The Best Chicken Divan Casserole Recipe

This Chicken Divan Casserole is one of the top picks for comfort food. It is a classic recipe that is rich and creamy and will certainly be a family favorite. With fresh chicken breasts, broccoli covered in a creamy sauce and cheese, it’s sure to please the whole family. 

My mom made this casserole dish a regular recipe in our house when I was growing up. Over the years I’ve changed a few things to make it my own but it still has all the delicious flavors that I remember. This is an easy recipe if you have little chefs in your house that would love to help add the ingredients to make this easy chicken divan recipe. Kids are sure to love this cheesy chicken and rice casserole for dinner time.

What is Chicken Divan Casserole?

Chicken divan is a classic chicken casserole that consists of chicken, broccoli and a cheesy cream sauce. This creamy casserole is usually paired with white rice or buttery mashed potatoes. It is thought that the name Divan originated from the Divan Parisien Restaurant in New York City where the dish was created in the early 20th-century.

Recipe Substitutions Ideas

• Don’t have any chicken on hand? Turkey and rabbit meat work perfectly as well.
• You could leave out the rice from the main baking dish and leave it on the side or make a bed of it on your plate and put the casserole right on top when your ready to serve. This is the most common way to serve this casserole. I just find I tend to forget the rice if I leave it separate, so I keep it all together to keep it simple and all in one dish.
• You could also completely omit the rice and use cauliflower rice or boil some potatoes and make a bed of buttery mashed potatoes on your plate and put the casserole on top.
• Sour cream can be used in place of mayonnaise. You can also use your favorite mayo of choice if you don’t want to make your own but honestly, it’s very quick and simple to make your own if you have an immersion blender.
• Switch out the cheddar cheese and use a gruyere cheese for a more complex flavor with a creamy and nutty flavor or try sprinkling parmesan cheese as well
• Some recipes have you add crumbled ritz crackers or panko bread crumbs, I prefer the creamy texture without the crunch of the crackers or bread crumbs.

Ingredients for Chicken Divan Casserole

• Chicken – Chicken breasts or a whole rotisserie chicken can be used. Also any lean white meat can work, like turkey or rabbit.
• Broccoli – fresh or frozen works. If you use frozen, make sure that it’s chopped broccoli. I find the broccoli cuts and broccoli florets are too large. If you use fresh broccoli you may want to chop it and steam it for a few minutes. You want it to be slightly tender and then it will cook the rest of the way in the oven. Just make sure you drain all the water out after you steam it so your casserole isn’t too watery.
• Rice – White rice or brown rice work just fine.
• Cream of Mushroom soup – If I have fresh or frozen mushrooms on hand I like to make my own. I will also use an Organic cream of mushroom soup to avoid the some of the unwanted added ingredients. Canned soups are a great time saver but I often find myself out of cream of mushroom soup. That’s why I’ve started making my own because I may have some sliced mushrooms in my freezer. 
• Mayonnaise – I make homemade mayo with just Avocado oil, an egg, lemon juice, mustard and salt. 
• Milk – I use raw cows milk but use your milk of choice. I’m not sure how plant based “milk” would work but you could give it a try.
• Cheese – I use sharp cheddar cheese, I feel it has the best flavor with chicken.

How to Make Chicken Divan Casserole

Preheat your oven to 350 F degrees

Cook one cup of dry rice.

Once your chicken is cooked and cooled unless your using leftover cooked chicken. Shred the meat or cut it into bite size pieces. Evenly spread out the meat in the bottom of a 10 x 10 casserole pan. 

Next add the broccoli cuts evenly on top of the chicken.

Add the rice on top of this evenly (unless leaving out to add to dish later).

Make the cream sauce: In a medium bowl, add cream of mushroom soup, mayonnaise, and milk. Mix together well until there are no large lumps.

Spread evenly over the rice allow it to mix into the rice and soak into the casserole. 

Shred the cheese and spread the shredded cheddar cheese evenly over the casserole.

Bake in the oven for about 45 minutes or until the cheese on top is a nice golden brown.

You may want to allow it to cool for 10 minutes and then serve.

You can pair this recipe with some buttered crusty bread on the side or just leave it as it is. You can also make some quick garlic bread. Spread butter on some sliced bread and sprinkle some garlic powder. Toast it in the oven for a few minutes until crispy.

Storage

If you happen to have any leftover chicken divan, let it cool to room temperature and you can tightly cover the pan in plastic wrap or keep the leftovers in an airtight container. Store in the fridge for 3 – 5 days.

To reheat – you can reheat it in the microwave or in the oven at 350 F for 15 – 30 minutes or until bubbly. When you reheat it you may want to add a little bit of milk and/or butter to keep it from drying out and keeping it nice and creamy. 

Other Recipes You May Like

Easy Gluten-Free Chicken Salad Recipe – Dairy-Free

Chinese Pie Recipe – How to Make Pâté Chinois

PRINTABLE RECIPE CARD

Show your support and appreciation. If you made this recipe and loved it, give it a 5 star review and leave a comment. Follow me on Instagram @naturalliving.homestead then tag me in a photo of your amazing creation! Thank you!

Pin It for Later