Creamy Southern Chicken Divan - Quick and Easy Comfort Food

Chicken Divan is a classic casserole made with chicken and broccoli, baked with a sour cream and cream of mushroom soup mixture with a hint of curry and dry white wine, then topped with cheddar cheese and panko bread crumbs.  Dinner is ready in about 40 minutes and makes 6 servings.

Welcome to My Kitchen Serenity!  Are you a casserole fanatic (like me)?  I mean, who doesn't love the delicious comfort food combination of a creamy casserole!  This easy family dinner meal will please everyone at the dinner table. 

In fact, you may notice that I have several chicken and beef casserole recipes on the blog.  They're just so delicious and comforting!

My other casserole recipes include:

Poppy Seed Chicken Casserole

Chicken and Broccoli Alfredo with Penne Pasta

Rotel Chicken Spaghetti (#1 recipe on the blog)

Beef Noodle Casserole

Shrimp and Rice Casserole

Why You'll Love This

What I particularly like about this recipe is how extremely easy it is.  First, I'm a huge fan of store-bought rotisserie chicken.  It's a super time saver and tastes great, too!  The only prep work needed is to simply pull the meat off the bones and rough chop.  Some grocery stores go a step further and sell the rotisserie chicken already pulled from the bones.  I hope you enjoy this easy chicken divan!

We use frozen broccoli florets that you steam in the bag.  Super simple!   Do you like crunch? Add some slivered almonds for a delightful nutty crunch.

Panko bread crumbs are popular as a topping because they're more crunchy and hold up better than regular bread crumbs.  They're widely available at grocery stores.  If you do your shopping online, you can find panko bread crumbs on Amazon.

I hope you enjoy this easy dinner recipe as much as we do.  Chicken broccoli divan is creamy and flavorful and hits the spot whether it's a home cooked meal, pot luck, or for a party.  Most people love casseroles!

Ingredient List

please scroll down to the recipe card for more detailed information

Rotisserie chicken

Broccoli florets

Sour cream

Cream of mushroom soup

Curry powder

Salt

Pepper

Dry white wine (optional)

Lemon juice

Shredded cheddar cheese

Panko breadcrumbs

Butter

Optional:

Cooked white rice

Cooked noodles

Kitchen Tools Needed

Sharp kitchen knife

Large mixing bowl

Medium mixing bowl

Casserole or baking dish

Whisk

Measuring spoons

Measuring cups

Substitutions and Variations

You can use 3-4 cooked chicken breasts instead of the Rotisserie chicken.  

Use leftover turkey instead of the chicken.  Use cauliflower or asparagus instead of broccoli.  Throw in some sliced mushrooms for a wonderful addition!

It's perfectly fine to leave out the dry white cooking wine.  You can use cream of chicken soup instead of the cream of mushroom soup.  If you don't have any condensed soups, or don't want to use the soups, scroll down for an easy and delicious alternative.

Variations for the topping include regular bread crumbs or crushed crackers instead of panko crumbs.  I've also seen people using crushed corn flakes. 

Looking for a low carb dinner option?  Simply omit the panko topping or replace the panko bread crumbs with crushed pork rinds.

Easy Directions

Step 1.  Preheat oven to 350F.  Gather all your ingredients.  Pull meat from chicken and rough-chop or shred. Steam the broccoli in the microwave per the package directions, till tender-crisp.  With a whisk, mix the soup, sour cream, lemon juice, and wine in a bowl.  

Step 2:  Spray a casserole dish with non-stick spray.  Lay the broccoli and chicken on bottom of dish.

Step 3: Pour the soup and sour cream mixture on top.

Step 4: Sprinkle the seasonings on top. Blend well.

Step 5: Sprinkle cheese and bread crumbs on top.  Pour melted butter over cheese and bread crumbs and bake uncovered at 350F for about 30 minutes or until the topping is slightly browned.

Recipe Yield

This casserole makes about 6 small servings.  Be sure to serve it with rolls and a vegetable or salad.

Side Dishes to Enjoy

This casserole is pretty filling as is, but if you need to stretch it further, it's wonderful served on top of rice or mashed potatoes.  In addition, you can serve this casserole with a simple green salad and garlic bread.  For a change of pace, serve with my Creamy Corn Salad.

Make-ahead Tips

You can make this casserole up to 2 days in advance.  Assemble the casserole, without the cheese and panko crumbs.  Cover the casserole dish and place in the refrigerator. Then, when ready to bake, take it out of the refrigerator and let it come to room temperature (20 to 30 minutes).  Proceed to Step 5 of the recipe card.

No Canned Soup Version

You can certainly leave out the condensed soup and sour cream but you'll need to replace them with something!  I suggest using the same easy, base homemade sauce that I use for my chicken alfredo.  You'll need:

• Butter (2 Tbsp)
• Cornstarch (2 Tbsp)
• Whole Milk (2-½ cups)

Instructions:  Melt butter in a pan, add cornstarch, and milk. Simmer for 2-3 minutes, stirring constantly with a whisk.  Pour on top of chicken & broccoli, proceed with recipe steps 4 - 5.

Storage/Shelf Life/Reheating

• Store any leftovers in airtight containers in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. I prefer to use BPA-free glass containers with locking lids.  Check out this 18-piece set of glass food storage containers with locking lids.
• Be sure to freeze in an airtight container to prevent ice crystals from forming.  When you’re ready to eat, thaw in the refrigerator for 24 hours, then heat in a 350F oven (or heat in the microwave) until piping hot.

If you try this delicious chicken divan, please rate it and let me know in the comments below. 

Need more great recipe ideas?  Follow me on Facebook, Pinterest, and Instagram to get more delicious recipe ideas in your feed.

Join my email list to get Southern recipes sent to your inbox.  How easy is that, right?!