Chicken Divan is a hearty chicken dinner that’s perfect for any night of the week! Broccoli and chicken are baked with a creamy white wine sauce in this easy casserole recipe.
If you think casseroles are bland, you haven’t tried Chicken Brococli Divan.
This Chicken Divan is on another galaxy compared to other chicken casseroles out there. There aren’t many casseroles I find myself craving on a regular basis. Chicken Divan is a delicious exception!
SAVE THIS EASY CHICKEN DIVAN RECIPE TO YOUR FAVORITE PINTEREST BOARD!
My family can’t get enough of this chicken casserole which is good for me because I’d happily eat it every night of the week. I’m always surprised by how easy this chicken broccoli casserole is to make, considering how incredible it tastes!
The sauce has the perfect creamy consistency with a rich, cheesy flavor. It’s so good I often find myself wanting to grab a spoon and eat it right out of the pan. Paired with the juicy shredded chicken and crisp broccoli, it’ll leave your belly very happy indeed, and I love to serve it over rice.
What do I need?
- Cooked chicken breast – Rotisserie chicken from the grocery store is perfect!
- Dry sherry – Or another dry fortified wine.
- Flour
- Chicken broth
- Butter
- Milk
- Broccoli
- Heavy cream
- Shredded cheddar cheese
- Grated parmesan cheese
- Salt and pepper
How do I cook chicken for Chicken Divan?
For this recipe and others that require cooked chicken, I use my George Foreman Grill. It cooks the chicken in about 7 minutes flat, leaving it tender and very juicy! It’s also very handy to use when I want to make a very quick dinner.
If I’m in a hurry, I often grab a rotisserie chicken from the grocery store. Shred the rotisserie chicken and make sure you have 3 full cups. OR maybe you’re lucky enough where you can buy the rotisserie chicken already shredded at your favorite grocery store. If you don’t see it, ask them!
This Chicken Broccoli Divan recipe is also a great way to use any leftover cooked chicken you have stored in the fridge or freezer.
What can I use instead of sherry for cooking?
Sherry, a dry fortified wine, adds a delicious dimension of flavor to the white sauce. You can substitute other dry white wines like sauvignon blanc, chardonnay or pinot grigio in a pinch. The alcohol cooks off during cooking leaving only the crisp, complex flavor that perfectly compliments the heavy cream.
If you prefer not to cook with any alcohol, swap out the sherry for apple cider vinegar. The tartness of the vinegar functions similarly when combined with the cream base. Although the flavor won’t be exactly the same as if you were using the sherry, this chicken recipe will still be delicious.
Can this be made ahead of time?
You can prep this chicken dinner ahead of time then pop it in the oven to bake about 30 minutes before dinner time.
Assemble the chicken and broccoli in your casserole dish, make the sauce and pour it over the chicken. Sprinkle the cheese over the whole thing, then cover and store in the fridge until ready to bake (up to 24 hours).
Baked Chicken Divan tastes best eaten fresh while still hot and bubbly from the oven. Leftovers store well in the refrigerator for about 3 days. Reheat in the microwave or oven before enjoying!
Can this be frozen?
Yes, this Chicken Divan recipe holds up well to freezing both before and after it’s baked.
To freeze before baking: Assembling the casserole in a disposable foil baking dish. Double wrap it in freezer bags and place in the freezer. Bake frozen casserole and enjoy within one month.
To freeze after baking: Transfer leftover Chicken Divan to a freezer safe container. Store in the freezer for up to 3 months. Thaw frozen Chicken Divan in the refrigerator over night then reheat in the microwave or oven before serving.
Chicken Recipes
Chicken is a regular fixture on my family’s dinner table. There are seemingly endless ways to prepare it so you never get bored!
Along with Chicken Divan Casserole, we love other easy baked chicken dinners like this Cheesy Chicken, Broccoli and Rice Casserole and this comforting Chicken Noodle Casserole Recipe.
If you’re looking for a chicken recipe with a little more heat, these Chicken Enchilada Bites are perfect! Or serve these Buffalo Chicken Meatballs on a hearty sandwich roll.
On the lighter side, I suggest trying our Greek Quinoa Chicken Salad recipe. It’s a delicious lunch or light dinner for a warm summer night. You’ll love this Chicken Taco Salad too!
For an easy chicken dinner that warms body and soul while filling your belly, you can’t go wrong with Chicken ‘N’ Dumplins. I’ve made that dish about as many times as I’ve made this Chicken Divan recipe. For a good reason!
Dinner Recipes
Stop dreading the question “Mom, what’s for dinner?”!
After you fall in love with this flavorful Chicken Divan Casserole, you’ll want to try all the other quick and easy dinner recipes I’ve blogged about (and devoured) over the years!
- Rosemary Pork Medallions with Mushroom Wine Sauce
- Pork Potstickers
- Taco Casserole
- Breaded Baked Ravioli
- Lemon Garlic Shrimp Pasta
- Homemade Chicken Noodle Soup
- Sausage Spaghetti Squash
- Baked Spaghetti
- Turkey Gyro Pockets with Tzatziki Sauce
- Slow Cooker Chicken Sandwich
- Easy BBQ Pork Mac & Cheese
- Parmesan Pork Chops with Pesto
- Roasted Chicken and Vegetables
Creamy, nourishing and packed with flavor, Chicken Divan is the perfect easy dinner!
