Broccoli Chicken Divan Recipe
Just as Julia Child transformed American cooking, you're about to elevate your dinner game with Broccoli Chicken Divan. This classic casserole isn't just another weeknight meal—it's a culinary journey waiting to unfold. You'll discover how simple ingredients can create magic in your kitchen, transforming humble chicken and broccoli into a dish that'll have your family asking for seconds. Curious about the secret to its creamy perfection? Stay tuned.
Recipe Highlights
- Broccoli Chicken Divan is a classic casserole featuring tender chicken, fresh broccoli, and a creamy cheese sauce baked to golden perfection.
- Essential ingredients include cooked chicken breast, broccoli florets, cream of chicken soup, mayonnaise, and shredded cheddar cheese.
- Preparation involves steaming broccoli, layering chicken, spreading a creamy soup mixture, and topping with cheese before baking at 350°F.
- The dish originated at Divan Parisien Restaurant in New York City during the early 1900s and became a beloved American home cooking staple.
- Serve this comforting casserole with a side salad or crusty bread for a complete and satisfying family meal.
History
While many classic dishes have murky origins, the Broccoli Chicken Divan can trace its culinary roots directly to the Divan Parisien Restaurant in New York City during the early 1900s.
You'll find this dish emerged as a sophisticated culinary creation that quickly became a staple in American home cooking. The restaurant's chefs developed the recipe as a signature dish, blending French-inspired techniques with American ingredients.
Key historical highlights include:
- Originated in a high-end Manhattan restaurant
- Reflected early 20th-century fusion cuisine trends
- Popularized through cookbooks and social gatherings
You might be surprised to learn how a single restaurant's innovative recipe could transform home cooking, turning a simple combination of chicken, broccoli, and creamy sauce into a beloved national favorite.
The dish represents a pivotal moment in American culinary evolution.
Recipe
Broccoli Chicken Divan is a comforting and classic casserole that brings together tender chicken and fresh broccoli in a creamy, cheesy sauce. This dish offers a perfect balance of protein and vegetables, making it an ideal weeknight dinner that satisfies the whole family.
Originating from a New York City restaurant in the early twentieth century, this casserole has become a beloved staple in American home cooking. Its simple preparation and delicious flavor profile have made it a go-to recipe for generations of home cooks looking for a hearty and satisfying meal.
Ingredients:
- 4 cups cooked chicken breast, cubed
- 6 cups fresh broccoli florets
- 2 cans cream of chicken soup
- 1 cup mayonnaise
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- Salt and pepper to taste
Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C) and prepare a 9×13 inch baking dish. Steam the broccoli florets until they're tender-crisp, being careful not to overcook them. Arrange the steamed broccoli in an even layer across the bottom of the baking dish, then top with the cubed cooked chicken.
In a separate mixing bowl, whisk together the cream of chicken soup and mayonnaise until smooth and well combined. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Pour this creamy mixture evenly over the chicken and broccoli, ensuring complete coverage. Sprinkle the shredded cheddar cheese over the top of the casserole.
For best results, choose a high-quality cheddar cheese and ensure your chicken is well-seasoned before adding it to the casserole. If the top begins to brown too quickly during baking, loosely cover the dish with aluminum foil.
Allow the casserole to rest for 5-10 minutes after baking to let the sauce settle and make serving easier.
Cooking Steps
You'll start by steaming your broccoli florets until they're perfectly tender-crisp, then layer them in your baking dish as the foundation of this classic casserole.
Next, spread your cooked chicken pieces evenly over the broccoli, creating a hearty protein base that'll complement the green vegetables beautifully.
Finally, whisk together your cream of chicken soup and mayonnaise, spread this creamy mixture across the top, sprinkle with shredded cheddar cheese, and bake until the dish is bubbling and golden brown.
Step 1. Steam Broccoli Until Tender
Gently place your fresh broccoli florets into a steamer basket, positioning it above an inch of simmering water in a medium saucepan.
Cover the pot with a tight-fitting lid to create a moist, steamy environment that'll cook your broccoli perfectly.
