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Home » Recipes » Chicken

Chicken Divan Casserole

Published: Mar 27, 2023 · Modified: Nov 29, 2023 by Debra Clark · 2 Comments

Jump to Recipe

This Chicken Divan Casserole is creamy, cheesy and full of flavor. It’s a comforting dish that’s perfect for any dinner gathering or special occasion. This casserole comes together easily with just a few ingredients making it great for weeknight dinners.

You're going to find so many great Casseroles Recipes on the blog! Another favorite is the Chicken Spaghetti Recipe.

Chicken Divan Casserole in dish with serving spoon.
Jump to:
  • Why you'll love this recipe   
  • Ingredients
  • Instructions 
  • Equipment
  • FAQ's
  • Things to know
  • Variations
  • Storage
  • Related recipes
  • Serve with
  • Chicken Divan Recipe

Why you'll love this recipe   

✔️It tastes great and the whole family will love this casserole recipe.

✔️It's easy to make, so it's perfect for a busy weeknight.

✔️This classic casserole is filled with tender broccoli, and juicy chicken making it a complete meal.

Ingredients for recipe, with print overlay.
Ingredients for the Chicken Broccoli Divan Casserole

Ingredients

For the exact measurements for this easy casserole, please refer to the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post. 

  • broccoli
  • rotisserie chicken, leftover chicken, cooked chicken breasts
  • colby cheese or cheddar cheese
  • milk
  • sour cream
  • cream of mushroom soup - though you can use any of the cream soups, cream of chicken, cream of broccoli soup, or cream of celery would be delicious as well.
  • ranch dressing mix
  • ritz crackers
  • melted butter
Collage of photos with instructions to make recipe, with print overlay.

Instructions 

This is an overview of the instructions. For the complete directions just scroll down to the bottom!

  1. Preheat the oven to 350°F.
  2. Place the broccoli and chicken into a lightly greased 9x13” baking dish. Mix together using a spoon.
  3. In a large mixing bowl, add 1 cup of the grated Colby cheese, the milk, sour cream, mushroom soup and ranch dressing mix. Mix together with a spoon.
  4. Pour the creamy sauce over the chicken and broccoli.
  5. Top with the remaining cheese. Mix the crushed ritz crackers with the butter then sprinkle crunchy topping over the casserole.
  6. Bake in the oven, covered with aluminum foil, for 20 minutes.
  7. Remove the foil and turn up the temperature to 400°F. Bake a further 10 minutes until the top is golden brown.
  8. Allow the creamy chicken casserole to sit for 10 minutes before serving.

Equipment

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  • medium saucepan
  • baking dish - this is just gorgeous. I love that it comes with its own lid. It would be perfect to take for a potluck.
  • large bowl and small bowl for mixing.

FAQ's

Why is it called Chicken Divan?

The casserole was named after the Divan Parisienne Restaurant in New York, where it was served as a signature dish.

What does divan mean in cooking?

In cooking, divan means broccoli and Mornay sauce. Mornay sauce is essentially a creamy béchamel sauce with some cheese added.

What does par-cook mean?

That means cooking the broccoli until almost tender. I like to buy those steam-in-the-bag types of veggies - then just pop them in the microwave for 3 or 4 minutes.

Can I use chicken soup instead?

You could use any cream soup you have on hand. There’s quite a few variances. I would stick to either mushroom, broccoli or chicken though for a more traditional flavor.

Chicken casserole with crispy topping in casserole dish with serving spoon.

Things to know

  • Be sure to grease or spray your baking dish well with nonstick cooking spray so that your casserole does not stick.
  • You can use canned or cooked chicken for this recipe. It's a great way to use leftover rotisserie or neutral-flavored chicken or turkey.
  • If you want to double this recipe that serves more people, you can easily do so and use a 13x9 inch casserole dish instead.

Variations

  • You can use all sorts of different types of vegetables in this casserole. Try adding some diced bell peppers and mushrooms, or using frozen mixed vegetables instead of fresh broccoli.
  • You can also switch up the cheese if you'd like - mozzarella, swiss, gouda, or gruyere cheese would all be great options!
  • Instead of Ritz crackers, try panko breadcrumbs, or even Cornflakes for the top of your casserole dish.
  • Cream of chicken soup or cream of broccoli cheddar can both be substituted.
  • To increase the flavor, you can add some celery and onions to this casserole, however, I recommend sauteing them in a little butter or olive oil until they are tender first.

Storage

Refrigerate - Leftovers can be refrigerated for up to 3 days. Sure make sure that you store them in an airtight container or covered them with foil or plastic wrap.

