Description
Chicken Divan is a creamy, comforting casserole featuring tender rotisserie chicken, vibrant broccoli, and a rich cheddar-Parmesan cheese sauce topped with buttery Ritz cracker crumbs. This classic American dish is baked to golden perfection and served best over fluffy white rice for a hearty family meal.
Ingredients
Vegetables
- 6-7 cups broccoli, chopped into bite-sized pieces (about 1 pound)
- 1/2 small yellow onion, diced
- 6 cloves garlic, minced
Dairy & Butter
- 5 tablespoons butter, divided
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 8 oz. shredded sharp cheddar cheese, divided
- 1/2 cup shredded Parmesan cheese
Proteins
- 3 cups shredded rotisserie chicken
Pantry Items & Seasonings
- 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 3 tablespoons flour
- 2 cups chicken stock
- 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
- 3/4 cup crushed Ritz crackers
- Kosher salt
- Fresh cracked pepper
Serving
- Cooked white rice for serving
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit to prepare for baking the casserole.
- Blanch Broccoli: Bring a pot of salted water to a boil, add the broccoli, and cook for 3 minutes. Drain and set aside to keep broccoli tender yet crisp.
- Sauté Onion: Melt 3 tablespoons butter in a large sauté pan over medium heat. Add diced onion with salt and pepper, cooking and stirring frequently for 4 minutes until softened.
- Add Garlic and Seasonings: Stir in minced garlic, Italian seasoning, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper, cooking for about 1 minute to release flavors.
- Make Roux: Sprinkle flour over the veggies and cook while stirring for 1 minute, which helps to thicken the sauce later.
- Deglaze and Add Liquids: Gradually whisk in chicken stock to deglaze the pan, scraping up flavorful bits, then whisk in remaining chicken stock and heavy cream until smooth. Add Dijon mustard and stir well.
- Simmer Sauce: Bring the mixture to a gentle simmer over medium heat, then reduce to medium-low and cook for 4 minutes until thickened.
- Add Cheese Off Heat: Remove from heat and let sit briefly before whisking in half of the shredded sharp cheddar cheese and all the Parmesan until melted and creamy.
- Combine Chicken and Broccoli: Stir in the blanched broccoli and shredded rotisserie chicken evenly into the cheese sauce.
- Assemble Casserole: Transfer the mixture to a casserole dish. Top with remaining shredded cheddar cheese and cover tightly with foil or a lid.
- Bake: Bake in the preheated oven for 20 minutes or until warmed through and bubbling.
- Prepare Topping: Melt remaining 2 tablespoons of butter and mix with crushed Ritz crackers until coated.
- Broil Crunchy Topping: Sprinkle the buttery Ritz cracker mixture atop the casserole and broil for 1-2 minutes until golden brown and crispy. Watch carefully to avoid burning.
- Serve: Serve the Chicken Divan hot, ideally over cooked white rice for a complete meal.
- Enjoy and Review: If you loved this recipe, please leave a 5-star rating and review to share your feedback!
Notes
- Blanching broccoli ensures it stays tender but crisp, avoiding mushiness in the casserole.
- Use rotisserie chicken for convenience and flavor; leftover cooked chicken can also be used.
- Keep an eye on the broiler step, as crackers can burn quickly.
- Serve immediately after broiling for best texture and flavor.
- This dish pairs wonderfully with steamed white rice, but mashed potatoes or quinoa are good alternatives.
- Adjust seasoning to taste, especially salt and pepper during sauce preparation.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Casserole
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
