Description
Chicken Divan is a comforting casserole featuring tender, seasoned chicken breast combined with fresh broccoli and a creamy broccoli cheddar sauce. Topped with a buttery, crispy Ritz cracker and cheddar cheese layer, this classic dish bakes to golden perfection, making it a family-friendly meal perfect for weeknights or casual dinners.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken and Seasonings
- 2 pounds chicken breast (boneless and skinless, cut into bite-size pieces)
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 2 Tablespoons olive oil
Vegetables
- 3 cups fresh broccoli florets (blanched or steamed)
Sauce and Toppings
- 1 10.5-ounce can broccoli cheddar soup
- 1/2 cup sour cream
- 1/4 cup milk
- 1 Tablespoon lemon juice
- 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese (divided)
- 1 cup Ritz crackers (crushed)
- 3 Tablespoons melted butter
Instructions
- Preheat Oven and Prepare Dish: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and lightly grease an 8×8-inch baking dish with nonstick cooking spray to prevent the casserole from sticking.
- Season the Chicken: Place the bite-sized chicken pieces in a bowl. Sprinkle garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and black pepper over the chicken, and toss to coat evenly.
- Cook the Chicken: Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the seasoned chicken and cook for about 6-8 minutes, turning occasionally, until the chicken is browned and cooked through. Remove from heat and set aside.
- Blanch the Broccoli: Bring a pot of water to a boil. Add the fresh broccoli florets and blanch for 2-3 minutes until slightly tender but still crisp. Drain and set aside.
- Mix the Sauce and Main Ingredients: In a large mixing bowl, combine the broccoli cheddar soup, sour cream, milk, lemon juice, cooked chicken, blanched broccoli, and 1 1/2 cups of shredded cheddar cheese. Stir well to mix all the ingredients uniformly.
- Assemble the Casserole: Pour the chicken and broccoli mixture into the prepared baking dish and spread it out evenly.
- Prepare the Topping: In a small bowl, mix the crushed Ritz crackers with melted butter until the crumbs are evenly coated. Sprinkle this buttery cracker mixture over the casserole. Top with the remaining 1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese for a cheesy crust.
- Bake the Casserole: Bake uncovered in the preheated oven for 30 minutes, until the topping turns golden brown and the casserole is bubbly. Let it cool for 5 minutes before serving. Enjoy your delicious Chicken Divan!
Notes
- Blanching the broccoli keeps it brightly colored and slightly crisp, preventing it from becoming mushy during baking.
- For a richer flavor, substitute sour cream with Greek yogurt, but it will change the texture slightly.
- You can prepare the casserole a day ahead, cover it, and refrigerate; bake it right before serving, adding an extra 5 minutes to the baking time if refrigerated.
- Use gluten-free crackers if you need to make this dish gluten-free.
- Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days and reheated in the oven.
