This easy Chicken Divan recipe is a favorite quick and easy dinner!
Chicken and broccoli florets are smothered in a rich and creamy sauce, topped with cheese, and baked until warm and bubbly.
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Holly’s Recipe Highlights For Chicken Divan
Chicken Broccoli Divan is an easy casserole originating in the Divan Parisien restaurant in New York. This version uses broccoli in a shortcut sauce.
- Flavor: This casserole is cozy with a homey flavor.
- Difficulty: Since the sauce starts with condensed soup, it’s quick and easy to prepare.
- Make it from scratch: You can replace the canned soup in this recipe with homemade condensed soup.
- Budget tip: Stretch this recipe a little further with extra broccoli.
- Time-saving tip: If you’re short on time, buy a bag of fresh or broccoli florets—they’re usually already washed and ready to go. Rotisserie chicken is great in this recipe.
Ingredient Tips For This Recipe
- Chicken: This recipe uses cooked chicken, so it’s great for leftovers or rotisserie chicken. Poached chicken is also great for casseroles.
- Broccoli: Fresh steamed broccoli gives the best flavor and texture. Frozen broccoli works as well, but tends to be a little bit softer.
- Sauce: Chicken Divan sauce is a shortcut sauce made with condensed mushroom soup, sour cream, milk, and seasonings.
- Cheese: Sharp cheddar cheese adds flavor, pre-shredded cheese works well in this recipe.
- Topping: Butter and Panko breadcrumbs give this Chicken Divan casserole a little crunch. No Panko? Try seasoned bread crumbs or crushed Ritz crackers instead!
Variations
- Veggies: You can add other vegetables, such as cauliflower or asparagus. Cook just until tender-crisp.
- Seasonings: Change the seasonings and add your favorite herbs. ½ teaspoon curry powder is a delicious addition.
- Soup: Any “cream of” soup will work in this recipe, including cream of chicken soup or homemade condensed soup.
- Topping: Add a biscuit mix topping like in our chicken cobbler recipe.
How To Make Chicken and Broccoli Divan
- Steam broccoli: Steam the broccoli until tender-crisp (it will cook more in the oven). Drain it very well.
- Mix sauce: Combine the divan sauce ingredients (recipe below). Add the chicken and broccoli.
- Bake: Transfer the mixture to a baking dish and top with breadcrumbs. Bake until browned.
Served alongside a fresh green salad and some bread with homemade garlic butter.
Serving and Storage
I serve this easy Chicken Divan recipe with rice, egg noodles, or creamy mashed potatoes.
Leftovers can be stored in the fridge for up to 4 days. Chicken Divan reheats and freezes well. Add a splash of milk for reheating if needed.
More Easy Chicken Casserole Recipes
Did your family enjoy this Chicken Divan recipe? Leave us a rating and a comment below.
Ingredients
- 1 ½ pounds broccoli florets cut into bite size pieces
- 3 cups cooked chopped chicken
- 1 ½ cups shredded cheddar cheese divided
- 10.5 ounces condensed cream of mushroom soup or condensed chicken soup, 1 can
- ⅔ cup sour cream
- ½ cup milk
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon dry mustard powder
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- ¼ teaspoon seasoned salt
Topping
- 3 tablespoons Panko bread crumbs or seasoned bread crumbs
- 1 tablespoon melted butter
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400°F.
- Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Add the broccoli and cook for 2-3 minutes or until tender-crisp. Drain well and set aside.
- In a medium bowl, combine 1 cup cheddar cheese, condensed soup, sour cream, milk, garlic powder, onion powder, dry mustard, pepper, and seasoned salt.
- Stir in drained broccoli and chicken. Transfer the mixture to a 9×13 casserole dish. Top with remaining cheese.
- In a small bowl, mix the butter and breadcrumbs. Sprinkle the topping over the chicken mixture.
- Bake for 18-20 minutes, or until the breadcrumbs are lightly browned and the mixture is bubbly and hot.
- Serve over rice, noodles, or mashed potatoes, as desired.
Video
Notes
Nutrition Information
Nutrition information provided is an estimate and will vary based on cooking methods and brands of ingredients used.
Course Casserole, Chicken, Main Course
Cuisine American© SpendWithPennies.com. Content and photographs are copyright protected. Sharing of this recipe is both encouraged and appreciated. Copying and/or pasting full recipes to any social media is strictly prohibited. Please view my photo use policy here.
Great recipe. I made no changes. You can easily feed 8 if you use 9×11 pan.
I don’t usually leave comments on recipes but this one I feel the need to. I was thinking about what I had on hand to make a meal out of. My husband usually hates chicken but I was ground beefed out. I cooked the chicken breasts up in the instant pot, popped a bag of steam broccoli florets in the microwave and got started on this. My husband wasn’t pleased when he saw I was making chicken and rice lol. We sat down to dinner and not only did our 4 year old practically lick his bowl clean but my chicken hating husband got seconds. He said he actually liked it and it had great flavor. I’ll definitely keep this recipe in our rotation! Thank you.
