The “Taste of Home” Casserole: The Ultimate Classic Chicken Divan Recipe!

It’s a beautiful Friday afternoon, the perfect time to start thinking about a weekend dinner that feels like a warm, familiar hug. Aren’t there some recipes that just instantly transport you back to your childhood dinner table? A meal so comforting and timeless that one single bite brings back a flood of happy memories.

For so many of us, that quintessential comfort food comes in the form of a hot, bubbly, and creamy casserole. Today, I want to introduce you to one of the undisputed kings of the comfort food world: the incredible Chicken Divan. It’s a magical combination of tender chicken and broccoli, all smothered in a rich, cheesy sauce and finished with a wonderfully crunchy topping.

Today, we are going to walk through the simple steps to create this beloved classic in your own kitchen. It’s a dish that is surprisingly easy to make and is a guaranteed hit with the entire family. Get ready to add a true legend to your recipe collection.

A True Comfort Food Legend: Classic Chicken Divan

This recipe for Classic Chicken Divan is a true taste of American comfort food history. It’s a quintessential casserole known for its rich, creamy sauce and its perfect pairing of tender chicken and bright green broccoli. This simple recipe honours the traditional flavours that have made it a family favorite for generations, while making it incredibly easy for any home cook to master.

A Perfect Easy Chicken and Broccoli Casserole for Southern Comfort Food Recipes

You will find that this is the ultimate easy chicken and broccoli casserole. It takes two simple, well-loved ingredients and brings them together in a luscious, cheesy sauce that kids and adults alike will absolutely adore. It is also a fantastic example of classic Southern comfort food recipes, which are celebrated for being hearty, deeply satisfying, and packed with incredible flavour.

Your Guide: What is Chicken Divan Sauce Made Of?

So you might be asking, what is chicken divan sauce made of? The sauce is the creamy, savory heart of the dish, and our easy version uses a few simple shortcuts for maximum flavour with minimum effort. A traditional Chicken Divan sauce is made with a creamy base, which we create here with a combination of mayonnaise and a can of condensed cream of chicken soup. This creamy base is then given a bright, tangy lift from a little bit of fresh lemon juice and a unique, savory warmth from a secret ingredient: a touch of curry powder.

Why You’ll Love This Chicken Divan

You are going to fall completely in love with this recipe because of its incredible combination of textures and flavours. The contrast between the creamy, savory filling and the crunchy, buttery cracker topping is absolutely irresistible. You will also adore how incredibly easy this one-dish meal is to assemble, making it the perfect comforting dinner for a busy weeknight. Best of all, it’s a fantastic and delicious way to get picky eaters to happily eat their broccoli.

Nutritional Benefits

This hearty casserole is a wonderful way to serve a satisfying and balanced meal. The chicken is a fantastic source of high-quality protein, which is essential for a filling family dinner. The broccoli is a true nutritional superstar, absolutely packed with Vitamin C, Vitamin K, and a huge dose of dietary fiber. By making the creamy sauce at home, you also have complete control over the ingredients and can be sure you are serving a wholesome, comforting meal.

Full Recipe

Are you ready to create the ultimate comfort food casserole that will have your whole family asking for the recipe? This comprehensive guide will walk you through every simple step, from creating the creamy, savory sauce to baking it all under a perfect, crunchy topping. Get ready to master a new family-favorite that will bring a taste of home to your dinner table.

A classic, easy, and incredibly comforting recipe for Chicken Divan Casserole. This family-favorite dinner features tender cooked chicken and broccoli florets smothered in a rich, creamy, and cheesy sauce, all topped with a crunchy, buttery cracker crust. This is the ultimate one-dish comfort food meal, perfect for any night of the week.

Prep Time: 15 minutes | Cook Time: 30 minutes | Total Time: 45 minutes | Yield: 6-8 servings | Category: Dinner, Main Course, Casserole | Method: Baking | Cuisine: American, Southern | Diet: N/A

Essential Ingredients for Classic Chicken Divan

This classic comfort food casserole comes together with a handful of simple, flavourful ingredients.

• Chicken: 4 cups cooked chicken, chopped or shredded (rotisserie chicken works perfectly)
• Broccoli: 1 large head of broccoli, cut into florets and steamed
• For the Creamy Sauce:
  • 1 can (10.5 oz / 295g) condensed cream of chicken soup
  • 1 cup mayonnaise
  • ½ cup milk or half-and-half
  • 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
  • 1 teaspoon curry powder
• Cheese: 1 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese
• For the Topping:
  • 1 cup crushed buttery crackers (like Ritz)
  • ¼ cup melted unsalted butter

Ingredients Notes

A little more detail on our key ingredients will ensure your Chicken Divan is a spectacular success.

• The Chicken: The beauty of this recipe is its convenience, making it a perfect way to use up leftover cooked chicken. A store-bought rotisserie chicken is a fantastic shortcut that saves a huge amount of time. You can use either shredded or cubed chicken for this casserole.
• The Broccoli: For the best texture, this recipe uses fresh broccoli florets that have been lightly steamed until they are bright green and just tender-crisp. You want to avoid overcooking the broccoli at this stage, as it will continue to cook in the oven. Using frozen broccoli florets is also a great, convenient option.
• The Creamy Sauce: Our incredibly easy sauce is a classic shortcut that delivers huge on flavour. The condensed cream of chicken soup provides a rich, savory base, while the mayonnaise adds a wonderful creaminess and a subtle tang. The secret ingredient, a small amount of curry powder, doesn’t make the dish taste like curry but adds a beautiful, warm, and savory depth that is characteristic of a classic Chicken Divan.
• The Crunchy Topping: The buttery, crunchy topping is what truly sets this casserole apart. Crushed, buttery crackers like Ritz are the classic choice and provide a fantastic salty and crispy contrast to the creamy filling. Tossing the cracker crumbs with a little bit of melted butter before you sprinkle them on top is the key to getting a perfectly golden-brown and delicious crust.