Chicken Divan
Equipment
- 1 8 X 8-inch baking dish
- 1 medium saucepan
- 1 silicone spatula
Ingredients
- ¼ cup butter
- ¼ cup sifted flour
- 1 cup chicken broth
- 1 cup milk
- ¾ teaspoon salt
- ⅛ teaspoon white pepper
- ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 3 tablespoons dry sherry or unfiltered apple cider vinegar if you prefer not to use the alcohol
- 3 cups trimmed and chopped broccoli
- 3 ½ cups cooked chicken I often use shredded rotisserie chicken.
- 1 cup shredded Cheddar / Monterey Jack Cheese
- ½ cup heavy cream
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
- Melt butter in a saucepan over moderate heat, blend in flour, slowly add broth and milk, and heat stirring until thickened; mix in salt, pepper, the ¼ cup Parmesan cheese, and the sherry.
- Arrange broccoli in a single layer in a buttered 8 X 8-inch baking dish and top with chopped chicken. Spread shredded cheddar/jack cheese evenly over chicken.
- In a mixing bowl, beat cream until soft peaks form and fold into sauce.
- Pour evenly over chicken.
- Bake, uncovered for 30 minutes until bubbly.
- Broil quickly to brown and then serve.
Nutrition
This post was originally published on May 10, 2011. It has been updated in format and with pictures on 4/27/22.
Comments & Reviews
This looks so good! My husband is not big on casseroles but maybe he would try this one. I’ll let you know if we do.
Thanks for including me on your blog roll.
This is indeed a keeper! I copying… now… Thanks for sharing!
Oh Yum! I have a recipe for this that I love, but it has the cream of… in it. This sounds like a better version. I add lemon juice, roast garlic, and mushrooms to mine though!
This sounds really good! And I’m with you – I love laughing until it hurts… it’s so good for you! =)
YUM! Love all the ingredients! That looks so great!
Mary xo
Delightful Bitefuls
made this tonight…and was soooo good!
Thank you, Stacy!! I am SO glad you enjoyed it!
Could you substitute Sour cream in place of the beaten Heavy cream?
Could you substitute Sour Cream for the beaten Heavy Cream?
Justin,
hmmmm…I’m not too sure. You could try it. It would be thicker , so I would dilute it with a touch of milk. You’ll have to let me know if you try it and what you think of it!
According to my husband and sister-in-law it passed the taste test! I bought half and half instead of heavy cream so it didn’t peak so I made some substitutions which I think caused it to be a little more deflated but it was still super yummy!! Chicken Divan – serves 6
My Edits
¼ cup butter or margarine
¼ cup sifted flour
1 cup chicken broth
1 cup milk
¾ teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon white pepper
¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese
3 tablespoons red wine (pinot noir)
2 instead of 1) head broccoli (about 1½ pounds) trimmed and chopped
4 cooked chicken breasts ( about 1- 2 pounds), cut into small pieces
2 cup shredded Cheddar/ Monterey Jack
1/4 cup of Campbell’s cream of mushroom soup
¾ cup of bread crumbs or garlic croutons
I did not add the bread crumbs until I was broiling the cheese on the Divan.
To Justin, I substituted Campbell’s Cream of Mushroom Soup. It wasn’t as fluffy as I am sure it would be with the heavy whipping cream but it still tasted great. ( At least according to my family. )
Chicken Divan – serves 6
My Edits
¼ cup butter or margarine
¼ cup sifted flour
1 cup chicken broth
1 cup milk
¾ teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon white pepper
¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese
3 tablespoons red wine (pinot noir)
2 instead of 1) head broccoli (about 1½ pounds) trimmed and chopped
4 cooked chicken breasts ( about 1- 2 pounds), cut into small pieces
1/2 red pepper
1/2 red onion
(saute the chicken in EVOO after the red pepper and onion has become soft before cubing.)
2 cup shredded Cheddar/ Monterey Jack (Add one cup to the flour/milk mixture before the parmesan)
1/4 cup of Campbell’s cream of mushroom soup (Fold in the soup as instructed with the heavy cream.)
¾ cup of breadcrumbs or garlic croutons
I did not add the breadcrumbs until I was broiling the cheese on the Divan.
What would you serve this over?
I don’t typically serve it over anything, but you I do serve it with either some brown rice or quinoa.
My mom passed her recipe to me 40+ years ago. Quite different but yummy. No whipped topping. I use cream of broccolli-cheddar soup, 1/2 c. mayo, 3-4 breasts, cooked & shredded, a pkg of frozen broccolli, cooked, or head of fresh, a little lemon juice. I used to layer it but found it mixes better if you just mixed everything together & then put in the pan. I also add curry powder – a lot! It adds some pizzazz to it. Then layer cheddar cheese, dribble melted butter, & seasoned bread crumbs. It’s yummy!! All quantitites are approximate – I really just put in what I feel like!
Marge, that sounds delicious!! And I’m sure it tastes even better because it was handed down from mom!
Keep it up, girl!
In the pre-recipe ramblings, you say that apple cider vinegar can be substituted for the Sherry. In the recipe, it says apple cider. Which is it, please?
Bruce, thank you for reading my pre-recipe ramblings. Had you not, I wouldn’t be aware of my error. I have fixed the recipe to reflect that it is indeed apple cider vinegar. I hope you enjoy it!
This sounds delicious! And I agree with you — I like laughing till it aches… It’s really beneficial to your health!