Everyone loves this super easy, super cheesy Broccoli Chicken Divan casserole!

This fresh and healthy recipe is a weeknight winner and a potluck crowd-pleaser. This classic dish has been a family favorite for decades and it’s easy to see why. Whether it’s served up with favorite mix ins or toppings like French fried onions or enjoyed according to the exact recipe instructions, Chicken Divan is always divine! And since it’s one of those entrees that “always turns out” there is no need to worry about whether or not guests will enjoy it. 

 plated Broccoli Chicken Divan with a fork    

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What is Broccoli Chicken Divan?

  • Divan (pronounced “dee-von”) is characterized by a creamy cheese sauce mixed with chicken and broccoli, named for a hotel in NYC. It’s an elegant dish that’s easy to make! 

close up of Broccoli Chicken Divan on a spoon

Why We Love It

  • Quick and easy, broccoli chicken divan can be ready in less than 30 minutes using pre-cooked or leftover chicken!
  • Cook this economical entrée for bigger families! Just add a salad like Red Leaf Salad with Lemon Vinaigrette and some No Knead Bread for dipping into the sauce!
  • Make it low carb by using crushed pork rinds instead of Panko breadcrumbs. Or simply go without the breadcrumb topping altogether and top with extra cheese.
  • Make it vegetarian by replacing the meat by layering in white or long-grain brown rice, egg noodles, or penne pasta.
  • Tastes better the next day and is a great lunchtime meal for school or work!

ingredients to make Broccoli Chicken Divan

Ingredients and Variations

CHICKEN: Chicken breasts are lower in calories than beef, turkey, or pork, but those proteins can be used instead if desired. And even cooked smoked salmon works well. This is a great recipe for using up leftover meat and veggies!

BROCCOLI: Fresh broccoli gives this dish a burst of colorful crunch! Cauliflower can be used, and some sliced mushrooms and slices of bell peppers add texture and flavor! Frozen broccoli can be used, or even a bag of mixed vegetable medley.

SAUCE: Cream of mushroom soup makes a great base for the cream cheese, cheddar cheese, and milk. Canned soup is a real timesaver! Don’t forget the sour cream. Cream of chicken or cream of broccoli soup can be used, too! For an Indian-style casserole stir in a jar of prepared yellow or red curry sauce.

close up of Broccoli Chicken Divan before cooking

How to Make Broccoli Chicken Divan

The steps for prepping this savory casserole are so simple. Serve it over rice, noodles, or mashed potatoes, if desired.

  1. Prep chicken & saute until cooked through. (If using cooked chicken, cut it into evenly sized chunks.)
  2. Blanch broccoli pieces until tender. Drain & place in casserole dish.
  3. Mix 1 cup of cheddar cheese with sauce ingredients. Fold in chicken & pour over the top of the broccoli. Sprinkle with remainder of cheddar.
  4. Prepare breadcrumb topping & cover the casserole. Bake (per recipe below).

In a Crock Pot or Slow Cooker:

  1. Cut chicken breasts into bite-sized pieces and sauté until cooked through. If using cooked chicken, cut it into small pieces.
  2. Blanch broccoli pieces in boiling water until tender. Drain and put on the bottom of a Crock Pot.
  3. Mix 1 cup of cheddar cheese, soup, sour cream, and seasonings. Fold in chicken and pour over the top of the broccoli. Sprinkle on cheese.
  4. Cook on low for 4 hours or on high for 2 hours (long enough to heat through.
  5. Prepare breadcrumb topping and cover the casserole. Cook another 30 minutes.

top view of cooked Broccoli Chicken Divan in the pan

Leftovers

For best results, store leftovers in a covered container for up to 4 days. Reheat portions in the microwave. Freeze cooled portions in quart-sized zipper bags with the date labeled on the outside for up to 4 weeks. Allow to thaw in the refrigerator overnight and reheat as desired.

close up of Broccoli Chicken Divan on a fork

Other Delicious Chicken Recipes!

plated Broccoli Chicken Divan with a fork
5 from 522 votes↑ Click stars to rate now!
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Broccoli Chicken Divan

Savory and delicious Broccoli Chicken Divan is a favorite. Serve it over rice, noodles or mashed potatoes.
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 35 minutes
Servings 4 -6 servings
Author Candace