How to Make Classic Chicken Divan Casserole

Let’s walk through the simple steps to assemble and bake this ultimate comfort food dish.

• Step 1: Prepare the Oven and Ingredients. First, preheat your oven to 175°C (350°F) and lightly grease a 9×13 inch baking dish. If you are using fresh broccoli, steam or blanch your florets for about 3-4 minutes, until they are bright green and tender-crisp, then drain them well.
• Step 2: Create the Creamy Sauce. In a large bowl, whisk together the can of condensed cream of chicken soup, the mayonnaise, the milk, the fresh lemon juice, and the curry powder. Continue to whisk until you have a smooth and uniform creamy sauce.
• Step 3: Combine the Casserole Filling. Gently stir the cooked, shredded chicken and the steamed broccoli florets into the creamy sauce until everything is evenly coated.
• Step 4: Assemble the Casserole. Pour the chicken and broccoli mixture into your prepared baking dish and spread it out into an even layer. Sprinkle the 1 cup of shredded cheddar cheese evenly all over the top of the casserole.
• Step 5: Prepare and Add the Topping. In a small bowl, combine the crushed cracker crumbs with the melted butter and toss until the crumbs are well moistened. Sprinkle this buttery cracker mixture evenly over the layer of cheese.
• Step 6: Bake to Bubbly Perfection. Place the baking dish in the preheated oven. Bake, uncovered, for 25-30 minutes, or until the casserole is hot all the way through and the filling is bubbly around the edges.
• Step 7: Rest and Serve. Let the Chicken Divan rest for at least 5-10 minutes before you serve it. This allows the creamy sauce to set up slightly. Serve hot and enjoy the comforting goodness.

Storage Options

This comforting chicken casserole makes for absolutely fantastic leftovers. Once the casserole has cooled completely, you can either cover the baking dish tightly with foil or transfer individual portions to an airtight container. It will stay fresh in the refrigerator for up to 4 days and can be easily reheated in the microwave for a quick and delicious lunch or dinner.

Variations and Substitutions

This classic casserole is a wonderful template that you can easily adapt to your family’s preferences. To make the dish heartier, you can add about 2 cups of cooked white or wild rice to the chicken and broccoli mixture. If you’re not a fan of broccoli, you could substitute it with steamed cauliflower florets or green beans. For a different crunchy topping, you could use French’s fried onions or some panko breadcrumbs tossed with butter instead of the crackers.

Practical & Valuable Tips

For the best texture, be sure not to overcook your broccoli during the initial steaming step; you want it to be tender-crisp, as it will continue to cook in the oven. Using a rotisserie chicken is the ultimate shortcut for this recipe and saves a huge amount of time. Finally, for the most flavourful and evenly melted cheese, it is always best to buy a block of sharp cheddar and shred it yourself just before using.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Can I use frozen broccoli instead of fresh for this recipe? Yes, absolutely! Frozen broccoli florets are a fantastic and convenient shortcut. There is no need to thaw them first; you can simply stir the frozen florets directly into the creamy sauce along with the chicken.
2. The curry powder seems like a strange ingredient. Is it necessary? While it may seem unusual, the small amount of curry powder is a classic ingredient in many traditional Chicken Divan recipes. It doesn’t make the dish taste like a curry, but it adds a unique, warm, and savory depth of flavour that is truly delicious. If you don’t have it, you can omit it, but I highly recommend giving it a try!
3. Can I assemble this entire casserole ahead of time and bake it later? Yes, this is a great make-ahead meal. You can fully assemble the casserole, but wait to add the buttery cracker topping until right before you bake it. Cover the dish and store it in the refrigerator for up to 24 hours, then just add the topping and bake as directed, adding about 10-15 minutes to the bake time.
4. My cracker topping wasn’t very crispy. What did I do wrong? To ensure a crispy topping, make sure you toss the cracker crumbs thoroughly with the melted butter so they are well coated. You can also place the casserole under your oven’s broiler for the last minute of cooking to get the top extra golden brown and crunchy, but watch it very closely.
5. Can I make this casserole with a different kind of condensed soup? Of course! While cream of chicken is the classic choice, this casserole would also be delicious with a can of condensed cream of mushroom, cream of celery, or even cheddar cheese soup for an extra cheesy version.

Conclusion

This Classic Chicken Divan Casserole is a true taste of home, a dish that brings a huge amount of comfort and flavor to any dinner table. It’s a recipe that takes simple, beloved ingredients and transforms them into a creamy, cheesy, and incredibly satisfying meal. It’s a timeless, family-favorite that is perfect for a cozy weeknight dinner or a special Sunday supper. This Classic Chicken Divan Casserole is a recipe you’ll cherish. If you love this easy and comforting meal, don’t forget to share it and save it to your favorite casserole recipes board on Pinterest!