Chicken Divan casserole has been around for generations, and for good reason: It's delicious! Made famous by the Divan Parisien restaurant in New York, it combines chicken, broccoli, cheese and a decadent sauce. Oh, and it's really easy to make too.
Chicken Divan Casserole
Sometimes, a casserole is more than just a casserole; it’s chicken Divan. This chicken Divan recipe is decadent, delicious and requires very little prep time, thanks to some already-prepared ingredients such as condensed chicken soup, cooked chicken and cooked rice. Even the broccoli is already cut. Easy broccoleasy.
What is chicken Divan?
Chicken Divan, sometimes called chicken broccoli casserole, is a casserole concoction of broccoli, chicken, sherry, a bechamel-style sauce and cheese, created generations ago by Chef Anthony Lagasi of the Divan Parisien restaurant in the former Chatham Hotel in New York City. (The building has since been razed.) No one’s certain exactly when this bubbling-hot casserole was first offered, but it’s listed on a 1943 version of the restaurant’s menu. Lagasi never divulged the exact ingredients, yet the recipe has lived on in countless iterations in cookbooks and kitchens for the past 80 years.
Ingredients for Chicken Divan Casserole
- Butter : Butter and flour cook together to make a roux that is the base for a bechamel sauce.
- All-purpose flour: The flour provides thickness to the roux.
- Half-and-half cream: Cream makes the bechamel sauce richer than one made with milk. If you don’t have cream, milk may be used.
- Cooking sherry or water: Cooking sherry adds a roasted, slightly sweet aroma to the chicken Divan sauce. If you’d prefer not to use sherry, water can be used instead.
- Canned condensed cream of chicken soup: Undiluted condensed soup equals even more flavor for this delicious casserole.
- Frozen broccoli: The chopped broccoli saves you the time of having to cut the florets yourself. Feel free to use fresh broccoli instead, if you prefer.
- Rice: Rice absorbs the wonderful flavors of the decadent Divan sauce as the dish bakes. If you prefer, serve the dish over rice rather than including rice directly in the casserole.
- Chicken: Since the chicken is already cubed and cooked, it’s a major time-saver. It’s also the protein in this casserole.
- Cheddar cheese: Cheddar is one of those cheeses that pairs really well with both broccoli and chicken. What’s not to love?
- Bread crumbs: Bread crumbs saturated in butter serve as a lovely golden-brown topping for this chicken Divan casserole.
- Fresh parsley (optional): A fresh parsley garnish gives this a homemade-with-love look.
Directions
Step 1: Create the sauce
Preheat the oven to 350°F. In a small saucepan, melt 1/4 cup of the butter, then add the flour, stirring until blended, to make a roux. Stir in the cream and cooking sherry (or water), and cook and stir until the liquid is thickened and bubbly. Continue cooking and stirring for another two minutes. Blend in the canned soup until smooth, then remove the pan from the heat and set it aside.
Editor’s Tip: The bechamel-style cream sauce with sherry or water should be thick enough to stick to the back of the spoon when it’s ready for the soup to be added.
Step 2: Prepare the casserole
Place the chopped broccoli in an ungreased 13×9-inch baking dish. Cover the broccoli with cooked rice, then add half the sauce. Place the cubed chicken on top. Stir the shredded cheese into the remaining sauce, then pour the mixture over the chicken.
Step 3: Bake the chicken Divan
Melt the remaining butter and mix in the bread crumbs, then sprinkle the buttered bread crumbs over the casserole. Bake the dish, uncovered, for 35 to 45 minutes or until heated through. If desired, sprinkle the top with parsley before serving.
Chicken Divan Casserole Variations
- Switch cheeses: Replace the cheddar with freshly grated Parmesan cheese for a nutty, tangy flavor. Sprinkle some of the Parmesan (or even Parmegiano-Reggiano) over the broccoli layer before adding the other ingredients for even more deliciousness.
