Chicken Divan: Comfort Food Meets Casserole Royalty
What’s better than dinner that feels like a warm hug? One that also leaves you with minimal dishes to clean! Chicken Divan with Rice Casserole is the perfect answer to weeknight chaos or cozy weekend cravings. Creamy, cheesy, and loaded with flavor, it’s like the queen of casseroles just invited herself to your dinner table—and trust us, you’ll be glad she did.
Ingredients
For the Casserole:
- 2 cups cooked chicken, shredded or diced (rotisserie chicken works great!)
- 2 cups uncooked white or brown rice
- 1 head of broccoli, cut into florets (or 2 cups frozen broccoli, thawed)
- 1 can (10.5 oz) cream of chicken soup
- ¾ cup sour cream or Greek yogurt
- ½ cup mayonnaise
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp onion powder
- ½ tsp paprika
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- 1/4 cup of chicken broth
For the Topping:
- ½ cup breadcrumbs (panko or regular)
- 2 tbsp butter, melted
- ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese
Instructions
1. Preheat the Oven
- Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Lightly grease a 9×13-inch casserole dish (because no one wants to scrape baked-on casserole bits).
2. Steam the Broccoli
- If using fresh broccoli, steam it lightly for 3-4 minutes until it’s bright green and just tender. Frozen broccoli can skip this step—it’s already halfway there.
3. Mix the Filling
- In a large bowl, combine the cream of chicken soup, sour cream, mayonnaise, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, salt, and pepper. Stir until smooth.
- Add the cooked chicken, rice, and steamed broccoli to the bowl, mixing until everything is well-coated in that creamy goodness.
4. Assemble the Casserole
- Spread the chicken and rice mixture evenly in the prepared casserole dish. Sprinkle the shredded cheddar cheese over the top.
5. Make the Topping
- In a small bowl, combine the breadcrumbs, melted butter, and Parmesan cheese. Sprinkle the topping evenly over the casserole. (This is the part where you know it’s going to get that golden, crispy finish.)
6. Bake to Perfection
- Bake the casserole for 25-30 minutes, or until it’s bubbly and golden brown on top. Your kitchen will smell amazing—you’ve been warned.
7. Serve and Enjoy
- Let the casserole cool for 5 minutes before serving (if you can wait that long). Dish it up and prepare for the table silence that happens when everyone’s too busy eating to talk.
Serve this Chicken Divan with Rice alongside a side of your favorite “I did that” grin. Bonus points if you’re still in your sweatpants while your family marvels at your culinary prowess. Just don’t mention how easy it was—let them think you’re a casserole wizard!