Description
Chicken Divan is a classic comfort food casserole featuring tender seasoned chicken breasts, vibrant broccoli florets, and a creamy cheese sauce. This easy-to-make dish combines browned chicken, blanched broccoli, and a luscious blend of cream soups, sour cream, and cheddar cheese, topped with crunchy Ritz crackers for a perfect golden finish. Ideal for a family dinner, this hearty casserole bakes to bubbly perfection in under an hour.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken and Seasoning
- 2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1-inch cubes
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon curry powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
Vegetables
- 3 cups broccoli florets
Sauce
- 1 (10.5 ounce) can condensed cream of broccoli cheese soup
- 1 (10.5 ounce) can condensed cream of chicken soup
- ½ cup sour cream
- ¼ cup milk
- 1 teaspoon lemon juice
Cheese and Topping
- 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese, divided (1½ cups for sauce, ½ cup for topping)
- 1 cup crushed Ritz crackers
Instructions
- Preheat the oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and prepare an 8×8-inch casserole dish by brushing it with olive oil or spraying it with cooking spray to prevent sticking.
- Season the chicken: In a bowl, toss the cubed chicken with garlic powder, onion powder, curry powder, salt, and black pepper until evenly coated with all the seasonings.
- Brown the chicken: Heat a large skillet over medium heat and add the seasoned chicken cubes. Cook for about 5-7 minutes until the chicken pieces are lightly browned and cooked through. Remove from heat and set aside.
- Blanch the broccoli: Bring a pot of water to a boil and add the broccoli florets. Cook for approximately 5 minutes until they are fork-tender. Drain well and set aside.
- Prepare the sauce mixture: In a large mixing bowl, combine the cream of broccoli cheese soup, cream of chicken soup, sour cream, milk, and lemon juice. Stir in the cooked chicken and blanched broccoli, mixing until everything is evenly coated with the creamy sauce.
- Add cheese: Fold 1½ cups of shredded cheddar cheese into the sauce mixture, ensuring even distribution throughout the casserole base.
- Assemble the casserole: Transfer the combined chicken, broccoli, and sauce mixture into the prepared casserole dish and spread it out into an even layer.
- Add topping: Sprinkle the crushed Ritz crackers evenly over the top of the casserole. Then, add the remaining ½ cup of shredded cheddar cheese on top. You may add extra cheese if you prefer a cheesier crust.
- Bake the casserole: Place the uncovered casserole in the preheated oven and bake for 30-35 minutes until the topping is golden brown and the casserole is bubbling hot.
- Rest and serve: Remove the casserole from the oven and let it rest for 8-10 minutes before serving. Enjoy it as is or pair with dinner rolls, a fresh salad, or serve over rice for a complete meal.
Notes
- To prevent sogginess, make sure to drain the broccoli thoroughly after blanching.
- For extra flavor, sprinkle a little extra cheddar cheese on top before baking.
- Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days and reheated in the oven.
- You can substitute curry powder with paprika or Italian seasoning if you prefer a different flavor profile.
- Use low-fat sour cream and reduced-sodium soups for a lighter version of this dish.
