Description
Broccoli chicken divan brings together tender chicken, fresh broccoli, and a creamy sauce that makes weeknight dinners feel special without keeping you in the kitchen for hours. A quick bake in the oven brings everything together into one comforting dish that your family keeps asking for.
Ingredients
Scale
Vegetables and Protein:
- 2 cups cooked chicken (cubed)
- 2 cups broccoli florets
Sauce Base:
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 1 cup chicken broth
- 1 cup milk
Seasonings and Toppings:
- 0.5 teaspoon salt
- 0.25 teaspoon pepper
- 0.5 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- 0.5 cup bread crumbs
Instructions
- Set your oven to 350°F and let it heat while you gather everything you need.
- Coat a 9×13-inch baking dish with a light layer of butter or cooking spray so nothing sticks.
- Spread your 2 cups of cubed chicken across the bottom of the dish, then scatter the 2 cups of broccoli florets evenly on top.
- Melt 2 tablespoons of butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat until it’s completely liquid.
- Sprinkle 2 tablespoons of all-purpose flour into the melted butter and whisk constantly for 1 minute to create a thick paste.
- Pour in 1 cup of chicken broth slowly while whisking to prevent lumps from forming.
- Add 1 cup of milk to your saucepan and keep whisking until the mixture reaches a smooth, thickened consistency, which takes about 5 to 7 minutes at medium heat.
- Remove the saucepan from heat and stir in 1/2 teaspoon of salt, 1/4 teaspoon of pepper, and 1/2 cup of shredded cheddar cheese until everything melts together into one cohesive sauce.
- Pour this entire cheese sauce over your chicken and broccoli, making sure every piece gets coated.
- Cover the top completely with 1/2 cup of bread crumbs spread in an even layer.
- Slide your dish into the 350°F oven and bake for 25 minutes until the sauce bubbles at the edges and the bread crumb topping turns golden brown.
- Let your casserole rest on the counter for 3 to 5 minutes before you serve it so the sauce sets slightly.
Notes
- Cook your chicken pieces until they’re just done before assembling, since they’ll continue cooking in the oven and won’t dry out this way.
- Whisk your sauce constantly while adding the milk to avoid lumps, and if it does get lumpy, strain it through a fine mesh before pouring over the dish.
- Toss your bread crumbs with melted butter before sprinkling them on top so they brown evenly and get crispy rather than staying pale.
- For a gluten-free version, swap the flour for cornstarch or a gluten-free flour blend and use gluten-free bread crumbs, keeping the same amounts and cooking time.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 32-34 minutes
- Category: Baked Chicken
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 278 kcal
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 370 mg
- Fat: 14 g
- Saturated Fat: 7 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 5 g
- Trans Fat: 0.3 g
- Carbohydrates: 15 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 24 g
- Cholesterol: 65 mg