Ingredients  

  • 4 chicken breasts about 2 pounds (or 3 cups cooked chicken), cut into bite size pieces
  • 1 Tablespoon olive oil if using raw chicken breasts
  • 1 ½-2 pounds broccoli cut into bite sized pieces
  • 1 ½ cups cheddar cheese shredded, divided
  • 10 ½ ounces condensed cream of mushroom soup 1 can (or cream of chicken soup)
  • cup sour cream
  • ½ cup milk
  • ½ teaspoon each garlic powder, onion powder, dry mustard powder, and pepper
  • ¼ teaspoon kosher salt

Breadcrumb Topping

  • 3 Tablespoons Panko bread crumbs or buttery crackers (like Ritz crackers)
  • 1 Tablespoon melted butter

Instructions 

  • Preheat oven to 400°F. Grease a 9x13 baking dish (or a 3 quart casserole dish).
  • If using raw chicken breasts, in a large skillet, heat olive oil on medium high. Add the chicken pieces and cook until cooked through, about 10 minutes. Set aside.
  • Meanwhile, place broccoli in a large pot boiling water and cook 2-3 minutes or just until tender crisp. Drain well and put in the bottom of the baking dish.
  • Meanwhile, in a large bowl, combine 1 cup cheddar cheese, soup, sour cream, milk, and seasonings. Stir in chicken and spread on top of broccoli in baking or casserole dish. Sprinkle with remaining cheese.
  • In a small bowl, mix bread crumbs and butter. Sprinkle over the cheese.
  • Bake 20-22 minutes, or until the breadcrumbs are lightly browned and the mixture is bubbly and hot.
  • Serve over rice, noodles, or mashed potatoes, as desired.

Video

5 from 522 votes↑ Click stars to rate now!
Or to leave a comment, click here!

Nutrition Information

Calories: 454 | Carbohydrates: 17g | Protein: 47g | Fat: 22g | Saturated Fat: 11g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 143mg | Sodium: 916mg | Potassium: 1102mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 1219IU | Vitamin C: 103mg | Calcium: 337mg | Iron: 2mg

Nutrition information does not include optional ingredients or garnish and is an estimate. It may change based on actual ingredients and cooking methods used.

Course Main Course
Cuisine American

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About the author

I am a wife, mother of two, and professional accountant. I love fantastic food, and it is so often the center of our lives, from everyday dinner, to family gatherings, and special evenings at fabulous restaurants. I have always loved cooking and baking, with my mom and grandma, and now, with my daughter and son. I love trying new recipes while enjoying my favorites too. I’m so happy to share them with you.
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Comments

  1. 5 stars
    This was wonderful I think I did it backwards and put broccoli on top of chicken. I added bacon bits and used mayo since I didn’t have sour cream. I mat have added little more cheese i used a mixed cheddar and used up the rest of my parmasion. Two cans soup mushroom and chocken. I also cooked a little penene noodle. Added it to chicken mixture. Was so yummy. My mom and a friend both loved it and they are picky

  2. 5 stars
    Great recipe! Most of the chicken divan type recipes I use seem to be too dry but this was perfect. It was delicious with mashed potatoes.

  3. 5 stars
    Made this recipe tonight and my family loved it (bonus that everyone ate the broccoli) Definitely will make again. Thank you for an easy and great tasting recipe.

  4. Turned out great, but mine had a lot of water on the bottom, does anyone know why this happened? Great flavor though, added a bit of extra cheese.

    1. Hmm, I am sorry that happened Shannon. I have never had that issue with this dish, but to prevent excess moisture in the dish you want to make sure to drain the broccoli well in step 3. I hope that helps!

  5. 5 stars
    This was delicious and so easy. I used frozen broccoli, mayo instead of sour cream, fresh garlic and approx. 2tsps of Dijon mustard instead of powder. Next time I think I’ll add some roasted red pepper. Thanks for a fabulous recipe.

      1. To use frozen broccoli we skip the blanching in step 3. Thaw and drain the broccoli and proceed with the rest of the recipe as written. Enjoy!

  6. I made this using leftover rotisserie chicken and broccoli. The portions were what was in the recipe.The flavors were good. BUT..there was wayyyyy to much rice. About half of would have been the right proportion for the other ingredients. Would I make it again? No. Average at best.

    1. Hi Diane, this recipe doesn’t specifically include rice. That is a serving option only, and can be easily adjusted to suit your tastes. Hope that helps.