- Change toppings: Instead of soft bread crumbs, try a topping of panko bread crumbs, crushed saltine crackers or even slivered almonds. Each adds a little crunch to this tasty treat.
- Serve over noodles: Make the recipe without rice, then serve it over egg noodles. Egg noodles (or any other wide noodles) are excellent for holding bits of Divan sauce in every forkful. Rotini, farfalle or even penne would also taste great paired with chicken Divan.
- Substitute turkey: Use cooked turkey in place of the chicken to make turkey Divan, or follow this simple turkey Divan recipe.
- Make ham Divan: Replace the chicken with ham for a deliciously tangy dish. This ham and broccoli Divan recipe offers a step-by-step plan.
How to Store Chicken Divan Casserole
Store chicken Divan casserole in an airtight container in the refrigerator, where it will keep for up to four days. Allow the casserole to cool a bit before putting it in the refrigerator.
Can you freeze chicken Divan?
Yes, chicken Divan freezes quite well and keeps for two to three months. Cover the dish in foil and then two layers of plastic wrap if you wish to freeze the entire dish, or place it in portion-sized freezer-worthy storage containers. Thaw portions in the refrigerator the night before you plan to reheat them.
Can you make chicken Divan ahead of time?
The nice thing about this chicken and broccoli casserole is that you can assemble it the night before you plan to make it, or you can cook it and store the casserole a day or so before serving it. In both cases, keep the dish tightly covered in the refrigerator. If you’re baking it for the first time after it’s been chilled, increase the heating time by 5 to 10 minutes.
Chicken Divan Casserole Tips
How do you make soft bread crumbs?
Soft bread crumbs are made by tearing slices of fresh bread, putting them into a blender or food processor and pulsing until crumbs form. One average slice of bread makes 1/2 to 3/4 cup of bread crumbs.
What is bechamel sauce?
Bechamel sauce is a classic white sauce used in many recipes. A traditional bechamel includes butter and flour made into a roux, with cream or milk added in after the roux. Here’s an easy bechamel sauce recipe.
Is there a version of this casserole that bakes faster?
Yes, this chicken broccoli casserole recipe, which is similar, cooks in just 25 minutes! There’s no need to whip up a sauce separately either, which means even less prep time.
Watch How to Make Chicken Divan
Chicken Divan
Prep Time
20 min
Cook Time
35 min
Yield
10 servings
Ingredients
- 1/4 cup plus 1 tablespoon butter, divided
- 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
- 1-1/2 cups half-and-half cream
- 1/2 cup cooking sherry or water
- 2 cans (10-3/4 ounces each) condensed cream of chicken soup, undiluted
- 2 packages (10 ounces each) frozen cut or chopped broccoli, thawed
- 1 cup cooked rice
- 3 to 4 cups cubed cooked chicken
- 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
- 1 cup soft bread crumbs
- Minced fresh parsley, optional
Directions
- In a small saucepan, melt 1/4 cup butter. Add flour, stirring until blended. Stir in the cream and cooking sherry or water; cook and stir until thickened and bubbly. Cook and stir 2 more minutes. Blend in soup until smooth; remove from the heat and set aside.
- Place broccoli in an ungreased 13x9-in. baking dish. Cover with rice and then half of the sauce. Top with chicken. Stir shredded cheese into remaining sauce; pour over the chicken.
- Melt the remaining butter and toss with bread crumbs. Sprinkle over the casserole. Bake, uncovered, at 350° for 35-45 minutes or until heated through. If desired, sprinkle with parsley before serving.
Nutrition Facts
1 cup: 412 calories, 24g fat (12g saturated fat), 98mg cholesterol, 798mg sodium, 20g carbohydrate (3g sugars, 3g fiber), 22g protein.
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This tasty chicken divan recipe was given to me by a friend years ago, and it's been a family favorite ever since. My daughters enjoy making this dish in their own homes and get the same enthusiastic compliments I always do! —Mary Pat Lucia, North East, Pennsylvania
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