Freeze - You can freeze this casserole for up to 2 months. Wrap it tightly in plastic wrap or aluminum foil before freezing. I do recommend that you freeze this dish without the breadcrumb topping on it.

Reheating – Reheat the leftovers in a 350°F oven until hot and bubbly, about 20 minutes. Or you can reheat single servings in the microwave for one or two minutes. Just a note that reheating in the microwave will not give a crispy topping.

Cheesy Chicken Divan Casserole in baking dish.
Chicken Divan with Cream of Mushroom Soup

Related recipes

  • Are you looking for a new favorite dinner to make on really hectic days? If so, this Crockpot Chicken and Gravy is the recipe you are looking for it. The slow cooker does all the work for you!
  • If you love chicken casserole recipes like this, then next time you may want to give this Chicken Cordon Bleu Casserole recipe. It's creamy, easy, and always a family favorite recipe.
  • You can never go wrong with a classic casserole like this Chicken Noodle Casserole. It's hearty, comforting, and the perfect way to warm up from the inside out.
  • Don't let the name scare you, the Hairy Bikers Sausage Casserole is a terrific bean and sausage kinda meal. It tastes even better when made ahead.

Serve with

  • These Sauteed Brussel Sprouts are the perfect colorful and healthy side dish to serve with this easy dinner recipe.
  • Do you love yeast rolls but are you afraid of making them? Have no fear this easy recipe is just what you need! These Yeast Rolls for Beginners are an excellent way to learn to work with yeast.

Don't forget to check out my Amazon storefront for some of my favorite products! 🛍️

If you love this recipe please leave a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ rating! 

Chicken Divan Casserole in baking dish, with serving spoon.
5 from 1 vote

Chicken Divan Recipe

This simple dish has it all, loaded with chicken and a cheesy, crispy topping, it only takes minutes to make!
Print Recipe Pin Recipe SaveSaved!
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Prep Time10 minutes mins
Cook Time30 minutes mins
Total Time40 minutes mins
Course: Lunch or Dinner
Cuisine: American
Servings: 8 servings
Calories: 341kcal
Author: Deb Clark

Ingredients

  • 3 cups broccoli par-cooked
  • 3 cups rotisserie Chicken deboned and cut into bite size pieces
  • 1-½ cups colby cheese grated and divided
  • ½ cup milk
  • ⅔ cup sour cream
  • 15 ounce cream of mushroom soup
  • 2 tablespoons ranch dressing mix
  • ½ cup ritz crackers crushed
  • 2 tablespoons butter

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 350°F.
  • Place the broccoli and chicken into a lightly greased 9x13” baking dish. Mix together using a spoon.
  • In a large mixing bowl, add 1 cup of the grated Colby cheese, the milk, sour cream, mushroom soup and ranch dressing mix. Mix together with a spoon.
  • Pour over the broccoli and chicken mix then fold together well.
  • Top with the remaining cheese. Mix the crushed ritz crackers with the butter then sprinkle over the top of the casserole.
  • Bake in the oven, covered with aluminum foil, for 20 minutes.
  • Remove the foil and turn up the temperature to 400°F. Bake a further 10 minutes until the top is golden brown.
  • Remove and allow to sit for 10 minutes before serving.

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    Nutrition

    Calories: 341kcal | Carbohydrates: 11g | Protein: 31g | Fat: 19g | Saturated Fat: 8g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 3g | Trans Fat: 0.2g | Cholesterol: 116mg | Sodium: 1094mg | Potassium: 237mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 526IU | Vitamin C: 31mg | Calcium: 119mg | Iron: 1mg

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    About Debra Clark

    Hey I'm Deb Clark, and I'm the owner of Bowl Me Over! We live in the sleepy little town of Scappoose, Oregon. And I admit it... I love food! Join me in this foodie journey (even if you've never cooked before!) I will help you learn to be confident in the kitchen! Want to learn more? Let's stay connected, you can email me at debra@bowl-me-over.com and find me on Facebook, Pinterest, Instagram, Twitter and YouTube.

    Comments

      5 from 1 vote

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      Recipe Rating




    1. Shelly says

      June 11, 2023 at 3:50 pm

      5 stars
      Made it for dinner tonight and it was very good. The recipe didn't mention spices so I added S & P and alittle onion & garlic powder.
      We enjoy it and I will be adding it to my recipe book for future use. Thank you for sharing 😎

      Reply
      • Bowl Me Over says

        June 11, 2023 at 5:57 pm

        Wonderful, great additions! Glad you enjoyed the recipe, Shelly!

        Reply
    Blogger Deb Clark smiling at camera holding a plate filled with a casserole.
    Welcome to Bowl Me Over!

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