If you grew up in the 70’s or 80’s you’ve probably eaten Chicken Divan. Our family calls it “Chicken, Broccoli and Rice”, and this is our favorite Chicken Divan recipe!
The story goes that Chicken Divan was made famous when created in the Divan Restaurant in the Chatham Hotel in New York City in the early to mid 1900’s. A chef working in the restaurant created this dish filled with chicken, almonds, broccoli and a creamy sauce as part of a contest to establish a signature dish for the restaurant. The dish was wildly popular, and served for years at the distinguished hotel built in 1916. Isn’t it fascinating to see the trickle down effect of one person’s creative ability and what an impact it can have on countless people around the country and even the world?!
In our little corner of the world, if you were to ask my kids what their favorite dinner was growing up, they would all say the same thing “Chicken, Broccoli and Rice”, but as I stated earlier, it is known to most as Chicken Divan. I have never served this recipe with almonds, but I attended many women’s events in the early 80’s where many a casserole, including this one, was topped with toasted almonds. It was definitely a 70’s and 80’s thing!
There are several ways to make Our Favorite Chicken Divan, the super simple canned soup route, or the made-from-scratch version. It’s one of those adult-version or kid-version recipes. When I was in a hurry, I could have dinner on the table in less than 20 minutes start to finish with the canned soup (kid) version, but the from scratch version doesn’t take much longer, and in my opinion, tastes waaay better!
My favorite way to serve this dish is to bake it in the oven after making the sauce. I love the way the dish tastes when the sauce is spread over the rice and baked for a few minutes, topped with a little bit of grated cheese. Serving it straight from the stove top works too. Oh, one more thing. If you’re looking for a way to get your kids to eat broccoli, this dish should do the trick!
Here are a few other chicken recipes your family will love!
This recipe was originally posted in 2015, updated with new content and photos in 2022
Our Favorite Chicken Divan aka Chicken, Broccoli and Rice
Ingredients
- 6-8 cups cooked rice, I like Pearl or Japanese style rice for this dish
- 4-5 cups chopped broccoli
- 1/2 cup butter
- 1/2 cup flour
- 2 teaspoons chicken base flavor , Better than Bullion
- 1 teaspoon each salt and pepper
- 4 cups milk, skim
- 1 cup mayo, regular or low fat
- 4 cups cooked chicken
- 1 cup milk
- 1-2 cups grated cheddar cheese
Alternative (kid favorite) Favorite Recipe:
- 6-8 cups cooked rice
- 4-5 cups chopped broccoli
- 4 cups chicken, about 2-3 large chicken breast halves
- 2 tablespoon olive or canola oil
- salt and pepper
- 2 can cream of chicken soup regular or low fat
- 2 cans milk
- 1 cup mayo light or regular
- 1-2 tablespoons bottled lemon juice
- 2 cups grated cheese
- more milk to thin, if necessary
Instructions
- Cook rice, set aside.
- Steam broccoli by placing on a plate or non metal pie plate with about 3 tablespoons of water, cover with a damp paper towel and microwave on high for about 3 minutes or until bright green. Remove and set aside.
- Melt butter in a large pan over medium heat. Add flour and cook while whisking and butter and flour make a smooth paste. Cook for about 2 minutes. Add one package liquid chicken flavoring and salt and pepper. Slowly add milk to the mixture a little at a time, whisking while adding milk.
- Cook until mixture thickens, about 3-4 minutes on medium-medium high heat. Continue whisking.
- Add mayo, whisking until smooth. Add broccoli, chicken and cheese. If the mixture is too thick, add an additional cup of milk until desired consistency.
- If baking (not necessary) grease a 9×13 pan. Spread cooked rice (it’s okay if it is still hot) into the dish. Pour chicken and broccoli mixture over the rice. Bake for about 20 minutes at 350 degrees. Top with additional grated cheese last ten minutes of baking.
- If serving without baking all ingredients together, scoop rice onto individual plates and spoon broccoli and chicken mixture over the top of the rice.
Alternative Favorite Recipe:
- Cut up the chicken and place in a large pan with oil over medium-high heat. Cook until no longer pink, about 3-4 minutes. Add chopped broccoli to chicken in pan, cook until broccoli is bright green (about 3 minutes) . Add salt and pepper. Whisk in the soup, milk, mayo, lemon juice and grated cheese. Continue to cook until smooth and cheese is melted, about 5 minutes.
- Serve over top of cooked rice.
Notes
- I like to use one of the following for the homemade version: Better Than Bullion or Swanson brand “Flavor Boost” 100% Natural Concentrated Broth. You may also use bullion cubes(2) or other types of chicken flavoring.
