This easy Chicken Divan Recipe is made with tender pieces of chicken and broccoli combined with golden brown mushrooms and shallots in a creamy mornay cheddar sauce, topped with crushed seasoned croutons.
This is one of my picky son’s favorite casseroles and is an easy weeknight meal. Leftovers (if you are lucky enough) are delicious as well.Â
Life just got a heck of a lot busier with the school year starting back up. The slow-paced days of summer are gone and now we are into the busy season. Before you know it the holidays will be rolling in here and it will be increasingly busier. As I always say during the holiday season “Run run Rudolph!” This time of the year is perfect for casserole dishes like this easy Chicken Divan Recipe.
Chicken Divan takes no time at all to whip up in just a few easy steps. Are you in a super big hurry? Prepare this chicken casserole ahead of time and store it covered in the refrigerator. It is also what I like to call a forgiving casserole in the fact that sometimes it takes this family a good forty minutes to get to the table and it tastes as good then as when I first popped it out of the oven. I am sure that if your house is anything like mine you know exactly what a forgiving casserole is.
WHAT IS CHICKEN DIVAN?
Chicken Divan is a chicken casserole dish with broccoli, shallots and mushrooms in a creamy Mornay sauce. Mornay sauce is made from adding shredded cheese to a bechamel sauce. I know all of this sounds complicated but it really isn’t.  Many of the quick versions of Chicken Divan call for canned soup for the creamy casserole, but this one does not. I am not fond of creamed canned soups at all.
HOW TO MAKE THIS EASY CHICKEN DIVAN RECIPE
The first step is steaming the broccoli either on the stove top or in the microwave.
Then, cook your sliced chicken in a little bit of butter and olive oil. Work in batches and plate when done. Add a little more butter and brown the mushrooms and shallots. Stir in dried parsley and nutmeg. Add flour to mushroom and shallot mixture and cook for less than one minute. Slowly pour in milk and chicken broth, stirring constantly and cook over medium heat until mixture is thickened.
Whisk in shredded cheddar and jack cheese, sour cream and salt & pepper to taste. Fold chicken and broccoli back into skillet to coat. Mix croutons with melted butter and cheddar and spread over the top. Bake for 25 minutes. If desired, serve over rice or noodles
This scrumptious, dependable easy casserole is sure to become one of your family’s favorites. Put the list of ingredients on your shopping list today and make your family an awesome meal without canned soup. LOL
OTHER CASSEROLE DISHES YOU WILL LOVE!
- Loaded Cauliflower Casserole
- Reuben Casserole
- Chicken Green Bean Stuffing Casserole
- Overnight Eggs Benedict Casserole
- Easy Overnight French Toast Casserole
Chicken Divan
Chicken Divan Recipe is tender pieces of chicken and broccoli combined with mushrooms and shallots in a creamy Mornay cheddar sauce topped with croutons. This easy chicken casserole is perfect for family dinner, and even better for leftovers!
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour
- Total Time: 1 hour 10 minutes
- Yield: 4
- Category: Main Meal
- Method: Stovetop and Baking
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 lbs of chicken breast sliced crosswise into thin 1/2 inch pieces
- 6 tablespoons butter
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 bunch broccoli cut into bite size florets
- 2 tablespoons water
- 8 ounces white button mushrooms sliced
- 4 shallots sliced thin
- 1/4 cup flour
- 1 tablespoon dried parsley
- 1–2 pinches nutmeg
- 1 1/2 cups milk
- 1 cup chicken broth
- 2 cups shredded cheddar
- 1 cup shredded jack cheese
- 1/2 cup sour cream
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 2 cups seasoned crouton (1 cup crushed to crumbs)
- Optional: Cooked rice or egg noodles
Instructions
- In large skillet over medium heat add 1 tablespoon butter and 1 tablespoon olive oil. Cook chicken in single layer; lightly browning on each side. Remove to plate. Repeat if necessary; working in batches. Set skillet aside.
- Add broccoli and water to large microwavable bowl. Cover with wet paper towel and microwave for 2 1/2 minutes or until crispy tender. Drain well in colander.
- In same skillet that you set aside melt 2 tablespoons of butter over medium heat. Add mushrooms and shallots. Cook until lightly browned; approximately 8-10 minutes. Sprinkle vegetables with flour, dried parsley and nutmeg; cook for 30 seconds stirring continuously. Slowly add milk and chicken broth alternating between the two and stirring continuously. Reduce heat to medium low and continue cooking until thickened approximately 7-10 minutes; stirring frequently. Remove from heat and stir in 1 cup cheddar, shredded jack cheese, sour cream and salt and pepper. Fold in chicken and well drained broccoli. Spoon into casserole dish.
- Melt 2 tablespoons of butter in medium microwavable bowl. Add croutons and remaining cheddar. Stir to coat. Sprinkle over casserole. Bake at 375 degrees for 25-30 minutes or until lightly browned. Cool for 20 minutes.
- If desired serve over rice or noodles.
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Andrea Metlika
I’ve never had this before. It looks fantastic and I can’t wait to make it.
Neha
Such lovely flavor combinations, I can almost taste this chicken recipe! And such a great way to add broccoli to your food!
Linda
Love the sound of this easy casserole! The mushrooms and shallots are always a great addition to chicken and adding the broccoli right in means no extra veggie side dish needed. Now that’s my kind of dinner during the busy work week!
Jessica Formicola
We made this chicken for dinner last night and it was a total hit with everyone! Thanks so much for sharing the recipe!
Jordin
My gosh! This recipe looks amazing and so delicious, I can’t wait to try it out.
Cindy Gordon
Such a warm comforting meal! I love dishes that bring home that comfort feeling! SO good any time of the year!
Paula
There’s not a single word in the first sentence that I don’t like! Gorgeous recipe and images! Sending this to my recipes to do now list.
Jennifer Stewart
Definitely not your typical casserole. That mornay sauce is calling my name.
Tisha
This chicken divan looks like the perfect dish when you are craving something comforting!