The Cozy Cookbook is here! 
This Chicken Divan has juicy bites of chicken that are smothered in a simple cream sauce with broccoli and topped with a buttery Ritz cracker topping. This is a quick family dinner that you can serve with rice, mashed potatoes, or over biscuits.
Make it from scratch with my homemade cream of chicken soup recipe!
When it comes to casserole recipes, Chicken Divan has to be right at the top of my favorites list. It’s SO easy to make and can be served with so many different side dishes. It’s make-ahead friendly, and my family just devours it every time. Let’s get into what you need to know about this recipe!
What is Chicken Divan
Chicken Divan is a creamy casserole that’s traditionally made with a simple combination of chicken, broccoli, sour cream or mayo, cream of chicken soup, milk, and simple seasonings:
- Chicken: Leftover chicken is great in this recipe, uncooked chicken breast or thighs can also be used.
- Broccoli: I love using fresh broccoli, but frozen works as well.,
- Cream Sauce: The sauce consists of sour cream (or mayo), cream of chicken soup, milk, cheese, and simple seasonings.
- Crunchy Topping: A combination of crushed Ritz crackers and melted butter is a great way to add a golden crunchy topping to this casserole. Panko breadcrumbs and butter can be used as well.
Why Is It Called Chicken Divan
According to Wikipedia, this dish was named after the Divan Parisien Restaurant in NYC’s Chatham Hotel where it was invented and served as a signature dish in the 20th century.
How to Make It (Summary.)
See recipe card below this post for ingredient quantities and full instructions.
- Sauté diced chicken, onions, and celery in butter for 3 minutes. Add broccoli and olive oil once chicken is halfway done and cook 3-5 more minutes. Remove from heat once chicken is cooked through.
- Add the cream of chicken soup, sour cream, milk, seasonings, and half of the cheese. Stir to combine and transfer to a lightly greased 9 x 13 inch casserole dish.
- Top with remaining cheese. Cover and bake at 350° for 20 minutes. Remove and increase heat to 400 degrees.
- Combine the melted butter and Ritz crackers. Sprinkle over the casserole and bake for 8-10 minutes, until the top is golden brown. Remove and let it sit for 5 minutes prior to serving.
- Serve over rice, biscuits, or mashed potatoes.
Pro Tips
- Cooked chicken may be used in which case sautéing it isn’t necessary. I would still recommend softening the onions/celery for about 5 minutes and then cooking the broccoli for about 3-4.
- To skip sautéing altogether, feel free to omit the onions and celery and combine uncooked diced chicken, fresh broccoli, and the sauce ingredients. Transfer to a baking dish and bake at 375, covered, for 40 minutes. Remove cover and proceed with adding the Ritz topping as outlined.
- Frozen broccoli may be used, thaw it first and pat it dry. Sautéing it with the chicken is optional as it’s already partially cooked. I recommend if you like very soft broccoli.
- Mayo can be used instead of sour cream.
- This recipe is in The Cozy Cookbook on page 196!
Make Ahead Method
- This casserole can be prepared and placed in a covered casserole dish in the fridge for up to 2 days prior to baking. Be sure to wait on preparing the topping until ready to serve.
- Add an additional 15 minutes of covered baking time if baking from a cold state.
Storage
Store in an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 3 days or freeze for up to 3 months.
Tools For This Recipe
(Amazon affiliate links)- Check out all of my kitchen essentials here.
- Dutch Oven – These conduct heat really well. I use mine all the time.
- 9 x 13 baking dish The perfect size for almost any casserole recipe
- Silicone Spatula– Easy for tossing the chicken as it cooks and for stirring in the sauce ingredients.
- Measuring spoons I love that these are magnetic. They keep my drawer neat.
Try These Next
-
- Smothered Chicken
-
- Chicken Pot Pie with Biscuits
-
- Cube Steak and Gravy
-
- Sausage Tortellini Soup
-
- Chicken Spaghetti
-
- Broccoli Cheese Soup
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Tried This Recipe?
