Who doesn’t love simple and tasty one-pan meals? When I make this casserole for my family, they always think I worked way harder than I actually did. It comes together easily and quickly but delivers heavily on flavor and satisfaction. My opinion of baked casseroles changed forever when my auntie made super easy Chicken Divan for me for the first time. I couldn’t believe all that creamy deliciousness could come from just a handful of ingredients. Since then, I’ve been whipping it up for weeknight dinners whenever I want something special without the extra work. It is luscious and indulgent, the way you’d expect food from a fancy hotel to be. It starts with juicy chicken, fresh, crisp broccoli, and a cheesy gravy sauce. Then it’s topped with buttery panko breadcrumbs.
Recipe Ingredients
How To Make Chicken Divan
Steam the Broccoli – Put your broccoli florets into a pan with just enough water to cover them. Heat the water to a boil and cook with the lid on for 5 minutes. When the broccoli is tender, drain and set aside. Cook the Chicken – Whether you use breast, thigh, or a combination, season your chicken generously with salt and Creole seasonings. Chop the chicken into small chunks and cook it in a skillet for about 6 minutes. When the chicken is done, remove it from the pan and set it aside. (Photos 1-2)Make the Sauce – Add butter, garlic, and onions to the same pan and cook for 3-4 minutes. Stir in your flour and let it cook for another minute. Slowly add the milk and chicken stock, mixing well each time to prevent lumps. Let it simmer for 5 minutes or so. Once the gravy thickens, add more Creole seasoning and some cheese. Mix until smooth and creamy. (Photos 3-8)
Assembly
Layer the Casserole – First, add the cooked broccoli to the pan, followed by the cooked chicken. Then pour the sauce over it and top it with breadcrumbs. (Photos 1-5)Bake – Put the casserole in the oven and bake it for about 20 minutes or until it’s golden brown and bubbly. (Photo 6)
Recipe Variations
Tips and Tricks
Make-Ahead Instructions
If you want an even simpler weeknight dinner, layer the broccoli and chicken in the pan and set aside in the fridge until the next day. Make the gravy and store it in the refrigerator also. When you’re ready to serve it, pour your gravy sauce over the chicken and broccoli, then top it with breadcrumbs and throw it in the oven. Done! To freeze the unbaked Chicken Divan, assemble it in the casserole dish with the sauce. You could top it at this point with the panko breadcrumbs or add them right before baking. Then tightly wrap the casserole in plastic wrap, then aluminum foil, and freeze for up to two months.
Serving and Storage Instructions
Serve this dish fresh from the oven. Let it rest a couple of minutes so the casserole can set and you don’t burn your tongue. Then dig in! Chicken Divan is best enjoyed while the cheese from the sauce is still melty and the topping is crispy. For leftovers, you can easily store them in the same pan in the fridge for up to four days. If you want to freeze it, cover it with plastic wrap and then foil, and it will keep for two months. To reheat your leftover casserole, zap it in the microwave for a few seconds or bake it in the oven at 400℉/205℃ for 10 minutes. Let it heat through until the sauce gets melty again and the top re-crisps.
What to Serve With Chicken Divan
Since this dish is quite rich, why not serve a crisp, refreshing tossed salad alongside it? Avocado corn salad, cucumber and onion salad, or shaved Brussels sprout salad are also a perfect balancing act. All of those would be a great addition to this meal.
More Fabulous One-Pan Casserole Recipes to Try
Conclusion
It’s time to impress your family with this luxurious soul food dish that is easy to make and satisfying to eat. Have you ever tried Chicken Divan? When you try this recipe, tell me what you did to make it extra special.
Watch How to Make It
[adthrive-in-post-video-player video-id=”4swI4tbB” upload-date=”2022-11-01T14:31:08.000Z” name=”CHICKEN DIVAN.mp4″ description=”Chicken Divan is purely comforting soul food. Juicy chicken, creamy cheese sauce, and buttery, crispy topping create a flavor party for your mouth. ” player-type=”collapse” override-embed=”false”] This blog post was originally published in March 2019 and has been updated with additional tips, new photos, and a video.
