensed soup, milk, sour cream, 1 cup of shredded cheddar, salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, and dry mustard. Stir in the onions, broccoli, and chicken. Spread the mixture into a 3 qt or 9×13 baking dish. Top with the remaining cheese.
- Bake, uncovered, for 18-20 minutes, or until the casserole is bubbling and hot, and the cheese is completely melted.
- Serve immediately.
Notes
Storage: Keep in an airtight container for up to 3 days.
- Make Ahead: This can be prepared and covered in the fridge up to 2 days in advance. If you are going to bake this right from the fridge, add an extra 15 minutes to the baking time.
- Freeze: This can be frozen after baking for up to 3 months. Allow it to cool completely, and store it in a freezer-safe container in the freezer.
Variations:
- Mayonnaise can be used instead of sour cream.
- Use frozen broccoli instead of fresh broccoli. Just pat it dry after thawing.
- Add in some cauliflower or asparagus for extra veggies.
- Mix together crushed Ritz crackers or panko breadcrumbs with some melted butter to make a crunchy topping.
- Add a bit of curry powder for some spice.
What is Chicken Divan? According to Wikipedia, this dish was created and named after the Divan Parisien Restaurant in NYC’s Chatham Hotel, where it was served as a signature dish in the 20th century.
Nutrition Facts
Calories
390.68Carbs (grams)
15.49 gCholesterol (grams)
112.84 mgFat (grams)
21.3 gFiber (grams)
3.55 gProtein (grams)
35.46 gSat. Fat (grams)
11.05 gSodium (milligrams)
1054.71 mgSugar (grams)
4.7 gNet carbs
11.94 gThe nutrition information provided is an estimate and will vary based on cooking methods and the brands of ingredients used.
Miss Raven's Kitchen 
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