Easy Chicken Divan Recipe

Ingredients For Chicken Divan

Most Chicken Divan recipes are, most often, made with canned soup like cream of mushroom soup or cream of chicken soup for the base of the creamy sauce. We make our creamy white sauce with pantry ingredients and completely from scratch.

• Chicken – Leftover chicken breast makes this classic chicken casserole come together in a snap. If you don’t have leftovers on hand, you can easily roast boneless skinless chicken breasts rather quickly to add to the dish.
• Chicken Broth – The base of the mornay sauce is made with chicken broth or chicken stock. We love using homemade but your favorite store brand works well.
• Dairy – I love using half and half for a rich but still light cream sauce. You can substitute with whole milk, heavy cream or even sour cream for a thicker consistency.
• Broccoli – Fresh broccoli florets are my personal favorite but to keep things moving quickly, frozen broccoli florets are always a time save.
• Rice – White rice soaks up the sauce beautifully and since you’re using cooked rice this is a great way to use up leftover rice. Brown rice is a great substitute and adds a great nutty flavor.
• Bread Crumbs – To keep things light, I like to use Panko Bread Crumbs but regular breadcrumbs work in a pinch.
• Sherry – A staple in the original chicken divan recipe, dry sherry makes this recipe sing with flavor.
• Butter – Unsalted butter is used for the roux to create the sauce. If you don’t have it, regular salted butter will work, just taste the sauce for seasoning before adding kosher salt and black pepper.
• Lemon – Using the lemon juice and lemon zest adds a fresh flavor to the creamy sauce.
• Parmesan cheese – I love the salty, nutty flavor of parmesan in the sauce. If you prefer, you can add cheddar cheese for an extra cheesy sauce.

How to Make Chicken Divan

1. Make the roux. Melt the butter in a saucepan, whisk in the flour and cook until golden.
2. Make the sauce. Slowly whisk in the chicken broth, then add the half and half, sherry, lemon juice and zest. Cook until thickened and season with salt and pepper.
3. Assemble the casserole. Layer the broccoli and rice in a 9×13-inch baking dish. Spoon half the sauce over the top, then add the chicken.
4. Add the cheese and topping. Stir the Parmesan into the remaining sauce and pour it over the chicken. Toss the panko with melted butter and sprinkle it over the casserole.
5. Bake. Bake at 350°F until the sauce is bubbling and the panko topping is golden brown.

Chicken Divan Variations

• Make it extra cheesy: Add shredded cheddar along with the Parmesan.
• Use brown rice: Swap the white rice for cooked brown rice.
• Change the topping: Use regular breadcrumbs or crushed buttery crackers instead of panko.
• Skip the sherry: Substitute additional chicken broth.
• Use turkey: Leftover cooked turkey is an easy substitute for chicken.

What is Chicken Divan?

Chicken Divan is a classic chicken and broccoli casserole that originated at the Divan Parisien Restaurant in New York City’s Chatham Hotel. The original dish was much fancier than the cozy casserole most of us know today, but chicken, broccoli and a creamy sauce are still the stars.

My Chicken Divan recipe adds cooked rice and a buttery panko topping, with a creamy Parmesan sauce made completely from scratch.

How to Store and Reheat Chicken Divan

• Refrigerate: Store leftover Chicken Divan in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
• Microwave: Reheat individual servings in the microwave until hot.
• Oven: Cover the casserole and warm it in a 350°F oven until heated through.
• Keep it creamy: If the casserole seems a little dry after refrigeration, add a couple tablespoons of chicken broth before reheating.