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close-up of a shallow bowl with creamy chicken and broccoli casserole and mashed potatoes
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4.92 from 12 votes

Cheesy Chicken Divan

Chicken Divan is a classic cheesy, creamy chicken and broccoli casserole that's topped with buttery panko breadcrumbs and baked to golden perfection! This version is made from scratch with no condensed soup.
Prep Time20 minutes
Cook Time25 minutes
Total Time45 minutes
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American
Keyword: Broccoli Chicken Divan, Chicken and Broccoli Casserole, Chicken Divan Casserole
Servings: 6
Author: Natasha Bull

Ingredients

  • 4 cups broccoli florets see note
  • 3 cups cooked/rotisserie chicken shredded or diced
  • 8 ounces cream cheese (1 block Philly) softened
  • 1 cup heavy/whipping cream
  • 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
  • 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
  • Salt & pepper to taste
  • 2 cups grated cheddar cheese divided
  • 1/2 cup freshly grated parmesan cheese
  • 1/4 cup butter melted
  • 1 cup panko breadcrumbs

Instructions

  • Take the cream cheese out of the fridge at least an hour prior to starting the recipe or microwave it for 20-30 seconds (it should be very soft).
  • Boil a pot of water for the broccoli. While you're waiting for it to boil, start prepping all the recipe ingredients (ensure they're ready to go before starting the sauce). For the melted butter, I recommend microwaving it in a small bowl and setting it aside until needed.
  • Preheat your oven to 375F and move the rack to the top third of the oven.
  • Once the water is boiling, add the broccoli and cook it for 2-3 minutes, then drain well and add it to a 9x13 casserole dish.
  • Add the cooked chicken to the casserole dish (just put it beside the broccoli for now).
  • To a skillet or medium saucepan, add the cream cheese, cream, onion powder, garlic powder, Dijon, Worcestershire sauce, and some salt & pepper. Cook it over medium-high heat, stirring/whisking nearly constantly until the cream cheese has melted into the sauce (this should take about 5 minutes). Important: Don't let the sauce get too thick (it should be similar to Alfredo sauce). If the sauce seems a bit too thick, add in another splash of cream. The sauce will thicken more in the oven.
  • Take the skillet off the heat and stir in half of the cheddar cheese (stir until smooth).
  • Pour the sauce over the chicken and broccoli, then toss and spread it in an even layer.
  • Top the casserole with the remaining cheddar, followed by the parmesan.
  • Add the panko breadcrumbs to the bowl that has the melted butter and stir until they're evenly coated in butter.
  • Top the casserole with the breadcrumb mixture. Bake, uncovered, for 20 minutes. If you want the topping to be a little darker, broil it for a few minutes (watch it carefully).
  • Let the casserole sit for 5 minutes prior to serving.

Notes

  • Wondering how much broccoli to buy? It's not an exact science because broccoli comes in all sizes, sometimes has larger or smaller stems, and you also will cut it into different sized florets every time. As a rough guide, 1 pound of broccoli typically yields about 3-4 cups when cut into florets. At the end of the day, a little more or a little less than suggested won't make or break this recipe!
  • Serves 6-8 depending on portion size/what it's served with.
  • See blog post for info on substitutions, make ahead tips, storage, and step-by-step photos.
  • Nutritional information is provided as a courtesy only and should be construed as an estimate rather than a guarantee. Ingredients can vary and Salt & Lavender makes no guarantees to the accuracy of this information.

Nutrition

Calories: 706kcal | Carbohydrates: 16g | Protein: 37g | Fat: 56g | Saturated Fat: 32g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 216mg | Sodium: 735mg | Potassium: 564mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 2278IU | Vitamin C: 68mg | Calcium: 494mg | Iron: 2mg