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:
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.
Final step! Please let us know how it was by leaving a review.
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.
“Add the panko and toast” Toast? No mention of toast before this step. Please explain; I want to make this in 2 days. Thanks!
This must be a bogus site . Two rejections !
Not bogus; it just doesn’t publish comments until I approve them and I’m not at my computer 24/7 🙂
An amazing recipe. Wonderful. Had to omit sour cream due to dairy🥴. Husband thought it was awesome. Thank you for sharing this delightful recipe. Will be a frequent meal.
Glad you enjoyed it! 🙂
I don’t have bouillon power but I do have bovril concentrate liquid would I use the same measurement as the powder?
I believe the concentrate is much more concentrated than the powder. I’d start with 1/4th the amount and increase to taste
This is the best chicken divan I’ve ever made! The sauce is delicious. I didn’t put extra cheese on top-just the panko. For me, there was already enough cheese in the sauce. I was out of sour cream so I used plain yogurt. I don’t think either of these changes altered the taste at all.
I’m so happy to hear this Nancy! Thanks so much for your comment! 🙂
Can I mix this up ahead if time and refrigerate of a few hours and then bake?
Yes! I’d add the panko topping right before baking though.
Do you use Dijon powder or the condiment form in the bottle? I used regular mustard powder last time but I do like Dijon… thank you great recipe
I use the condiment form in the bottle! 🙂 So glad you enjoyed
Love all the suggestions and tips. Yummy!!
Thanks Jane! 🙂
This looks awesome! But my sister doesn’t like broccoli do you think cauliflower could work in this?
I haven’t actually tried that but I would imagine it would swap nicely for the broccoli! Let me know what you think! Thanks for your comment! 🙂
I have not made or HAD Chicken Divan in YEARS! Haven’t even thought about it… For some reason it popped into my head today while thinking about all the broccoli I had in the refrigerator and the chicken I was defrosting. When I first started looking at recipes I remembered why I don’t make it – canned soup! Was happy to find your recipe and my husband and teenage boys all LOVED IT! Hubby was a bit skeptical but after a few bites said, “This is a keeper!”. I served it over rice but I’m not a big rice fan so I love that it doesn’t include it IN the dish.
Love, love hearing this! Thanks so much for taking the time to leave a comment and review Kristin! 🙂