Broccoli Chicken Divan Recipe
Broccoli Chicken Divan is a classic, creamy casserole featuring tender chicken pieces and crisp broccoli florets smothered in a savory cheddar cheese and cream of mushroom soup sauce, topped with a buttery breadcrumb crust. This comforting dish is perfect for a family dinner and pairs wonderfully with rice, noodles, or mashed potatoes.
- Author: Bella
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 32 minutes
- Total Time: 47 minutes
- Yield: 6 servings 1x
- Category: Casserole
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Halal
Chicken
- 4 chicken breasts (about 2 pounds or 3 cups cooked chicken), cut into bite-size pieces
- 1 Tablespoon olive oil (if using raw chicken breasts)
Vegetables
- 1 ½–2 pounds broccoli, cut into bite-sized pieces
Sauce and Toppings
- 1 ½ cups cheddar cheese, shredded, divided
- 10 ½ ounces condensed cream of mushroom soup (1 can) or cream of chicken soup
- ⅔ cup sour cream
- ½ cup milk
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon dry mustard powder
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
- 3 Tablespoons Panko bread crumbs or buttery crackers (like Ritz crackers)
- 1 Tablespoon melted butter
- Preheat and Prepare Dish: Preheat your oven to 400°F. Grease a 9×13 inch baking dish or a 3-quart casserole dish thoroughly to prevent sticking.
- Cook Chicken: If using raw chicken breasts, heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the bite-sized chicken pieces and cook for about 10 minutes until fully cooked through and no longer pink inside. Remove from heat and set aside.
- Blanch Broccoli: Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Place the broccoli florets into the boiling water and cook for 2-3 minutes until they are just tender-crisp. Drain thoroughly and arrange the broccoli as the bottom layer in your prepared baking dish.
- Mix Sauce and Assemble: In a large bowl, combine 1 cup of shredded cheddar cheese, condensed cream of mushroom soup, sour cream, milk, garlic powder, onion powder, dry mustard powder, black pepper, and kosher salt. Stir well to combine. Fold the cooked chicken into this mixture. Spread the chicken and sauce mixture evenly on top of the broccoli in the baking dish. Sprinkle the remaining ½ cup shredded cheddar cheese evenly over the top.
- Prepare Topping: In a small bowl, mix the Panko bread crumbs (or crushed buttery crackers) with the melted butter until combined. Sprinkle this mixture evenly over the cheese layer on the casserole.
- Bake: Place the casserole in the preheated oven and bake for 20-22 minutes, until the breadcrumb topping is lightly browned and crispy, and the casserole is bubbling hot.
- Serve: Remove from the oven and let it rest for a few minutes before serving. This hearty casserole pairs excellently with rice, noodles, or mashed potatoes.
Notes
- You can substitute cream of mushroom soup with cream of chicken soup if preferred.
- For a gluten-free version, use gluten-free bread crumbs or crackers.
- Ensure the broccoli is well-drained after boiling to prevent a watery casserole.
- Leftovers store well in the refrigerator for up to 3 days and reheat thoroughly before serving.
- Optional: Add a pinch of cayenne pepper to the sauce for a subtle spicy kick.
Keywords: Broccoli Chicken Divan, chicken casserole, creamy chicken broccoli bake, cheddar chicken casserole, comfort food, easy dinner recipe