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Chicken Divan
Ingredients
- 2 Tablespoons butter
- 2 lbs. Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts, see notes
- Salt/Pepper, to taste
- 1 yellow onion, diced
- 1 stick celery, diced
- 4 cups broccoli florets, about ½ lb.
- 1 Tablespoon olive oil
- 10.5 oz. cream of chicken soup
- 2/3 cup sour cream
- ½ cup milk
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon mustard powder
- 2 ½ cups cheddar cheese, shredded
Topping
- ½ cup crushed Ritz crackers, or panko breadcrumbs
- 2 Tablespoons butter
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
- Cut chicken into bite-sized pieces and sprinkle lightly with salt and pepper.
- Melt butter in a dutch oven or large pot over medium heat. Add the chicken, onions, and celery and toss to coat. Sauté for 3 minutes, until chicken is about halfway done, then add the broccoli and 1 Tbsp olive oil.
- Cook for 3-5 more minutes, until the chicken is cooked through. Remove from heat.
- Add the cream of chicken soup, sour cream, milk, seasonings, and half of the cheese. Stir to combine.
- Transfer to a lightly greased 9 x 13 casserole dish and top with remaining cheese.
- Cover and bake for 20 minutes. Remove and increase heat to 400 degrees.
- Combine the melted butter and Ritz crackers. Sprinkle over the casserole and bake for 8-10 minutes, until the top is golden brown. Remove and let it sit for 5 minutes prior to serving.
- Serve over rice, biscuits, or mashed potatoes.
Notes
- 2 lbs. of chicken is equal to about 4 cups diced or 3 medium chicken breasts.
- Cooked chicken may be used in which case sauteing it isn’t necessary. I would still recommend softening the onions/celery for about 5 minutes and the broccoli for about 3-4.
- To skip sautéing altogether, feel free to omit the onions and celery and combine uncooked diced chicken, fresh broccoli, and the sauce ingredients. Transfer to a baking dish and bake at 375, covered, for 40 minutes. Remove cover and proceed with adding the Ritz topping as outlined.
- Frozen broccoli may be used, thaw it first and pat it dry. Sauteing it with the chicken is optional as it’s already partially cooked. I recommend if you like very soft broccoli.
- ½ cup crushed Ritz = about 14 of them or ½ sleeve.
- This recipe is in The Cozy Cookbook on page 196!
I like the simplicity of this recipe. It is delicious and the topping makes it extra yummy. It is now my go-to for Divan.
Thanks so much Lucia, I’m so happy you’re enjoying it!💖
Look good- I need the recipe for 12 people.
Hi Juliee! Since this makes 6 servings you’d just want to double it and bake it in two separate casserole dishes.
I have made a couple of Cozy Cook chicken recipes. Each of them have been absolutely delicious!
This casserole is the ultimate in comfort food. My husband loved it too!
This will definitely go into my monthly rotation😁
I am soooo happy to hear that Amy!! You made my day, thank you so much!!
I’ve been looking for a Chicken Divan recipe without Curry. I should have checked your website first!
This sounds great and has great reviews.
Can I use skim milk or should I use 1% or 2%?
Do you know how much frozen broccoli I would need to make this?
Busy day tomorrow so frozen will be easier.
I like all your recipes because you use normal, everyday ingredients that I always have on hand!!!!
Thank you so much.
Hi Donna!! Skim milk will be just fine, and 4 cups of frozen broccoli can be used as a direct substitute for fresh! I’m sooo happy that you are loving the recipes, thank you so much for your support!!! 🙂
I used cream of celery soup (it was all I had) so I omitted the sautéed celery, and subbed plain greek yogurt for the sour cream…otherwise followed everything and it was delicious. My teens approve!
That’s perfect Carolyn! I’m so happy that you enjoyed it!! 🙂
So delicious!!
I’m so happy that you love it! Thank you Mel!!