Creamy Chicken Divan – The Stay At Home Chef

This is an easy casserole full of savory chicken, creamy sauce, perfectly cooked broccoli, and the most amazing butter cracker topping to add a perfect touch of texture. You’ll find yourself coming back to this one again and again for a perfect weeknight option! We love casseroles because they are not only easy to throw together but also because they are so delicious! This classic chicken divan has broccoli, chicken, and a creamy made-from-scratch sauce with real ingredients like cheddar cheese, sour cream, and a hint of mustard. It’s a tasty upgrade from the usual!

For more casserole ideas, try our Chicken Cordon Bleu Casserole or our Tasty Taco Casserole.

Casseroles are the epitome of ease and convenience, and this one is no exception! Prep time is not long, and the assembly will take you mere minutes. If you want to make this ahead of time, it is super easy to prep ahead of time and then refrigerate or freeze until you’re ready to bake it!

Ingredient Notes

• Chicken: Rotisserie chicken is a great time-saver here, but any leftover cooked chicken will work. You’ll need about 2 pounds or roughly 4 cups of chicken.
• Frozen Broccoli: No need to thaw these beforehand – they’ll cook perfectly in the oven. If you prefer fresh broccoli, you can substitute it, but steam the florets for 7 minutes to soften them before layering.
• Stuffing: We don’t recommend any specific brand of stuffing, so feel free to get whichever brand is your family’s favorite.
• Sour Cream: If you need a substitute, Greek yogurt works well in equal amounts.
• Cheddar Cheese: Sharp cheddar is ideal for this recipe, but a mild cheddar or other cheeses like Gruyère or Monterey Jack work too.
• Ritz Crackers: We recommend using Ritz crackers for the casserole’s topping, but you can also use a standard breadcrumb topping instead if you prefer!
• Mayonnaise: If you’re not a fan of mayo, you can use an equal amount of plain Greek yogurt or even more sour cream.
• Lemon: For this recipe, you will need the juice from two medium-sized lemons. If you don’t have lemons, you can also use bottled lemon juice in a pinch, but we recommend freshly squeezed if you can to really get that tangy, citrus flavor.

Make Ahead Option

This meal is a great option if you want to meal prep for a busy day later on in the week. You can make this casserole up to 24 hours ahead of time and then store it in the fridge until you’re ready to bake it. If you use this method, you will need to bake it for a little longer, about an hour total.

If you want to make it even further ahead of time, you can also freeze the casserole before you bake it. Cover the casserole with several layers of plastic wrap or foil, and you can store this in your freezer for up to three months. Allow to thaw in the refrigerator overnight before baking, and then you’ll need to cover it with foil for the first 30 minutes it’s in the oven. Once you’ve removed the foil, cook uncovered for another 45–55 minutes.