Yay! So happy to hear that Nikki. Glad this was such a hit with your family :)
I double down on the chicken flavors. Instead of rice or mashed potatoes, I serve mine over chicken flavored stuffing (premix or homemade is fine).
Hi Holly, I came across your recipe through an ad, and decided to try this recipe. I knew my family would love this so I doubled the recipe so we could have leftovers. I’ve made it multiple times within the past year and we never get tired of it. It’s absolutely delicious and so easy to put together. I served it with ribbon noodles. :)
Thank you so much for sharing Emma! It makes my day to hear that you loved the recipe so much!
I just made this dish….and added cubed ham steak….simply awesome….would not change a thing to it….except making it in a 5 quart casserole dish….and make more…..so I could have some leftovers…..
Ham steak would be awesome in this, thanks for the idea!! So glad you enjoyed it.
Simple and delicious! I made this using leftover rotisserie chicken, and frozen, defrosted broccoli. It was a snap on a night when I had little time to prep a meal, and pleasing to the whole family. We did not have it with rice or noodles, and it fed two hungry men and myself. I would double this recipe (or add pasta or rice) to serve more people. Thanks, Holly!
So happy everyone loved it Pamela! That’s awesome.
Made this tonight it is definitely a repeat. The family loved it. So easy! This and a salad, there you have a super easy supper
Great idea Michelle! We love how easy it can be to make a delicious supper everyone loves!
I searched Chicken Divan and this was the first recipe. Am making it tonight! Will let you know how it turns out. I know it’s going to be delicious!
Enjoy!
Made it! LOVED it! I plated it on top of white rice and sprinkled some Old Bay on top (b/c I’m a Maryland gal)! DEEEELISH! This is definitely going in my recipe box under weeknight faves. Thanks Holly!
So glad you loved it Ms. Rae!
Hello – another MD girl here – I am making this for a friend today and will definitely add some Old Bay!
Has anyone made this just by putting it all in the pan at once instead of cooking the broccoli and poaching the chicken first? I make chicken and rice and I just put the rice in the 9×13 with water, cream of chicken, seasonings and raw chicken thighs. I cook in oven at 375, covered for 45 minutes, oven off for 15 minutes then sprinkle cheese on top and broil. So I’m wondering if the broccoli will do ok if I just throw it all in a pan and cook like I do when I fix chicken and rice? Thanks for your help!
I haven’t tried it but it sounds similar to my chicken and rice casserole! Let us know how it goes if you try it.
I make mine by mixing everything in a big bowl (raw cut up chicken, frozen broccoli, cream of chicken soup, cream of broccoli soup, Mayo instead of sour cream, and some broken up croutons) mix all together then put in casserole dish, top with shredded cheddar and a few more croutons and bake uncovered at 350 for about 45-50 minutes. Comes out great each time.
This came up as an ad and I usually just delete them, but I was fascinated by this and took the time to look at the recipe. Ended up printing it out and making it for supper. Thanks for the ad by the way. It worked!
So glad you enjoyed this recipe Tammy!!
I just found this cooking site and am pleasantly surprised! I am an old time self professed chef in the kitchen with a picky husband. I only met my hubby 20 years ago when he was dating much younger women and I felt I needed a competitive edge to “hook” him. I have been running low in creative cooking but you revitalized it for me with wonderful, simple meals. We lived out in the Everglades for 9 years (his idea) where if you want bread, you make it. There’s always a bag of rice and a 25lb bag of flour around. I even cultivate a now 15 yr old sour dough yeast. What I am getting at is your site rejuvenates my meals to not so bother-some! All in all, my hubby wants sparks in the kitchen and you were able to light my fire! Thank you!
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Aww,thank you so much Carol! So happy to have you join me and I sure wish I could share in your sourdough, it’s my favorite!! Happy cooking! ❤️
This looks sooooo good ! I can’t wait to try it .
It is SO good Miss Tanya! Try it :)
Made this again last night. Absolutely delicious! Don’t change a thing! I didn’t have breadcrumbs this time so I used crushed butter crackers – amazing! Will double the recipe for leftovers next time.
Crackers make a great topping for this, so glad you enjoyed it!
This looks awesome! Perfect for weeknight meals – and I’m sure the leftovers will make great next-day lunches!
What a colorful and hearty meal! I love one-dish meals like this. So great for weeknight dinners!
Quick and easy! Enjoy, Kate!
Simply delicious!! I made this tonight and the whole family loved it!!
So glad you enjoyed it Jeannie!
Can this be made dairy free if so what can i substitute for the dairy in this dish or how can i make this recipe without the dairy
Have a great day
Thank you
Deborah
I’ve only made the recipe as written Deborah
A cup of helmans mayonnaise or what ever brand you perfer is a good substitute for dairy !
I talked to myself “I have to do this” from my first sight They are my favourite ingredients.
However, I would like to eat them with pasta. It must be super delicious!!!
:) Enjoy Natalie!
Give me all the broccoli and cheese!
LOL definitely one of my favorite combos (especially the cheese part)!