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Broccoli Chicken Divan Recipe

5 from 127 reviews

Broccoli Chicken Divan is a comforting casserole combining tender chicken, crisp broccoli, and a creamy cheesy sauce topped with a buttery breadcrumb crust. Perfect for a family dinner, it’s a simple oven-baked dish that pairs beautifully with rice, noodles, or mashed potatoes.

Ingredients

Scale

Chicken

  • 4 chicken breasts (about 2 pounds or 3 cups cooked chicken), cut into bite-sized pieces
  • 1 Tablespoon olive oil (if using raw chicken breasts)

Vegetables

  • 1 ½2 pounds broccoli, cut into bite-sized pieces

Sauce and Topping

  • 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

Instructions

  1. Preheat Oven and Prepare Dish: Preheat your oven to 400°F (204°C) and grease a 9×13 inch baking dish or a 3-quart casserole dish to prevent sticking.
  2. Cook Chicken: If using raw chicken breasts, heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the chicken pieces and cook, stirring occasionally, until cooked through and no longer pink in the center, approximately 10 minutes. Remove from heat and set aside.
  3. Cook Broccoli: While chicken cooks, bring a large pot of water to a boil. Add the broccoli pieces and blanch for 2-3 minutes until they are just tender-crisp. Drain the broccoli thoroughly and spread it evenly in the bottom of the prepared baking dish.
  4. Prepare Sauce Mixture: In a large bowl, combine 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese, condensed cream of mushroom soup, sour cream, milk, garlic powder, onion powder, dry mustard powder, black pepper, and kosher salt. Mix until smooth, then gently fold in the cooked chicken pieces.
  5. Assemble Casserole: Pour the chicken and sauce mixture over the broccoli in the baking dish, spreading it evenly. Sprinkle the remaining ½ cup cheddar cheese evenly over the top.
  6. Add Topping: In a small bowl, mix the Panko bread crumbs with the melted butter until evenly coated. Sprinkle the breadcrumb mixture over the cheese layer to create a crispy topping.
  7. Bake: Place the casserole in the preheated oven and bake for 20-22 minutes, or until the breadcrumbs are lightly browned and the casserole is bubbly and heated through.
  8. Serve: Remove from the oven and let cool slightly before serving. This dish pairs wonderfully with rice, noodles, or mashed potatoes, according to your preference.

Notes

  • You can substitute the cream of mushroom soup with cream of chicken soup for a slightly different flavor.
  • Using pre-cooked chicken can reduce preparation time significantly.
  • For extra flavor, sprinkle some paprika or cayenne pepper on top before baking.
  • If you prefer a gluten-free version, use gluten-free breadcrumbs or crushed gluten-free crackers.
  • Make sure to drain the cooked broccoli well to avoid a soggy casserole.

Keywords: Broccoli Chicken Divan, Chicken Casserole, Cheesy Broccoli Chicken, Comfort Food, Easy Dinner