- It is not necessary to use the flavoring in the second recipe, the canned soup has plenty of chicken flavoring.
Did you make this recipe?
Be sure to leave a comment and give this recipe a rating, letting me know how you liked it. I’d love to see a photo, tag @abountifulkitchen on Instagram!
Staci DeNardi
I combined the 2 recipes and cooked the chicken and broccoli in the pan first and removed with a slotted spoon and continued with the “adult version”…BIG hit. Very good recipe. I did use a whole 2 cups of cheese since we like things cheesy here
Si Foster
Hi Staci,
All that cheese probably made it so delicious! Happy to hear that it turned out great.
XO,
Si
Marissa
Just curious, why doesn’t the grown up version call for lemon juice?
Si Foster
Hi Marissa,
It may be added if you’d like, but I usually do not. The canned soup version is quite salty and heavy, and the lemon juice lightens it up a bit!
XO
Si
Andrea Dansie
We call it “Chicken, Broccoli, and Rice” too! This was good and my kids ate it well. I don’t love mayo and am debating if there’s something I can sub for half of it. The recipe made a ton so it would be great for a gathering.
Paige Thomas
This is a regular recipe in our home! We love making the kid favorite and it’s a hit with our two very picky toddlers. My mom used to make “chicken broccoli casserole” all the time growing up and would bake it with the rice. I don’t know why I never thought to make the sauce separate from the rice and just serve over the top, but this recipe has been life changing!
Charlcie
I grew up eating this for dinner every other week. My mom never wrote down the recipe and then I stumbled upon it here. SO happy to be making it every other week for my kids now. 🤍
Kristen
I always love a good chicken and broccoli recipe! Thanks for giving two variations for it.
Gretchen Chapman
my kids ask for this often! Such a family-friendly comfort meal!
TERESA hONE
Another family favorite!! Such a classic!!
Jolene
We love this recipe!
Emily Arthur
Best way to use up a big bag of broccoli when I get them on sale! Even my picky eaters like this recipe.
Britney Ericksen
This was my favorite dish growing up, I always had it as my birthday dinner! I’ve made this before with a different recipe but yours is so much better! I feel like the mayo is the secret ingredient. Delish. Thanks!
Heidi Laing
For sure a family favorite and one of my favorite dishes to make for guests!
Kari
I made this when I saw it in the cookbook. My family loves it! I haven’t tried the short cut version, because the regular recipe is so easy! This has been added to our dinner rotation!
Kelli Davis
The best chicken and broccoli casserole! I love that there are two options to make it. I’m personally not a fan of canned cream of chicken so I was so happy to be able to create my own! This was absolutely delicious and a total comfort meal! This is one of our go to dinners!
Krystal Bovero
This recipe brings back great memories! My grandmother always made it for us. It’s a good one!
Brittni Steele
I think this has to be my favorite recipe of yours. Such a comfort food for me!
Andrea
We all really enjoyed this! I’m wondering, I’m not a huge fan of mayo; could I replace half the mayo with something else? Like sour cream?
Si Foster
Hey Andrea! You could replace the mayo with light sour cream or even just some cream. It will change the flavor slightly. Let me know how it goes!
Xo
Si
MaCail
I saw FemaleFoodie mention this recipe on Instagram so I made it tonight. I made the alternate recipe because I needed something quick. It was amazing! My family loved it! I personally had to practice self control to not over eat 😋 I served it over brown rice which was delicious. This will become a regular around our house for sure!
Tanne
Does it have to be skim milk?
Si Foster
Tanne, no it doesn’t have to be skim. Whole and 2% will work great as well!
xo
Si
Chanel
An instant pot version of this would be awesome!
Chanel
Natalie
I couldn’t find the flavor boost. So if I use the bullion cubes do I ad water to them or just put cubes in?
Si Foster
Natalie,
Just add bullion to the butter/flour/milk mixture and let it dissolve into the sauce.
Let me know how you like this!
xo,
Si
Alison
When you say canned milk, do you mean evaporated milk?
abountifulkitchen
Alison, no, just two soup cans filled with milk!
Jane Ann Ellsworth
My mom used to make the kid version. I always loved it! Thanks for the "grown-up" version.
Jen
This was always my b.day dinner choice growing up!!!; thanks for the fun memories!!!
JennyLyn
Our family favorite as well. We put 1-2 teaspoons of curry powder in ours. Yummy!
Olivia Gochnour
my mom Karalyn makes this and it is my favorite too!!
so delish. and it's your recipe! yum.