Chicken Divan
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
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- 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.
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Tried This Recipe?
Leave a review, I love hearing your feedback! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
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!
Delicious! What an easy recipe – I have always loved chicken divan but never really thought to make it. Big mistake! This will now be a staple in our house. I love the ideas shared by others to mix things up a bit. Very versatile!
That makes me so happy Mindy! Glad to hear you have a new recipe in your house. Thanks so much for the review!❤️
Hi! I ran across this recipe just after Christmas and my family has gone nuts for it!!! I have made this dish at least once a week. And my 8 year old granddaughter would like it every night. Excellent dish.
I’m so happy it’s been such a hit with your family Kathy, especially your 8-year-old daughter! Thanks so much for the great review!❤️
This was very good. I forgot to put the mustard in it but still enjoyed it! Will make again!
I’m so happy you liked it Mickey, thanks for the review!❤️
SO YUMMY! Added curry instead of mustard and a healthy dose of it. Also did it with Pablo breadcrumbs and added a little salt and curry to that also and this is soooooooooooo good.
Adding curry sounds like such a cool idea Megan, nice work! I’m so happy you enjoyed it so much. Thanks for the great comments and review!🩷
Wow! What a delicious dinner. I didn’t have celery so in place I added bacon bits in its place. I was short on sour cream so to make the measurements I needed I added a little bit of mayonnaise and about 3 Tblsps of ranch dressing. It turned out fabulous.
I’m so happy to hear that Taimi! Thanks so much for the great comments and review!🩷
I have been making this for decades (before the recipe was here, but I couldn’t find my copy). I always roast the brocoli first and then put it in the pan. You can also use fresh asparagus.
Thanks so much for the great review Karen! Fresh asparagus would be great!❤️
Taste fantastic and very easy to make .ps I use cream of mushroom soup instead of cream of chicken.
I’m so happy that you loved it!! Thank you so much for the review!!! 🙂
This recipe is amazing as is but I use croutons crushed up instead of crackers.
Crushed up croutons is a great idea Amy, I like it! I’m so happy you’re enjoying this one, thanks for the review!💗
This recipe is terrific! I didn’t monkey with it beyond adding a dollop of mayo for flavor as a previous reviewer recommended; using Campbell’s cream of chicken soup *with herbs* (bought it on a whim); and maybe, just maybe, adding more cheese. Another top-notch dish, Stephanie!
Hi Christine!! I’m sooo happy that you love this recipe, you have me wanting to make it right NOW with your tempting descriptions! 🙂 Thank you so much for taking the time to leave a review, I really appreciate it! -Stephanie 💗
The home made cream of chicken soup really makes the difference. Great recipe that will replace my old one!
Hi Sandy! I am sooo happy to hear that you loved this recipe with the homemade soup!! Excellent! Thank you so much for taking the time to leave a review, you’re the best!! ❤️-Stephanie