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.
This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy.
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.
This was fabulous! Family loved it!
I’ve been making this for years
I don’t pre cook the chicken though
It comes out juicy and tender
A fav at my house
Good but not enough flavor
Holly, you did it again. Great idea for dinner tonight. I’ve had other divan recipes, but they all started with raw chicken where mine is in the freezer. Thanks for all your good recipes
I’ve made this several times. For those that may not feel there is enough flavor, I add parmesan cheese with the bread crumb topping, really gives it a nice “pop” of flavor
I wasn’t sure about this while I was making it, it did seem a little bland. I seasoned the chicken before cooking, but it still seemed bland. However after cooking, it was very good. It wasn’t SUPER flavorful, but it wasn’t bland either, it was tasty and mellow.
The next time I made it, I added a bit more seasoning and in addition to the cream of chicken soup, I also added a can of broccoli cheese soup, a bit more sour cream and more milk to make up the difference. (I also had about 4 1/2 cups chicken) Family really enjoyed it. My 15 year old said I did good. lol.
It will be put into our dinner rotation. Thanks!
Your version sounds delicious Nella! I’m so glad this recipe was a hit with your family.
Is this something that can be put together and frozen to cook at a later time? I’m making meals for my son and daughter in law to enjoy after their new baby arrives.
Congratulations on your new grandbaby, so exciting! Yes, this recipe will freeze well before baking.
Love this tasty, easy casserole. Delicious!!
I am surprised to hear people thought this was bland. It was delicious with a ton of flavor and i even forgot the seasoning salt and did not use any regular salt. Otherwise followed this recipe to a T. I cubed 2 chicken breasts and wish I would have had 3, but I only took 2 out of the freezer so oh well. When I cook chicken I just season however and for this recipe only used garlic salt and honestly could have gone lighter because it was so much flavor. Winner winner chicken dinner. I love your recipes and website! <3
So happy you enjoyed this recipe, Kelsey! Thanks for cooking with us ❤️
What is the best way to poach chicken breasts so they don’t become dry or tough? I have good size boneless breasts. This recipe sound awesome. Was hoping to make it for tonight.
We use this poached chicken breast recipe. Enjoy!
This is such a great recipe.Its one of our favorites.and this site has so many great recipes
I modified this recipe. I used fresh broccoli and put it in raw. I also used chicken thighs that had been lightly seasoned and oven baked for 30 minutes at 350. I also used 2 cans of soup instead of one and added 1 cup of sour cream instead. I added a tablespoon of madras curry powder. I also added diced fresh button mushrooms and 1 cup of chopped spring onions.
I don’t like a crumb topping so I skipped that, putting an entire cup of shredded sharp cheddar to top the casserole. Covered with foil and baked at 400 for 30 minutes. I left it covered for another 10 minutes once done. Perfection!
One my family’s favorite recipes and so easy! Nutritious and delicious!
Just to confirm – you use the soup in condensed form, not adding water to it, correct? Thanks!
That is correct, we use it in condensed form!
It was great but missing something, it needed curry powder! To me it was kind of bland and flavorless but the curry powder gave it all the boost it needed
We loved it! This was 8 servings as made per recipe, since we served over rice. I will dinnertime make again!!!
I have made this recipe several times and love it as do the people it is served to. My question is can you make ahead and freeze it it to cook later? Was making for a friend and she asked me to bing in one week???
Hi Judith, I haven’t tried making this recipe ahead of time but I would leave off the topping until you are ready to bake so the bread crumbs don’t get soggy! I would love to hear how it turns out for you.
Worst chicken divan ever! Sauce remained in lumpy precooked form even when bubbly and cooked
Oh no! I am sorry that happened, Cheryl! We have never had that happen with this sauce. To avoid the sauce being lumpy make sure to mix well in step 3, you can even use a whisk if necessary.
This was so easy to make – and worked perfectly. My family loved it!
I’m so glad your family loved this recipe!
i’m so sorry to say this but i’m afraid I agree with the reviewer that said the recipe was bland. Not only was the sauce bland but it was very thin. I drained the broccoli very well & added crisp onions to the topping. Didn’t help. i’m afraid i’ll have to look for a different recipe next time.
Sorry to hear that, Ellen. This recipe is usually a reader favorite. For more flavor, you can add additional spices to taste and try a sharp cheddar cheese as well. Adding crisp onions to the topping sounds delicious though, thanks for the suggestion!
This recipe was exceptionally pleasing to the eye and nose even after baked mine however my pallet was not impressed, I will keep looking.
Sorry to hear that, Keli. This recipe is a reader favorite!