Chicken Divan

5 from 3 votes

The ultimate chicken and broccoli casserole! Chicken Divan is a classic, easy dinner recipe that's ready for the oven with just 15 minutes of prep.

Course Dinner

Cuisine American

Keyword chicken and broccoli casserole, chicken casserole, Chicken Divan

Prep Time 15

Cook Time 25

Total Time 40

Servings - 8 people

Calories 304.1kcal

Author Blair Lonergan

Ingredients

6 cups cooked, diced chicken
1 (24 ounce) package frozen broccoli florets, cooked just until crisp-tender and roughly chopped if the florets are very large (or about 8 cups of fresh broccoli florets, cooked until crisp-tender)
2 (10.5 oz) cans condensed cream of chicken soup, not diluted
1 cup grated cheddar cheese
½ cup mayonnaise (I use Duke's brand)
½ cup milk (I use 2%)
1 teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon black pepper
½ teaspoon garlic powder
½ teaspoon curry powder (optional)
½ cup coarsely crushed Corn Flakes cereal (or sub with Ritz crackers, potato chips, or plain breadcrumbs)
1 tablespoon salted butter, melted
Optional, for serving: cooked rice; mashed potatoes; buttered noodles; chopped fresh parsley

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease a 13 x 9-inch baking dish.
In a large bowl, whisk together condensed soup, cheese, mayonnaise, milk, salt, pepper, garlic powder, and optional curry powder.
Stir in chicken and broccoli. Transfer to the prepared baking dish.
In a small bowl, stir together Corn Flakes and melted butter. Sprinkle buttered crumbs over top.
Bake, uncovered, for 25-30 minutes, or until casserole is bubbly and topping is golden brown.

Notes

You can cook your own chicken to use in this recipe (you'll need about 3 lbs. of raw boneless, skinless breasts or thighs), or take a shortcut! I like to use store-bought rotisserie chickens or purchase pre-cooked, diced chicken such as Tyson Grilled and Ready (often found in large bags in the frozen section) or Perdue Short Cuts.
Before assembling the casserole, the broccoli should be crisp-tender (but not too soft). It will continue to cook in the oven. To cook the broccoli, I place the frozen florets in a microwave-safe dish, add about 1-2 tablespoons of water, cover, and microwave on high for about 4 minutes (or until the broccoli is crisp-tender). You can also steam or boil the broccoli on the stovetop, if you prefer. If the broccoli florets are very large, you may need to roughly chop them before adding them to your casserole. Otherwise, you can also purchase "baby" or "petite" broccoli florets in the frozen section.
Some traditional Chicken Divan recipes include a dash of curry powder in the sauce, so I've included that as an optional ingredient. Some folks love the taste, while others definitely do not. Similarly, you may also want to add a splash of sherry to the sauce.
Garnish the finished casserole with fresh herbs, such as parsley, thyme, or basil, for a bright, fresh flavor.

Nutrition