    1. Hi Lucy, yes, this casserole is perfect for a make ahead meal! Simply prepare casserole, and instead of baking, wrap tightly and refrigerate. You may want to leave the topping on the side (you could make it and keep it on the counter) and add it right before baking. Bake as directed, until heated through and bubbling. It will take a little extra time, about 15 minutes or so) if it is really cold out of the fridge. Enjoy the chicken divan!

    1. Yes Magpie, it’s actually perfect to freeze then bake. Doubling and eating one now and one later is a great idea! Prepare casserole, and instead of baking, wrap tightly and freeze. Take it out of the freezer the night before baking, and pop in the refrigerator to thaw overnight. Then bake as directed, until heated through and bubbling. It may take a little extra time if it is really cold out of the fridge. Enjoy the chicken divan, it’s a very popular choice!

  7. 5 stars
    Came out really good. My 3 year old cried at the last bite and said i dont like broccoli, came back and polished his plate off and said that was good. Lol
    I did boil the broccoli in water first with a package of bouillon so it was really soft for the kiddos

    1. The recipe calls for 1 can. We love it extra saucy, so we use 2 cans! Both quantities work in this recipe.

    1. Hi Liza, yes, this casserole is perfect for a make ahead meal! Simply prepare casserole, and instead of baking, wrap tightly and refrigerate. You may want to leave the topping on the side (you could make it and keep it on the counter) and add it right before baking. Bake as directed, until heated through and bubbling. It will take a little extra time, about 15 minutes or so) if it is really cold out of the fridge. Enjoy the chicken divan!

    1. Hi Frances, nutrition is based on one sixth of the recipe. Enjoy the chicken divan! It’s a family favorite!

    1. That’s a great question Astanna! We love to serve this over rice, potatoes, or noodles, but you could eat it on it’s own too. I sometimes serve it with a salad to extend the meal as well. Enjoy, we just had it last night and my 7 year old son had 2 giant servings!

  8. 5 stars
    This is so delicious! I had leftover chicken and used fresh broccoli. I accidentally used too much cheese (brain not functioning properly), but no one would complain about that! If I choose to make that mistake again I will increase the seasonings. I had for dinner and the next day for breakfast and lunch, so I guess you can see it was a hit. Sorry family, no leftovers.😉

    1. I haven’t made this recipe with minute rice. If you want to add rice, I’d suggest adding cooked rice. Let us know how it turns out for you Theresa!

    1. Yes, skip the blanching in step 3. Thaw and drain the broccoli and proceed with the rest of the recipe as written. Enjoy Lina!

  9. 5 stars
    This recipe is amazing!!! I was a little reluctant to try it, seemed basic with few ingredients and was concerned it would be bland. I decided to try it based on the reviews, so happy I did. It was so easy to prepare and smelled wonderful while baking. The only change I made was a little more cheese and reduced the salt. This is my new favorite and will be frequent in the rotation. Thank you!!!

  10. 5 stars
    Loved this, but made some alterations. Thought I’d share.

    I only used a can of thick coconut milk. I added the onion and garlic powder. I didn’t have mustard power so I used Dijon mustard, probably a good table spoon or more. Then I didn’t used cheese, but added nutritional yeast and some salt. All to taste until it found a good flavor.

    For the bread crumbs, I just sprinkled them on top, no butter.

    Served it all over rice. Delicious!

    1. The recipe is correct as written, with 1 ½-2 pounds broccoli. You could add less if you prefer. This would make it more saucy. Enjoy the recipe Maggie!

  11. 5 stars
    Made this for my family on a Friday night. Was looking for a way to use up some leftover roadted broccoli . It was really delicious! I will definitely make this again. My family loved it!

  12. 5 stars
    Absolutely delicious, my 3 yr old daughter loves this recipe, I found it a couple weeks ago and coming back to make it again tonight

  13. 5 stars
    It turned out even better than I expected! Even our picky eater loved it! I did add some French fried onions and a little extra cheese. I served it over brown rice. Thank you!

    1. So happy that your family loves this dish Courtney! Next time I make it, I’ll add french fried onions, that sounds so delish!

  14. 5 stars
    Made this last night using a rotisserie chicken. Other than that, I made it exactly as written. It was very easy to make and uses everything I usually have on hand. I served it with
    The bonus is it’s delicious. I will definitely make this on a regular basis. I served it with white rice.

  15. 5 stars
    This was fantastic!! I used cream of mushroom and cream of broccoli and added a slight bit of parm with the bread crumbs.

    Just curious for the nutritional info-what is the serving size?

