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An old recipe that has stood the test of time! Chicken Divan Casserole loaded with broccoli, chicken, cheese and french fried onions. A family favorite!

I’m and old fashioned midwesterner at heart. Although I love eating gorgeous plates full of perfectly cooked meats and loads of veggies, I always come back to comforting casseroles.

Casseroles have at times gotten a bad name, but when it comes to easy weeknight meals or Sunday family dinners, there’s honestly nothing like them. This Chicken Divan Casserole is one of those vintage favorites. It’s similar to our creamy broccoli casserole.

creamy chicken casserole in a baking pan

Why you’ll love this recipe:

comforting classic recipe with homemade flavor
loaded with broccoli and chicken
cheesy sauce with cheddar and parmesan
french fried onions and Ritz crackers for extra flavor

What is chicken divan?

Chicken divan is a chicken and broccoli casserole with a creamy cheese sauce baked over it.

I found this recipe in 30 year old typewriter written cookbook that a friend gave me, but it actually dates back to the early 1900’s. It was the famous dish of the Divan Parisien Restaurant in the NYC Chatham Hotel (source).

The original recipe was kept secret for years, much longer than when recipes started showing up in cookbooks. For that reason, it’s hard to know what recipe is original. Most likely the original recipe did not use canned cream soups, but those substitutions do make it easy for busy families today.

What chicken is best for chicken divan?

The first thing to keep in mind for keeping this recipe quick and easy is to have your chicken prepared ahead of time. What are the options for the chicken? Try one of these:

leftover grilled chicken
leftover shredded chicken
boiled chicken breasts which is quick and easy
rotisserie chicken cut off the bone which adds amazing flavor!
salt and pepper seasoned pan fried chicken

For the best flavor and texture, use either the rotisserie chicken or the pan fried chicken. When I made this recipe, I seasoned 4 chicken breasts with salt and pepper, then cooked them to golden brown perfection in coconut oil. This gave them amazing flavor!

casserole pan with cream spread in the bottom

How to Make Chicken Divan Casserole

Prepare. Preheat the oven to 350º Fahrenheit. Spray a 9×13 baking dish with cooking spray.
Mix. In a small bowl, combine the mayonnaise, chicken soup, cheeses, lemon juice, curry and garlic powder. Mix well.
Layer. Spoon about ½ cup of the mixture into the bottom of the prepared pan and spread it around. Spread the broccoli florets on the bottom of the pan. Top with the diced chicken. Sprinkle with the french fried onions. The spread the remaining sauce over the chicken, covering the top of the casserole. Sprinkle the cracker crumbs over the casserole.
Bake. Cover with aluminum foil. Bake for 30 minutes. Uncover and bake for 5 more minutes or until heated through.

What to Serve with Chicken Broccoli Casserole

Since the meat and veggies are already in this casserole, we simply like to serve it alongside rice (or cauliflower rice for low carb), mashed potatoes or my personal favorite, spaghetti squash.

It’s also amazing if you serve it over crispy skinned baked potatoes!

How do you reheat chicken divan?

I reheat individual servings of this casserole in the microwave. However, if you’d like to reheat the whole casserole, cover it with foil and pop it into the oven at 350º Fahrenheit until warm and bubbly, about 25-30 minutes depending on how much is in the dish.

Can you make and freeze this whole casserole to bake later? Yes! Wait to put on the Ritz crackers so they don’t get soggy. Allow the casserole to defrost in the fridge overnight, then bake as the recipe suggests.

How to Make This Recipe Lighter

Although this has all the comfort food vibes, it is not low calorie. Make it a little healthier:

use low fat cream of chicken soup and/or mayonnaise
skip the french fried onions and use diced fresh onion instead
skip the ritz crackers on top

Love this recipe? Try our mayo chicken!