Chicken Divan Casserole

Name: Chicken Divan Casserole
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 35 min
Total time: 55 min
Yield: 10 servings
Ingredients: 1/4 cup plus 1 tablespoon butter, divided; 1/4 cup all-purpose flour; 1-1/2 cups half-and-half cream; 1/2 cup cooking sherry or water; 2 cans (10-3/4 ounces each) condensed cream of chicken soup, undiluted; 2 packages (10 ounces each) frozen cut or chopped broccoli, thawed; 1 cup cooked rice; 3 to 4 cups cubed cooked chicken; 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese; 1 cup soft bread crumbs; Minced fresh parsley, optional

Total Time Prep: 20 min. Bake: 35 min.

Yield 10 servings

Test Kitchen Approved

Chicken Divan casserole has been around for generations, and for good reason: It's delicious! Made famous by the Divan Parisien restaurant in New York, it combines chicken, broccoli, cheese and a decadent sauce. Oh, and it's really easy to make too.

Ingredients

1/4 cup plus 1 tablespoon butter, divided
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
1-1/2 cups half-and-half cream
1/2 cup cooking sherry or water
2 cans (10-3/4 ounces each) condensed cream of chicken soup, undiluted
2 packages (10 ounces each) frozen cut or chopped broccoli, thawed
1 cup cooked rice
3 to 4 cups cubed cooked chicken
2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
1 cup soft bread crumbs
Minced fresh parsley, optional

Directions

In a small saucepan, melt 1/4 cup butter. Add flour, stirring until blended. Stir in the cream and cooking sherry or water; cook and stir until thickened and bubbly. Cook and stir 2 more minutes. Blend in soup until smooth; remove from the heat and set aside.
Place broccoli in an ungreased 13x9-in. baking dish. Cover with rice and then half of the sauce. Top with chicken. Stir shredded cheese into remaining sauce; pour over the chicken.
Melt the remaining butter and toss with bread crumbs. Sprinkle over the casserole. Bake, uncovered, at 350° for 35-45 minutes or until heated through. If desired, sprinkle with parsley before serving.

Nutrition Facts

1 cup: 412 calories, 24g fat (12g saturated fat), 98mg cholesterol, 798mg sodium, 20g carbohydrate (3g sugars, 3g fiber), 22g protein.

This tasty chicken divan recipe was given to me by a friend years ago, and it's been a family favorite ever since. My daughters enjoy making this dish in their own homes and get the same enthusiastic compliments I always do! —Mary Pat Lucia, North East, Pennsylvania

Recipe Creator