When I need an easy weeknight dinner that’s sure to please the whole bunch, I whip up this delicious Chicken Divan casserole with broccoli, cubes of juicy chicken, cheese, and an incredibly creamy sauce, all topped off with a buttery breadcrumb topping. No canned soup is needed for this recipe–I think this homemade sauce just tastes so much better!
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What makes this chicken divan even easier is that I use leftover chicken or rotisserie chicken for ultimate convenience. I cook a lot of chicken around here, so I always have some extra to use up. Just throw it in with the rest of the ingredients, and you’ll have a creamy and cozy casserole ready to serve in under 1 hour!
Ingredients for Chicken Divan Casserole
- Chicken: Any leftover, pre-cooked, or rotisserie chicken works well here. Chop it into cubes, or shred if you prefer.
- Broccoli: Chop 2 large heads of broccoli into florets.
- Onion + Garlic: These aromatics add savory flavor. I recommend using yellow onions.
- Chicken Broth: This creates a base for the sauce. Low-sodium broth is a great way to cut down on salt.
- Sour Cream: This adds a slight tanginess and lots of creaminess to the sauce.
- Whole Milk: Full-fat milk is best for the richest sauce.
- Flour: This helps thicken the cream sauce by creating a roux.
- Cheese: Cheddar cheese tastes best.
- Butter: Adds richness to the topping.
- Breadcrumbs: Panko breadcrumbs add a crunchy finish to this chicken broccoli divan.
- Seasonings: Poultry seasoning or all-purpose seasoning, plus garlic and onion powder create a savory flavor.
Tips and Substitutions
- I’ve included some extra instructions in the recipe card if you need to cook chicken for this recipe, but using rotisserie chicken or pre-cooked chicken really makes it so much easier.
- You can use frozen broccoli for convenience. Microwave and fully drain (you don’t want any excess water in the mix) before adding it. I recommend adding just the garlic in Step 3 for a couple of minutes, then add the broccoli and chicken at the same time, since they’re both already cooked.
- Freshly shredded cheese melts better than the pre-packaged stuff.
- You can use cauliflower in place of the broccoli if you prefer.
- Don’t have breadcrumbs? Crumble up some Ritz-style crackers to sprinkle on top instead.
How to Make Ahead, Store, and Reheat
Store chicken broccoli divan casserole in an airtight container (or cover the casserole dish), and refrigerate for up to 4 days. Or freeze for up to 2 months.
Reheat in the oven at 350°F for 20 minutes, or until fully warmed through. If frozen, fully defrost before baking.
To make this casserole ahead of time, follow the recipe card to fully assemble as instructed, but don’t bake. Cover the casserole dish and store it in the fridge for up to 2 days. When ready to bake, let the casserole sit on the counter top while the oven preheats. Then baked as instructed.
Serving Suggestions
Serve this creamy chicken divan alone, or on a plate of rice, pasta, or mashed potatoes. The combination of chicken and broccoli makes it a pretty solid meal, but the addition of a grain, carb, or starch makes it really satiating! Or add my favorite homemade crescent rolls to the table.
Chicken Divan Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- ½ onion chopped
- 2 garlic cloves minced
- 4 cups cooked chicken breast chopped (see notes)
- 4 cups broccoli florets about 2 heads of broccoli, chopped into florets
- 5 tablespoons butter divided
- ⅓ cup flour
- 1½ cups chicken broth
- ½ cup whole milk
- ½ cup sour cream
- 1½ cups shredded cheddar cheese divided
- ¼ teaspoon poultry seasoning or all-purpose seasoning
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- ¼ teaspoon onion powder
- ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 cup Panko Breadcrumbs
Instructions
- Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat.1 tablespoon olive oil
- Once heated, add in the onion and a pinch of salt, and sauté for a few minutes until softened.½ onion
- Stir in the garlic, broccoli, and another pinch of salt.2 garlic cloves, 4 cups broccoli florets
- Cook for 4-5 minutes until the broccoli is tender. Stir in the chicken.4 cups cooked chicken breast
- Preheat the oven to 375℉.
- In a saucepan, melt 3 tablespoons of butter over medium heat. Then, whisk in the flour until smooth. Slowly add in the chicken broth and milk while whisking until the mixture is smooth and thickened.5 tablespoons butter, ⅓ cup flour, 1½ cups chicken broth, ½ cup whole milk
- Stir in the sour cream, ½ cup cheddar cheese, poultry seasoning, salt, pepper, onion and garlic powder.½ cup sour cream, 1½ cups shredded cheddar cheese, ¼ teaspoon poultry seasoning, ½ teaspoon salt, ¼ teaspoon black pepper, ¼ teaspoon onion powder, ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
- Add the sauce to the skillet with the chicken and broccoli and stir to combine.
- Transfer the mixture to a greased casserole dish.
- Melt the remaining 2 tablespoons of butter, and mix it with the panko breadcrumbs.5 tablespoons butter, 1 cup Panko Breadcrumbs
- Top the casserole with the remaining cheese and breadcrumbs.
- Bake for 20 minutes until the top is golden brown and the casserole is bubbly.
Video
Becky’s Tips
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Did you make this? Leave a comment!
How to Make Chicken Divan Step by Step
Cook the Chicken and Broccoli: Heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Once heated, add in ½ of an onion (chopped) and a pinch of salt, then sauté for a few minutes until softened. Stir in 2 garlic cloves (minced), 4 heaping cups of broccoli florets, and another pinch of salt. Then cook for 4-5 minutes until the broccoli is tender. Stir in 4 cups of cooked chicken breast. Preheat the oven to 375℉.
Make the Creamy Sauce: In a saucepan, melt 3 tablespoons of butter over medium heat. Then, whisk in ⅓ cup of flour until smooth. Slowly add in 1½ cups of chicken broth and ½ cup of whole milk while whisking, until the mixture is smooth and thickened. Stir in ½ cup of sour cream, ½ cup of shredded cheese, ¼ teaspoon of poultry seasoning, ½ teaspoon of salt, ¼ teaspoon of black pepper, ¼ teaspoon of onion powder, and ¼ teaspoon of garlic powder. Add the sauce to the skillet with the chicken and broccoli, stirring to combine.
Assemble the Casserole: Transfer the creamy chicken and broccoli mixture to a greased casserole dish.
Melt the remaining 2 tablespoons of butter in the skillet, and mix it with 1 cup of panko breadcrumbs. Then top the casserole with the remaining 1 cup of shredded cheese and the buttery breadcrumbs.
Bake: Bake chicken divan for 20 minutes, until the top is golden brown and the casserole is bubbly. Serve hot!
