Chicken Divan is what I make when I want comfort food that still feels a little put-together. You get tender chicken, crisp-tender broccoli, and a creamy sauce bubbling under the most delicious golden, crunchy topping!
The Secret to a Truly Divine Divan
Easy to customize. Swap in rotisserie chicken, use fresh or frozen broccoli, and adjust the cheese/topping to your taste.
Make Ahead Friendly. Make it ahead for a stress-free dinner later.
The topping actually stays crunchy. You get a golden, crisp finish that holds up instead of disappearing into the sauce.
Weeknight-friendly. Simple steps, common ingredients, and flavors everyone loves!
Chicken Divan Ingredients
Broccoli: Use frozen broccoli instead of fresh, thaw and pat dry before using.
Crunchy Topping: Use panko bread crumbs instead of Ritz crackers.
Sour Cream Swap: You can use mayonnaise in place of sour cream.
Variation: Add ½- 1 tsp of curry powder for a vintage 1950’s flavor.
How to Make Chicken Divan
We ate this chicken divan recipe all the time as kids. I loved the crispy topping, and it was my mom’s sneaky way of getting us to eat broccoli. Your family will love it too, and it’s so easy! Serve it over rice for a complete meal!
Prep & Steam: Preheat the oven to 350°F, then grease a 13 x 9-inch casserole dish with nonstick cooking spray. Steam or blanch broccoli florets until tender crisp.
Broccoli: Layer the broccoli evenly on the bottom of the casserole dish.
Chicken: Layer cooked diced chicken evenly over the broccoli.
Sauce: In a bowl, combine cream of chicken soup, sour cream, milk, lemon juice, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, pepper, and shredded cheddar cheese.
Spread: Pour the sauce over the chicken and broccoli, spreading it out evenly.
Top & Bake: In a bowl, mix crushed Ritz crackers and melted butter. Sprinkle over the top of the casserole. Bake chicken Divan for 40-45 minutes, until hot and bubbly, and the cracker topping is golden brown.
Slow Cooker Instructions
Prep & add Chicken: Spray the crockpot with nonstick cooking spray. Add 1 ½ pounds of raw chicken breasts.
Sauce: Mix the sauce ingredients, then add them to the crockpot.
Cook: Cook on LOW for 4-5 hours or HIGH for 2-3.
Add: Shred the chicken, add the broccoli, and stir. Top with shredded cheese and cook on HIGH for 30 minutes.
Toast, Top, & Serve: Toast the cracker crumb and butter mixture in a pan, then add it to the top of the chicken divan when ready to serve.
Print
Chicken Divan
Easy to prep, family-friendly, Chicken Divan with tender chicken and broccoli baked under a golden, crunchy topping.
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Grease a 13 x 9-inch casserole dish with nonstick cooking spray.
Steam or blanch 3 cups broccoli florets until tender and crisp. Layer the broccoli evenly on the bottom of the casserole dish.
Layer 4 cups cooked, diced, or shredded chicken evenly over the broccoli.
In a bowl, combine 1 (10.5-ounce) can cream of chicken soup, ¾ cup sour cream, ½ cup milk, 1 tablespoon lemon juice, ½ teaspoon garlic powder, ½ teaspoon onion powder, salt and pepper, and 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese.
Pour the sauce over the chicken and broccoli, spreading out evenly.
In a bowl, mix 1 cup crushed Ritz crackers and 2 tablespoons melted butter. Sprinkle over the top of the casserole. Bake for 40-45 minutes, until hot and bubbly, and the cracker topping is golden brown.
Notes
Storage & Reheating Instructions
Fridge: Once cooled, store in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-5 days.
Reheat: Microwave or oven at 350ºF until warmed through.
Freezer: Assemble the unbaked casserole, then wrap it tightly, without the crumb topping. Freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw in the fridge overnight, add topping, and bake.
Make Ahead- Assemble the casserole ahead of time, without the crumb topping. wrap tightly, and store in the fridge up to 2 days. Add topping when ready to bake.
