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Made with creamy broccoli cheddar soup, juicy pieces of chicken, broccoli, and lots of cheese, Chicken Divan is an easy, cheesy casserole the whole family will love. Perfect for busy weeknights!
All busy moms know it’s important to keep a few quick, easy recipes on hand for those busy weeknights. My family is no exception and for those nights where time it limited between school, sports, and other activities, I always keep a few casseroles in rotation. This chicken divan recipe is a family favorite. It’s creamy, cheesy, and so easy to make. Other favorites include French onion chicken casserole, chicken noodle casserole, and Ritz chicken casserole.
What Makes This Chicken Divan Recipe So Great
- Ready in an hour. When it comes to busy weeknights, I don’t always have time to spend hours in the kitchen. That’s where recipes like chicken divan come in. From start to finish, it’s ready in under an hour – and half of that is passive cooking time.
- Kid-approved. The creamy sauce, juicy pieces of chicken, and cheese are often enough to get even those who don’t love broccoli to enjoy this casserole.
- Make ahead. Chicken divan also makes a great make ahead dinner. The casserole can be assembled and refrigerated up to a day in advance or frozen for 3 months. Then just add the Ritz topping and pop it in the oven. Full make ahead instructions can be found below.
What You’ll Need
This casserole is made with chicken, broccoli, cheese, and a handful of other simple ingredients. Scroll down to the recipe card below for the exact measurements.
- Chicken breast – Boneless, skinless, and cut into bite-sized pieces.
- Seasonings – Garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper.
- Olive oil
- Broccoli – I recommend fresh broccoli florets. Blanch or steam them first.
- Broccoli cheddar soup – Adds the creamy base for the sauce while adding more broccoli flavor.
- Sour cream – Adds a bit of tanginess to the sauce.
- Milk – Helps thin the sauce. 2% or whole milk are best.
- Lemon juice – For a bit of acidity to balance the savory flavors.
- Cheddar cheese – Use Swiss, Monterey Jack, or Colby cheese instead of cheddar for a slightly different flavor.
- Ritz crackers – Crushed for the topping.
- Butter – For the Ritz topping.
How To Make Chicken Divan
One of my favorite things about this creamy chicken and broccoli casserole is that it takes less than an hour to make, from start to finish. The printable instructions can be found in the recipe card below.
- Prep. Preheat the oven to 350F. Spray a baking dish with cooking spray.
- Cook the chicken. Season the chicken with garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper. Cook in olive oil for 6-8 minutes, until browned and fully cooked. Set aside.
- Cook the broccoli. Blanch the broccoli florets for 2-3 minutes. Drain and set aside.
- Combine the ingredients. Combine the soup, sour cream, milk, lemon, chicken, broccoli, and 1 1/2 cups cheddar cheese in a bowl. Transfer the mixture to the casserole dish.
- Add the topping. Mix the crushed Ritz crackers with melted butter, then sprinkle over the casserole. Top with the remaining cheese.
- Bake. Bake for 30 minutes, until the top is golden brown and bubbly. Let cool for 5 minutes then enjoy!
Tips & Variations
Here are a few ways to customize this chicken divan recipe, as well as a few general tips.
- Add more veggies. Add sautéed mushrooms, cauliflower or chopped cooked carrots to the casserole for more veggies.
- Cook the chicken fully. Make sure that the chicken is fully cooked in the first step, before it’s baked. It should reach 165F and no longer be pink inside.
- Use different soup. The broccoli cheddar soup can be replaced with cream of chicken soup, cream of broccoli, or even cream of mushroom soup.
- Frozen broccoli works. Frozen broccoli can be used in this recipe, just blanch it and drain it well.
- Don’t overcook the broccoli. The key is to blanch (or quickly steam) the broccoli so that it’s partially cooked. Do not cook it to the point it’s fully cooked or it will make the casserole mushy.
Serving Suggestions
With protein and veggies right in the casserole, chicken divan can easily be served on its own. For a more filling meal, serve this casserole over steamed white rice or mashed potatoes.
Make Ahead & Storage
- Make ahead. Assemble the casserole up to the baking step, cover tightly with plastic wrap, and refrigerate for up to 24 hours. Add the cracker topping just before baking.
- Freezer (make ahead). You can also freeze the unbaked casserole (without cracker topping) for up to 2 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator, add the topping, and bake as directed.
- Fridge. Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days.
- Reheat. Reheat individual portions in the microwave for 1-2 minutes, or warm the entire casserole in the oven at 350°F (175°C) until heated through.
Chicken Divan
Made with creamy broccoli cheddar soup, juicy pieces of chicken, broccoli, and lots of cheese, Chicken Divan is an easy, cheesy casserole the whole family will love. Perfect for busy weeknights!
Servings: 4 people
Ingredients
- 2 pounds chicken breast boneless and skinless, cut into bite-size pieces
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 2 Tablespoons olive oil
- 3 cups fresh broccoli florets blanched or steamed
- 1 10.5-ounce can broccoli cheddar soup
- 1/2 cup sour cream
- 1/4 cup milk
- 1 Tablespoon lemon juice
- 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese divided
- 1 cup Ritz crackers crushed
- 3 Tablespoons melted butter
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and prepare an 8×8-inch baking dish by spraying it with nonstick cooking spray.
- Place the chicken in a bowl and season with garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper.
- Heat a large skillet over medium heat and add olive oil. Once hot, add the chicken and cook until browned and cooked through, about 6-8 minutes. Remove the chicken and set it aside on a plate.
- Bring a pot of water to a boil. Blanch the broccoli florets for about 2-3 minutes, then drain and set aside.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the broccoli cheddar soup, sour cream, milk, lemon juice, the cooked chicken, broccoli florets, and 1 1/2 cups of shredded cheddar cheese. Mix everything together until well combined.
- Transfer the mixture into the prepared baking dish, spreading it out evenly.
- In a small bowl, mix the crushed Ritz crackers with the melted butter until coated. Sprinkle the cracker mixture over the top of the casserole, followed by the remaining 1/2 cup of shredded cheddar cheese.
- Bake uncovered in the preheated oven for 30 minutes, or until the topping is golden brown and the casserole is bubbly. Allow it to cool for 5 minutes before serving. Enjoy!
Last Step:
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Notes
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days.
Nutrition
Calories: 777kcal | Carbohydrates: 20g | Protein: 66g | Fat: 48g | Saturated Fat: 22g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 4g | Monounsaturated Fat: 15g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 236mg | Sodium: 1176mg | Potassium: 1224mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 1442IU | Vitamin C: 65mg | Calcium: 532mg | Iron: 2mg
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