Chicken Divan Recipe
This classic Chicken Divan features tender chicken pieces in a creamy sauce paired with broccoli and topped with a buttery, crunchy Ritz cracker crust. Prepare it from scratch or use canned cream of chicken soup for convenience.
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Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 2 lbs. boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into bite-sized pieces
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 1 yellow onion diced
- 1 stick of celery diced
- 4 cups broccoli florets about ½ lb.
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 10.5 oz. can cream of chicken soup
- 2/3 cup sour cream
- ½ cup milk
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon mustard powder
- 2½ cups shredded cheddar cheese divided
Topping
- ½ cup crushed Ritz crackers about 14 crackers or ½ sleeve, or panko breadcrumbs
- 2 tablespoons butter melted
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
- Season the diced chicken with a light sprinkling of salt and pepper.
- In a large pot or Dutch oven, melt 2 tablespoons of butter over medium heat. Add the chicken, diced onion, and celery, stirring to coat. Sauté for about 3 minutes until the chicken is halfway cooked, then add the broccoli and 1 tablespoon of olive oil.
- Continue cooking for another 3-5 minutes until the chicken is cooked through. Remove the pot from heat.
- Stir in the cream of chicken soup, sour cream, milk, garlic powder, onion powder, mustard powder, and half of the shredded cheddar cheese until well combined.
- Transfer the mixture into a lightly greased 9x13-inch casserole dish. Sprinkle the remaining cheddar cheese over the top.
- Cover the casserole and bake for 20 minutes. Then, increase the oven temperature to 400°F (200°C).
- In a small bowl, combine the melted butter and crushed Ritz crackers. Remove the cover from the casserole, sprinkle the cracker mixture over the top, and bake for an additional 8-10 minutes until the topping is golden brown.
- Allow the dish to sit for 5 minutes before serving.
- Serve over rice, biscuits, or mashed potatoes.
Notes
- Chicken Substitute: If using pre-cooked chicken, omit the initial sautéing step but still cook the onion and celery for about 5 minutes and add broccoli for 3-4 minutes if desired.
- Make-Ahead Tip: For a simplified preparation, skip the sautéing by combining raw diced chicken, broccoli, and sauce ingredients directly in the baking dish. Bake covered at 375°F (190°C) for 40 minutes, remove the cover, and add the Ritz topping as described.
- Using Frozen Broccoli: Thaw and pat dry before adding; sautéing is optional, depending on your texture preference.
- Ritz Cracker Measure: ½ cup of crushed Ritz equals approximately 14 crackers or half a sleeve