Chicken Divan is full of savory chicken, creamy sauce, and the most amazing butter cracker topping. It is a family favorite casserole that is super easy to make!
There’s nothing better than a good old-fashioned family-style casserole. Casseroles are easy to make, taste amazing, and they feed a crowd. What’s not to love? This sauce is oh so creamy, with just a hint of tang from the lemon juice and sour cream. This decadent meal is meant to be served in large, over-indulgent portions. Seriously folks, this is the epitome of comfort food. By adding the broccoli and making the sauce from scratch, rather than from a can, this meal is more than just pure indulgent deliciousness. It is also a well-balanced meal.
Chicken Options:
We love how versatile this dish is with the chicken. You can use thighs or breasts, or even leftover chicken. We love to use shredded rotisserie chicken as a time saver.
Fresh vs. Frozen Broccoli:
You can use either fresh or frozen broccoli in this recipe. Whichever type of broccoli you use, make sure to not overcook it so it doesn’t turn to mush.
Topping Options for Chicken Divan:
If you are not a fan of butter crackers, you can always stick with a standard breadcrumb topping.
Make-Ahead Instructions:
You can make this casserole up to 24 hours ahead of time, and store in the refrigerator until ready to bake. Be aware that if you prep it early and store it in the fridge, it will take longer to bake, approximately 1 hour total.
Freezer Instructions:
Make your casserole but do not bake. Cover with multiple layers of plastic wrap and/or foil. Store in your freezer for up to 3 months. Allow to thaw in the refrigerator overnight before baking. You’ll need to cover it with foil for the first 30 minutes of bake time, and then finish cooking uncovered for another 45-55 minutes.
Storage and Reheating Instructions:
Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 7 days. Reheat individual servings in the microwave in 30 second increments until warmed through, approximately 90 seconds to 2 minutes total.
If you like this recipe, you may be interested in these other delicious casserole recipes:
Watch the video below where Caytlin will walk you through every step of this recipe. Sometimes it helps to have a visual, and we’ve always got you covered with our cooking show. You can find the complete collection of recipes on YouTube, Facebook Watch, or our Facebook Page, or right here on our website with their corresponding recipes.
Family Favorite Chicken Divan
- 2 cups stuffing prepared to package instructions
- 2 cups broccoli floretts steamed
- 2 cups chicken cooked, cubed or shredded lightly about 2 lbs
Sauce
- 4 tablespoons salted butter
- 4 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 2 cups chicken broth
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1 cup sour cream
- 1/4 cup lemon juice freshly squeezed
- 1 tablespoon garlic powder
- 1 tablespoon stone-ground mustard
- 2 teaspoons dried parsley
- 2 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoons salt
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- 3 cups shredded sharp cheddar divided
- 1/2 cup mayonnaise
Topping
- 2 cups crushed Ritz crackers
- 2 teaspoons garlic powder
- 4 tablespoons salted butter melted
- Preheat the oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit and lightly grease a 9×13 pan or 3 1/2 quart casserole dish with nonstick cooking spray.
- Spread the cooked stuffing out over the bottom of the pan in an even layer. Top with steamed broccoli florets and cooked chicken.
Sauce
- Melt butter in a medium-sized saucepan over medium heat. Once melted, sprinkle in the flour and continuously stir until well combined and the mixture turns a deep golden color.
- Pour in chicken broth, heavy cream and sour cream. Stir until all ingredients are smooth and simmering. Reduce the heat to low.
- Add lemon juice, granulated garlic, mustard, parsley, onion powder, salt, and pepper. Mix well. Add in 1 1/2 cups of shredded cheese. Remove from heat
- Add in the mayonnaise and stir until well combined. Pour sauce over the chicken layer.
Topping
- Sprinkle the remaining 1 1/2 cups shredded cheese on top of the sauce layer.
- In a small bowl, stir together crushed Ritz crackers with melted butter. Add in the 2 teaspoons of garlic powder to the mixture and stir to combine. Sprinkle in an even layer over the top of the casserole.
- Bake the casserole at 375 degrees for 45 minutes or until bubbly and browned. Serve hot!
Nutrition
