What is Chicken Divan?
Named after the restaurant it was invented in, Chicken Divan is an American comfort food classic. Chicken and broccoli are combined with Mornay sauce (Béchamel sauce with cheese) and baked topped with crispy breadcrumbs.
Ingredients
Many recipes for Chicken Divan call for canned cream of mushroom soup/cream of chicken soup and mayonnaise for the creamy sauce but to be honest, that isn’t all too appealing to me. Making your own sauce with a simple flour and butter roux, milk and good cheddar cheese adds so much flavor to the finished dish.
Chicken. This recipe works well with boneless chicken breast or chicken thigh meat. You can also use shredded rotisserie chicken for a quick substitute. Olive oil. Salt and black pepper. Other seasonings like garlic powder, onion powder, paprika or cayenne pepper can be used too. Curry powder can be used for curried Chicken Divan. Fresh garlic cloves. Broccoli. Fresh broccoli is going to work much better than frozen broccoli here. The frozen broccoli will release too much moisture and will cause the finished casserole to be watery. Butter. Flour. Milk. Cheese. I used mature/sharp cheddar cheese. Gruyere, Swiss cheese, Monterey Jack or Comte are all good substitutes. Parmesan cheese. Panko breadcrumbs. Panko creates a super crisp crust but can be substituted with fresh or Italian bread crumbs. Ritz crackers can also be used. Dried oregano.
How to make Chicken Divan
Can I make this in advance?
Chicken Divan is great to prepare ahead. Assemble the dish (without the breadcrumbs) then cover well and refrigerate for up to 2 days. Top with the breadcrumbs and bake. Alternatively, add the breadcrumbs and freeze for up to 3 months. Bake from frozen until hot throughout. Any leftovers can be kept in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 days.
What to serve with Chicken Divan
This Chicken Divan recipe is a great dinner on its own but if you want to add side dishes, I would suggest a simple salad or mashed potatoes.
Chicken casserole recipes
