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If you need an easy dinner that feels classic, cozy, and dependable, this Chicken Divan is one of my favorite recipes to make. It has tender chicken, broccoli, and a creamy cheesy sauce all baked together in one pan. I love serving it over rice or mashed potatoes for a simple dinner my family is always happy to eat.
5 Star Reviews ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
“Sooo creamy and delicious! My mom loved it! This is great for potlucks! Saving this recipe!” – Sha
“Love chicken divan!! This is a family favorite! Even my picky eaters will eat it!” – Kristyn
“My whole family loves his dinner! It’s so delicious and easy to make!” – Mel
Why I Love This Baked Dinner
I love this Chicken Divan because it checks all the boxes for a busy night. It is easy to put together, it uses simple ingredients, and it comes out rich, creamy, and full of flavor every time.
One of my favorite things about this recipe is that the chicken bakes right in the sauce, which helps keep it moist and tender. I also like that I can keep it simple or add a crunchy topping when I want a little extra texture. It is the kind of dinner that works for family meals, potlucks, and even freezer prep. Readers have called it creamy, delicious, easy to make, picky-eater approved, and great for sharing, which is exactly why I keep coming back to it.
🩷 Kelsey
Ingredients You’ll Need
- Chicken: Boneless skinless chicken breasts are my go-to because they cook up tender and soak up all that creamy sauce.
- Broccoli: Fresh broccoli florets add color, texture, and make this casserole feel like a complete meal.
- Creamy base: Cream of chicken soup, sour cream, and mayonnaise make the sauce rich, smooth, and classic.
- Cheese: Shredded cheddar gives the sauce that cheesy flavor that makes Chicken Divan so good.
- Flavor boosters: Lemon juice and curry powder add the signature flavor and give the sauce a little depth without making it spicy.
- For serving: I usually serve Chicken Divan over rice, but quinoa, mashed potatoes, or egg noodles all work well.
- Optional crunchy topping: Ritz crackers, panko, breadcrumbs, or corn flakes mixed with melted butter add a crisp topping if you want extra texture.
Ingredient Additions and Substitutions
- Swap the cream of chicken soup for cream of mushroom or cream of broccoli soup.
- Use cauliflower, asparagus, or green beans instead of broccoli if that is what you have on hand.
- Try rotisserie chicken if you want to save time. Just reduce the bake time a little since the chicken is already cooked.
- Use Greek yogurt in place of sour cream for a slightly tangier sauce.
- Add the crunchy topping if you like contrast in a creamy casserole.
- Stir in a little extra cheddar cheese or sprinkle some on top during the last few minutes of baking for an extra cheesy finish.
- Serve it over brown rice, white rice, mashed potatoes, quinoa, or egg noodles depending on what sounds best that night.
How to Make Chicken Divan
- Prep the pan and add the chicken and broccoli. Preheat the oven and lightly grease a 9×13-inch baking dish. Spread the chicken pieces in the dish, then add the broccoli on top.
- Mix the sauce. In a large bowl, stir together the cream of chicken soup, cheddar cheese, sour cream, mayonnaise, lemon juice, and curry powder until smooth.
- Assemble the casserole. Spoon the sauce over the chicken and broccoli, then spread it out evenly so everything is well covered.
- Bake until the chicken is cooked through and the casserole is hot and creamy. For crunchy topping, sprinkle the buttered cracker or breadcrumb mixture over the casserole before baking. If you want extra cheese on top, add it during the last few minutes of baking.
- If serving over rice, cook rice in a rice cooker.
- Serve and enjoy. Let it rest for a few minutes, then spoon it over rice, mashed potatoes, or noodles and serve warm.
Recipe Tips
- For even more cheesy flavor, add a little extra cheddar over the top for the last 5 minutes.
- Cut the chicken into even bite-sized pieces so it cooks evenly.
- Chop the broccoli into small florets so it gets tender without overcooking.
- Do not skip the lemon juice and curry powder. They are what give Chicken Divan its classic flavor.
- For a richer casserole, use freshly shredded cheddar instead of pre-shredded cheese.