Watch for visual cues: the florets should turn a vibrant, bright green and become slightly tender, but still maintain a crisp texture.
You'll want to steam for 3-4 minutes, testing doneness by piercing a floret with a fork—it should yield easily but not feel mushy.
Avoid overcooking, as the broccoli will continue to soften in the casserole.
Once steamed, use tongs to transfer the florets directly into your baking dish, spreading them in an even layer that'll provide a uniform base for your Chicken Divan.
Step 2. Layer Chicken Pieces
After steaming your broccoli to tender-crisp perfection, you'll want to layer your cooked chicken pieces with precision and care.
Distribute the 4 cups of cubed chicken evenly across the broccoli, ensuring complete coverage and consistent distribution. Aim for roughly 1-inch pieces that will create an appealing texture and allow the sauce to penetrate each morsel effectively.
Focus on creating a uniform layer that's approximately 1/2 to 3/4 inch thick. This will help:
- Ensure even cooking
- Maximize sauce absorption
- Create consistent bite texture
Your chicken should be pre-cooked and cooled slightly, which prevents excess moisture and maintains structural integrity.
Whether you've used poached, baked, or rotisserie chicken, the key is uniform, bite-sized pieces that will integrate beautifully with the broccoli base.
Step 3. Spread Soup and Mayo Mixture
Once the chicken layer is perfectly positioned, it's time to create the signature creamy sauce that gives Broccoli Chicken Divan its distinctive richness.
You'll want to grab a medium mixing bowl and combine the two cans of cream of chicken soup with one cup of mayonnaise. Whisk these ingredients together until they're completely smooth, ensuring no lumps remain in the mixture.
The goal is a consistent, velvety texture that will spread easily across the chicken layer. Use a spatula to evenly distribute the sauce, making sure it covers the entire surface of the chicken and reaches into the corners of the baking dish.
This creamy layer will help bind the ingredients and provide a luxurious, comforting foundation for your casserole.
Step 4. Top With Cheese
With the creamy soup and mayonnaise mixture evenly spread across your chicken layer, you're now ready to add the final crowning touch that transforms this casserole into a golden, cheesy masterpiece.
Sprinkle 1 cup of shredded cheddar cheese evenly over the entire surface, making sure to cover the mixture completely. The cheese will melt and create a beautiful, bubbly top during baking:
- Use freshly shredded cheese for best melting
- Distribute cheese uniformly for consistent coverage
- Choose a sharp cheddar for more robust flavor
Ensure the cheese layer is thin but comprehensive, allowing it to brown slightly without burning. The goal is a light golden crust that adds texture and rich, tangy flavor to your Broccoli Chicken Divan.
Step 5. Bake Until Golden Brown
Because golden, bubbling cheese signals a perfectly baked Broccoli Chicken Divan, you'll want to carefully monitor your casserole during its final cooking stages.
Place the uncovered dish in the preheated 350°F oven, watching for these key indicators:
- Cheese should melt completely
- Surface turns light golden brown
- Edges become slightly crispy
- Sauce begins to bubble around edges
Check the casserole at the 25-minute mark, rotating the dish if your oven has uneven heating.
If the top browns too quickly, tent it loosely with aluminum foil to prevent burning.
The ideal doneness comes when the cheese is uniformly melted with delicate golden peaks and the sauce is visibly hot and bubbling.
Remove from the oven and let it rest 5-10 minutes before serving, allowing the flavors to settle and the sauce to thicken slightly.
Final Thoughts
If you're looking to elevate your weeknight dinner game, Broccoli Chicken Divan offers a delightful solution that transforms simple ingredients into a crowd-pleasing casserole.
This dish is more than just a meal; it's a testament to home cooking's ability to create comfort on a plate. You'll find the recipe remarkably forgiving, allowing for easy substitutions and personal touches while maintaining its classic flavor profile.
Key takeaways for success include:
- Ensure chicken is thoroughly cooked
- Don't overcook the broccoli
- Use fresh ingredients when possible
- Allow the casserole to rest before serving
The beauty of this recipe lies in its simplicity, transforming basic ingredients into a satisfying, memorable meal that'll have your family asking for seconds.