    1. So happy to hear that you love the recipe Jessica! Sounds delish! The serving size will vary based on your exact ingredients and whether you serve 4-6. The nutritional information is calculated based on 6 servings, each being 1/6th of the dish.

  16. 5 stars
    Made this for dinner tonight and it was amazing!!! Used broccoli, cauliflower and a little mushroom. Tasted delish and hubs says it is award winning. Served over rice. Thank you

  17. Absolutely love this!! Definitely a family favorite even for my 1 year old! Next time I want to try to add a crust to the top, how do you think that would turn out? What would be the best way to possibly add that?

    1. I’ve never tried it with a crust Erin. I’d think that you could add a crescent roll crust to it. Bake at 375 for about 22-26 minutes, or until golden brown. Cover and bake for about 10 more minutes, until the sauce is bubbling. Let us know if you try it!

    1. Hi Hahna, you could use plain yogurt, greek yogurt, or mayonnaise in place of the sour cream in a pinch. It may change the taste slightly, but it’ll still be delicious!

  18. 5 stars
    Awesome dish. It was easy to make and was delicious. Followed the recipe exactly but may have added a little extra cheese and panko on top. My husband said not to lose this recipe!

    1. I’m so happy to hear that you love this chicken divan! Extra cheese and panko never hurt anyone, right? 😉

          1. I usually use ½ cup of milk. You could try ½ cup and see if you would like to add a bit more milk to reach the desired consistency. Enjoy Tasha!

    1. Skip the blanching in step 3. Thaw and drain the broccoli and proceed with the rest of the recipe as written. Enjoy Juliann!

  19. If making in the crockpot do you cook the chicken prior to putting in? This may be a dumb question because I know I’m overthinking this lol

    1. Not a dumb question Adrienne! This is covered in the narrative, that you would saute until the chicken is cooked through when making this recipe in the crockpot. Enjoy!

  20. 5 stars
    This is my first time making this recipe. I am on a low carb diet so I substituted crushed pork rhind panko crumbs for zero carbs. (For the topping anyway). It came out fantastic. Followed the recipe exactly except for the crumb topping. This will be added to my rotation for sure. Thank you so much for this recipe.

  21. 5 stars
    I’m not usually much of a “casserole” style dish – but this was delicious, very flavorful, and quick to put together! I served over some Banza chickpea pasta for added protein and it was a great pair. Will definitely make again!

    1. Hi Vicki, I’ve found the chicken to be tender when making this dish. Cutting it in bite sized pieces helps. You can also cook it a little less before baking if you’d like.

    1. Thank you Tillie! I’m so happy to hear that you love this chicken dish. Great additions – I’ll give those a try myself!

  22. Can I use microwave steamed broccoli? If so should I partially cook it and then add it to the dish to cook more?

    1. Yes Jessica, you sure can. I do this often. I’d cook it so it’s a little less cooked than you’d like at the end. Enjoy!

  23. 5 stars
    I made this tonight. I under cooked some penne noodle and just mixed everything together. Put the cheese and breadcrumbs on top. Cooked it for 20 minutes. It came out perfect! My daughter asked for seconds.

    1. Yes Nikki, it’s actually perfect to freeze then bake. Doubling and eating one now and one later is a great idea! Prepare casserole, and instead of baking, wrap tightly and freeze. Take it out of the freezer the night before baking, and pop in the refrigerator to thaw overnight. Then bake as directed, until heated through and bubbling. It may take a little extra time if it is really cold out of the fridge. Enjoy the chicken divan, it’s a very popular choice!

  24. Just wondering can we replace sour cream with soup or just omit sour cream or what can I put in instead of sour cream

    1. Hi Linda, while the taste may change slightly, you could try extra soup, or yogurt. Enjoy! It’ll be delicious either way!

  25. This is so, so good!! Made according to recipe and will not change a thing the next time I make it!!

    1. I’ve never tried that Judy, but I think it may be better adding the potatoes on top (sort of like Shepherd’s pie). Let us know if you try it, it sure sounds delicious!

  26. 5 stars
    Feeding a larger crowd. Added some rice to the side and fresh shaved off corn on the Cobb before the final cheese and breadcrumbs. A couple ears sprinkled. Love this recipe. Thanks. A hit with all.
    Cucumber and tomato salad completed the meal. For dessert a Cherry and Strawberry Delight in 9×13 pan. Half side of each.
    Again, awesome!