This Chicken Divan Recipe from Barefoot Contessa is a time-honored favorite that is simple to prepare and takes only fifteen minutes to be ready to bake in the oven. It’s the perfect addition to a weekday dinner that the whole family will like, whether you serve it with rice, mashed potatoes, noodles, or cornbread.

What Is Chicken Divan?

The Divan Parisian Restaurant (thus the name!) at the Chatham Hotel in Manhattan, New York City, is credited with creating the now-iconic Chicken Divan dish in the 1930s.

Layers of steamed broccoli, cooked chicken, and a thick, creamy sauce make up the basic components of Chicken Broccoli Divan, a simple and delicious chicken dish.

It was a Mornay Sauce, a béchamel sauce with shredded or grated Gruyère cheese, that was used to create the very first Chicken Divan. Cream of mushroom or cream of chicken soup, milk, sour cream, mayonnaise, and cheddar cheese are common ingredients in more recent versions (like the one I recall from the 1980s and 1990s).

Different types of bread, such as panko, Ritz crackers, stuffing, and cornflakes, can be used to top Chicken Divan.

Barefoot Contessa Chicken Divan Ingredients

• Chicken That Has Been Cooked And Diced. You will need approximately 6 cups of cooked chicken that has been shredded or chopped. I use a rotisserie chicken that I buy from the supermarket since it has a terrific flavor and is easy to prepare, but if you prefer, you may cook your own chicken at home.
• Frozen Broccoli Florets. If you like, you may also use florets cut from fresh broccoli instead. Before adding the broccoli to the recipe, just steam it or parboil it until it reaches a crisp-tender consistency.
• Condensed Cream Of Chicken Soup. The foundation of the quick and simple cream sauce. You are free to use any combination of two different condensed soups as a replacement. You could want to try cream of celery or cream of mushroom soup, for example.
• Mayonnaise. Brings a whole new level of flavor to the cream sauce.
• Milk. to reduce the thickness of the cream sauce.
• Cheddar Cheese. Alternately, you might use a different type of cheese that melts well, such as Colby, Colby jack, Monterey jack, pepper jack, gouda, gruyere, mozzarella, or pepper jack.
• Kosher Salt, Ground Black Pepper, Garlic Powder, And Curry Powder. This traditional dish calls for curry powder, but you don’t have to use it if you don’t like the flavor. However, curry powder is a traditional ingredient that should be included.
• Crushed Corn Flakes Cereal And Melted Butter. Make sure your casserole has a topping that is buttery, crispy, and bursting with flavor by giving it your best shot.

How To Cook Chicken For A Chicken Divan?

While raw chicken can work in certain casserole recipes, this one calls for cooked chicken, and a few different preparation methods are acceptable. Choose whatever option suits you best.

• Boiled And Pulled Chicken. Simmer in water until and cook around 3 pounds of boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs (about 15 minutes). When the chicken has cooled enough to handle, cut it up. You will need roughly 6 cups of shredded material. There is some leeway here; it doesn’t have to be perfect, but I find that 3 lbs. of chicken breasts provide around 6 cups of shredded or bite-sized pieces.
• Rotisserie Chicken. What a wonderful shortcut! If you want to save time and effort, you may buy rotisserie chickens from the supermarket, shred the flesh, and use it in the dish as directed. In general, you may expect to get three to four cups of shredded chicken from a big rotisserie bird.
• Leftover Chicken. This dish is a great way to use up any leftover grilled or baked chicken from a prior dinner.
• Canned Chicken. The recipe is adaptable, so you can use any canned chicken you have on hand.

How To Make Barefoot Contessa Chicken Divan

• Preheat the oven to 350°F and butter a 13 x 9-inch baking dish.
• Whisk together condensed soup, cheese, mayonnaise, milk, salt, pepper, garlic powder, and optional curry powder in a large mixing dish.
• Stir in the chicken and broccoli, then move to the baking dish that has been prepared.
• Stir together cornflakes and melted butter in a small bowl, then sprinkle buttered crumbs on top.
• Bake for 25-30 minutes, uncovered, or until the casserole is bubbling and the topping is golden brown.

What To Serve With Chicken Divan?

