Easy Chicken Divan Recipe is a flavorful and cheesy chicken and broccoli casserole. With no mayo or cream of mushroom soup, this is a fresh spin on a classic.
author’s note
Cheesy Chicken Divan Without the Cans!
When I was growing up, Chicken Divan was a regular on the dinner table. My mom’s version was rich and comforting, loaded with cream soups and mayo.
When I started cooking for my own family, I wanted to keep the cheesy, creamy feel but make it fresher and more flavorful. That’s how this no-mayo, no-cream-soup version came to life: still cheesy, still creamy, but made completely from scratch.
Ingredients
| Ingredient | Swap or Tip |
|---|---|
| Broccoli florets | Use fresh or frozen (no need to thaw first). Try asparagus or peas for a change. |
| Cooked, cubed rotisserie chicken | Any cooked chicken works: grilled, baked, or poached. Turkey works too. |
| Butter & flour | Gluten-free flour works if needed. |
| Milk & chicken stock | Use half-and-half for a richer sauce or vegetable stock for a vegetarian version. |
| Cheddar cheese | Sharp cheddar gives the most flavor, but Monterey Jack or Gruyère also work. |
| Sour cream | Swap with mayo + a splash of lemon juice for a tangy twist. |
| Chicken bouillon powder | One bouillon cube works too: just dissolve in the liquid. |
| Dijon mustard | Make sure it’s dijon mustard not yellow. |
| Garlic powder, onion powder, dried parsley | Fresh garlic or parsley can replace dried. |
| Panko breadcrumbs & butter | Swap with crushed Ritz crackers or seasoned breadcrumbs. |
How To Make Chicken Divan Recipe
- Prep oven & veggies: Heat oven to 350°F. Boil broccoli for 3 minutes, then drain.
- Make sauce: Melt butter, whisk in flour, then slowly add milk and stock. Stir in cheese until melted. Add sour cream and seasonings.
- Assemble: Layer broccoli, chicken, and sauce in a 9×13 dish. Top with cheese.
- Make topping: Toast panko in butter and sprinkle over casserole.
- Bake: Cover with foil, bake 30 minutes, uncover to crisp topping.
Variations
Switch Things Up
- Curry Twist: Add 1/4–1 teaspoon curry powder to sauce, plus lemon juice, and use grilled curry chicken.
- Different Veggies: Try asparagus or peas instead of broccoli.
- With Rice: Stir cooked rice directly into the casserole before baking.
Storage
- Make Ahead: Assemble without baking, store in fridge for 2 days, panko separately. Bake at 350°F for 35 minutes, add panko midway.
- Reheat Chicken Divan: In oven at 350°F for 30 minutes covered, or microwave servings.
- Freeze: Prepare without panko, cool, wrap, freeze up to 3 months. Thaw, bake at 350°F for 40-45 minutes, add panko last 10 minutes.
What To Serve With Chicken Divan:
Meal Prep
Lemon Rice
Potatoes
Mashed Potatoes Recipe
Salads
Olive Garden Salad
Appetizers
Life-Changing No-Knead Dinner Rolls
Homemade Chicken Divan Recipe
Easy Chicken Divan Recipe is a delicious and cheesy chicken and broccoli casserole that offers a fresh take on the classic, without using mayo or cream of mushroom soup.
Equipment
Ingredients
- 4 cups chopped fresh broccoli
- 3 cups chopped rotisserie chicken
- 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 1/3 cup flour
- 1 cup 1% milk
- 2/3 cup chicken stock or broth
- 1-1/2 cups shredded sharp Cheddar cheese divided
- 2/3 cup fat-free sour cream
- 2 teaspoons chicken bouillon powder
- 1-1/2 teaspoons Dijon-style mustard
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon dried parsley
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon pepper
Topping
- 3/4 cup panko breadcrumbs
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Cut broccoli into bite-size florets. Bring a large pot of water to a rolling boil, add in chopped broccoli, and cook for 3 minutes. Drain and let stand till thoroughly dry. Chop the chicken into bite-size pieces to make 3 cups.
- Melt butter in a small pot over medium heat. Once melted, gradually add in flour, whisking constantly until a thick paste forms. Whisk for 1 minute, then gradually add in 1/3 cup of the milk while continuing to whisk. Gradually whisk in 1/3 cup chicken stock. Add in another 1/3 cup milk, the remaining 1/3 cup stock, and remaining 1/3 cup milk. Whisk until completely smooth. Add in 1 cup of cheese and whisk again until completely smooth. Add in sour cream and whisk until smooth. Stir in the chicken bouillon powder, Dijon-style mustard, garlic powder, onion powder, dried parsley, salt, and pepper.
- Add the dry broccoli to the bottom of a 9×13-inch pan. Sprinkle the chicken over top. Pour the sauce over everything, spread to evenly coat, and sprinkle remaining 1/2 cup cheese over top of sauce. In a saucepan over medium-high heat, melt the remaining 2 tablespoons butter. Add the panko and stir constantly until crumbs are light brown and toasted. Sprinkle topping evenly over cheese. Cover casserole with foil and bake for 30 minutes or until bubbly around the edges. Remove and serve hot.
Recipe Notes
Storage: To store Chicken Divan, cool completely. Cover tightly or place in an airtight container; refrigerate for up to 3 days. For longer storage, portion into freezer-safe containers and freeze for up to 3 months.
Nutrition
Serving: 1serving | Calories: 488kcal | Carbohydrates: 18g | Protein: 44g | Fat: 26g | Saturated Fat: 13g | Cholesterol: 164mg | Sodium: 912mg | Potassium: 177mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 600IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 306mg | Iron: 1mg
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Absolutely delicious! I’ve made it several times with leftover turkey.
I’m thrilled to hear this! Thanks Julie!
I have made this recipe several times now. It’s perfect! Add the curry powder.
Delish! I am so thrilled you have enjoyed! 🙂
This comes out delicious every time! Great for kids and adults. Making it for my 4th time! We’ve tried it with cauliflower and asparagus. It’s always tasty! We’ve also left out the garlic and onion because of allergies and its still good!
I am so happy to hear this! Thanks so much Wendy! 🙂
Most excellent. I was looking for a recipe with sour cream and no soup. Perfect!! It is not out of the oven yet, but nothing could go wrong
with that sauce on it!! ***** 5 stars!
I am so thrilled to hear this! Thanks so much Camille! 🙂
The best Chicken Divan recipe, much better than the ones with the soup… delish 🙂
Yay! I totally agree! Thanks Lynn! 🙂
Hi Chelsea, I made this tonight for dinner , Loved it! Fabulous cheesy sauce and had everything in my fridge waiting to be put into this delicious meal !
I am so excited to hear this! Thanks Elaina! 🙂
Made this today for the first time it’s delicious 😋
I am so happy to hear! Thanks Kim! 🙂
This is far better than the higher calorie version. The only thing I changed was I added 1/2cup finely diced thick slice bacon. I completely forgot to make noodles or rice to go with it but it was so darn good it didn’t matter.
The recipe didn’t explain that only 1 TBL butter is used for the sauce with the remaining 2 for the breadcrumbs. Sauce was too thick. And it’s just too rich anyway. Will not make again.
It’s not separated. There are 3 tablespoons for the sauce and 2 for the breadcrumbs. The butter is listed out twice
Oh duh…”toast” as a verb, not a noun. Oops!