I’m still day dreaming about this chicken divan! All that cheese, the creamy sauce, and my favorite part: the broccoli. Sounds crazy? I know! Just hear me out. The florets soak up all that incredible sauce. Each bite gushing with flavor. Broccoli and cheese are a combination that hold such a special place in my heart. Besides my undying love of sauce-soaked broccoli, this is a recipe I love to use when I have leftover chicken to use up. For these photos I used some cubed up chicken breast fried in a skillet, however I usually go for some leftovers from the night before. Shredded, diced, breast, thigh, meat from a drumstick- use whatever you have in the fridge.
What Is Chicken Divan?
Named after the restaurant it was created in, Divan Parisian, this dish was originally created with chicken, broccoli, and a classic bechamel sauce made with Gruyere cheese. It was served as their signature dish, being both incredibly delicious yet easy to make. It’s hard to believe this classic casserole was such a coveted dish back in its day; we never see these delicious, filling, and simple casseroles served in restaurants anymore! It has since become a favorite in North American households.
Ingredient Notes
Broccoli – Fresh or frozen. Chicken – Pre-cooked. I fried up some cubed chicken breast in a skillet, however this is a great opportunity to use up leftovers. Condensed soup – I used cream of chicken. Any “cream of” condensed soup flavor you like best will work. Sour cream – Or Greek yogurt. Cheddar cheese – Marble, Monterey Jack, Colby, Gruyere or Swiss will all work as well. Milk – Any type, even non-dairy alternatives. Salt & pepper – Season to taste. Breadcrumbs – I used panko to give a perfectly crisp top. Butter – Unsalted. Margarine or other alternatives can be used instead.
How To Make Chicken Divan
Can I Use Different Veggies?
Of course you can! You can add a medley of veggies, or just one of these suggestions:
Cauliflower Peas Green beans Carrots Corn Mushrooms Kale/ spinach
How To Serve
Since this recipe features chicken and broccoli, chicken divan is usually served all on its own. Bring some hot sauce or red pepper flakes to the table, a loaf of freshly baked bread, and dig in. If you don’t mind adding some carbs and would like a bit more sustenance to the meal, this dish would be great over some rice or pasta. It’s nice to have something to soak up that cheesy sauce!
Leftovers
You can wrap your casserole dish well with foil, or transfer the leftovers to an airtight container. Store in the fridge for 3-5 days. Reheat either in the microwave, or you can use the oven. Preheat the oven to 400F. If not already in one, transfer the leftovers to a casserole dish, cover with foil, and bake for 8-10 minutes or until heated through.
Make Your Casserole Ahead
You can prep this recipe and keep it in the fridge 2-3 days ahead of time. Cover it well with plastic wrap or foil to store. My only piece of advice is to leave the breadcrumb topping off until right before baking to keep it nice and crisp. This is one of those easy dinners that I will prep ahead of time, and freeze for an easy dinner. You can freeze it baked or unbaked.
Unbaked
Baked
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title: “Chicken Divan” ShowToc: true date: “2024-10-27” author: “George Balderrama”
Make it from scratch with my homemade cream of chicken soup recipe!
When it comes to casserole recipes, Chicken Divan has to be right at the top of my favorites list. It’s SO easy to make and can be served with so many different side dishes. It’s make-ahead friendly, and my family just devours it every time. Let’s get into what you need to know about this recipe!
What is Chicken Divan
Chicken Divan is a creamy casserole that’s traditionally made with a simple combination of chicken, broccoli, sour cream or mayo, cream of chicken soup, milk, and simple seasonings:
Chicken: Leftover chicken is great in this recipe, uncooked chicken breast or thighs can also be used. Broccoli: I love using fresh broccoli, but frozen works as well., Cream Sauce: The sauce consists of sour cream (or mayo), cream of chicken soup, milk, cheese, and simple seasonings. Crunchy Topping: A combination of crushed Ritz crackers and melted butter is a great way to add a golden crunchy topping to this casserole. Panko breadcrumbs and butter can be used as well.
Why Is It Called Chicken Divan
According to Wikipedia, this dish was named after the Divan Parisien Restaurant in NYC’s Chatham Hotel where it was invented and served as a signature dish in the 20th century.
How to Make It (Summary.)
See recipe card below this post for ingredient quantities and full instructions.
Sauté diced chicken, onions, and celery in butter for 3 minutes. Add broccoli and olive oil once chicken is halfway done and cook 3-5 more minutes. Remove from heat once chicken is cooked through. Add the cream of chicken soup, sour cream, milk, seasonings, and half of the cheese. Stir to combine and transfer to a lightly greased 9 x 13 inch casserole dish. Top with remaining cheese. Cover and bake at 350° for 20 minutes. Remove and increase heat to 400 degrees. Combine the melted butter and Ritz crackers. Sprinkle over the casserole and bake for 8-10 minutes, until the top is golden brown. Remove and let it sit for 5 minutes prior to serving. Serve over rice, biscuits, or mashed potatoes.
Pro Tips
Cooked chicken may be used in which case sautéing it isn’t necessary. I would still recommend softening the onions/celery for about 5 minutes and then cooking the broccoli for about 3-4. To skip sautéing altogether, feel free to omit the onions and celery and combine uncooked diced chicken, fresh broccoli, and the sauce ingredients. Transfer to a baking dish and bake at 375, covered, for 40 minutes. Remove cover and proceed with adding the Ritz topping as outlined. Frozen broccoli may be used, thaw it first and pat it dry. Sautéing it with the chicken is optional as it’s already partially cooked. I recommend if you like very soft broccoli. Mayo can be used instead of sour cream. This recipe is in The Cozy Cookbook on page 196!
Make Ahead Method
This casserole can be prepared and placed in a covered casserole dish in the fridge for up to 2 days prior to baking. Be sure to wait on preparing the topping until ready to serve. Add an additional 15 minutes of covered baking time if baking from a cold state.
Storage
Store in an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 3 days or freeze for up to 3 months.
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Tried This Recipe?
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Dutch Oven – These conduct heat really well. I use mine all the time. 9 x 13 baking dish The perfect size for almost any casserole recipe Silicone Spatula– Easy for tossing the chicken as it cooks and for stirring in the sauce ingredients. Measuring spoons I love that these are magnetic. They keep my drawer neat.