Rice is a traditional side with chicken divan, but there are plenty of alternative possibilities. Cauliflower rice, quinoa, or cauliflower mashed with garlic and Parmesan cheese are all healthy options. Here are some other delicious complements to the quick chicken divan:

• Rosemary roasted potatoes
• Garlic-herb green beans
• Creamy mac & cheese with leeks
• Garlic asparagus spears
• Wild rice casserole
• Bread pudding with cranberries
• Creamy cheesy broccoli slaw
• Grilled pineapple avocado salsa

Recipe Variations

• Instead of using frozen broccoli, use fresh florets. For starters, gather up roughly 8 cups of fresh florets. The florets should be steamed or boiled until they are just soft before being added to the dish.
• If you’re short on time or dishware, consider picking up a bag of frozen broccoli florets and microwaving them directly in the package. I usually use two bags of baby broccoli florets (12.6 ounces total) to avoid having to chop the broccoli into smaller pieces.
• Have a smaller household to feed? Bake the casserole in an 8- or 9-inch square pan with half the ingredients.
• Crushed Corn Flakes cereal adds taste and terrific texture, but Ritz crackers, potato chips, or plain breadcrumbs can be used in their place.
• To the casserole, add onions that have been sautéed, or season the sour cream sauce with onion powder.
• To give it a tangy, acidic kick, try adding a little fresh lemon juice.
• You may cut down on calories by using Greek yogurt instead of mayonnaise. Because of this, you may need to season the mayonnaise with more salt or another ingredient to bring out its full taste. Worcestershire sauce, with its salty, umami undertones, would be a welcome addition.

How To Store Chicken Divan?

• In The Fridge. If you store any leftover chicken divan in an airtight container, you may keep it in the refrigerator for another three to four days.
• In The Freezer. You may prepare the chicken divan casserole, cover it carefully, and place it in the freezer for up to two months. The casserole will keep if it is frozen for up to two months.
• To Make Ahead. You may construct the chicken divan up to twenty-four hours in advance and then store it in the refrigerator, wrapped with aluminum foil or plastic wrap until you are ready to bake it. When you are ready to bake the dish, let it set out on the counter and allow it to come to room temperature for at least thirty to sixty minutes. Chips should not be added to the top of the dish until it is nearly ready to go into the oven.
• To Reheat. If you want to reheat the entire chicken divan casserole, cover the dish only lightly with aluminum foil and bake it in an oven preheated to 350 degrees Fahrenheit until it is warmed through (about 20-30 minutes). Reheating the individual components takes approximately one to two minutes in the microwave.

Tips for Perfect Chicken Divan

• You may make this dish from scratch by cooking your own chicken, or you can use precooked chicken! To save time, I usually buy a rotisserie chicken from the supermarket or a package of frozen Tyson Grilled and Ready or Perdue Short Cuts that have already been cooked and chopped.
• The broccoli has to be cooked until it is just tender before you put together the dish (but not too soft). The oven temperature will be maintained to ensure continued cooking. I microwave the frozen broccoli florets for 4 minutes on high, covered, after adding 1-2 tablespoons of water to a microwave-safe dish (or until the broccoli is crisp-tender). If you’d rather use a stovetop method, you may steam or boil the broccoli instead. The size of the broccoli florets will determine whether or not you need to coarsely chop them before adding them to your casserole. Baby or miniature florets of broccoli can be found in the frozen food department.
• I’ve added curry powder as a potential addition to the sauce because it is called for in certain classic Chicken Divan recipes. A lot of people really enjoy the flavor, yet others can’t stand it at all. In a similar vein, some sherry in the sauce may be a nice touch.
• To add a burst of flavor and brightness, top the completed dish with fresh herbs like parsley, thyme, or basil.

Barefoot Contessa Chicken Divan Recipe Nutrition Facts

Amount Per Serving

• Calories 388
• Total Fat 32g
• Saturated Fat 7.6g
• Cholesterol 55mg
• Sodium 948mg
• Potassium 305mg
• Total Carbohydrate 11g
• Dietary Fiber 2.1g
• Sugars 1.5g
• Protein 15g
• Vitamin A 14%
• Vitamin C 34%
• Calcium 9%