- If you want a crisp topping, add it right before baking so it stays crunchy.
- Let the casserole rest for a few minutes before serving so the sauce can settle a bit.
Frequently Asked Questions
Chicken Divan is a classic chicken casserole made with chicken, broccoli, and a creamy sauce, usually served over rice or another simple side.
It was the signature dish of the Divan Parisien Restaurant at the Chatham Hotel in New York. The recipe is commonly traced back to the 1930s or 1940s.
Sure! You can use cauliflower, asparagus, or green beans.
Yes. Rotisserie chicken or leftover cooked chicken works great. Since it is already cooked, you only need to bake the casserole long enough to heat everything through.
It does not make the casserole spicy. It adds that classic savory flavor that makes Chicken Divan taste like Chicken Divan.
Yes. You can layer cooked rice into the dish before adding the sauce if you want it all baked together.
Use fresh broccoli, avoid overcooking it, and make sure the sauce is spread evenly. Letting the casserole rest a few minutes after baking also helps.
Yes. This is a great freezer meal and one I like to make ahead for busy weeks.
Make Ahead and Storage
This is one of my favorite casseroles to make ahead. You can assemble it earlier in the day, cover it, and keep it in the fridge until you are ready to bake.
To store leftovers, let the casserole cool and place it in an airtight container in the fridge. Reheat individual servings in the microwave or warm larger portions in the oven until heated through.
To freeze, assemble the casserole in a freezer-safe dish, then cover it tightly with a layer of plastic wrap and a layer of foil. Freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge before baking.
Pairing Ideas
I usually serve Chicken Divan with white Long Grain Rice, Brown Rice, mashed potatoes, quinoa, or egg noodles because they soak up the sauce really well. If I want to round out the meal a little more, I like adding a simple green salad, fruit salad, or homemade dinner rolls on the side. Since the casserole is rich and creamy, lighter sides work especially well.
More Chicken Dinner Recipes
- Chicken Paprikash
- Oven Fried Chicken
- Shoyu Chicken
- Chicken Parmesan
- Chicken Lasagna
- Chicken Pot Pie Casserole
- Cheesy Chicken and Rice Casserole
- Poppy Seed Chicken
- Easy Chicken Casserole
- 35+ Quick and Easy Dinner Ideas
This Chicken Divan is one of those easy dinner recipes I know I can count on. It is creamy, cheesy, packed with tender chicken and broccoli, and simple enough for a weeknight but still perfect for sharing.
If you make it, I’d love to hear how your family liked it. Leave a comment and a star rating below, and tell me if you kept it classic or added the crunchy topping. 💛
Chicken Divan
Ingredients
- 4 chicken breasts, cut into 1-inch pieces
- 2 10.5 ounce cans cream of chicken soup
- 1 cup cheddar cheese, shredded, plus more for topping if desired
- 1 cup sour cream
- 1/2 cup mayonnaise
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice
- 1/2 teaspoon curry powder
- 1 head broccoli, chopped into bite sized pieces
- rice, for serving
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350. Spray the bottom of a 9×13 pan with cooking spray. Add chicken pieces, then broccoli pieces.
- Mix all remaining ingredients in a large bowl.
- Place spoonfuls of sauce all over the chicken and broccoli. Spread out with a spatula.
- Bake for 30 minutes. If desired, add more shredded cheese on top for the last 5 minutes.
- Serve over rice or mashed potatoes.
Notes
- Rice is not included in the nutrition calculation.
- Optional crunchy topping: mix 2 cups of crushed Ritz crackers (or corn flakes or panko breadcrumbs) with ½ cup of melted butter. Sprinkle over the top of the casserole before baking.
- You can add cooked rice to the casserole before baking if you want everything in one dish.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
- Freeze before baking for an easy make-ahead meal.
- Extra cheddar on top during the last 5 minutes makes it even better.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
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Sooo creamy and delicious! My mom loved it! This is great for potlucks! Saving this recipe!
Love chicken divan!! This is a family favorite! Even my picky eaters will eat it!
My whole family loves his dinner! It’s so delicious and easy to make!