Lunch / Dinner
Cheesy Chicken Divan
Broccoli and Cheddar are a match made in heaven. A toasty topping of bread crumbs and almonds takes this saucy casserole to the next level.
Invented at and named for a New York hotel restaurant in the early twentieth century, this easy casserole has stood the test of time, and is now an established classic. These days, it’s common to make the filling using canned soup as a shortcut, but originally — and in this recipe — a creamy sauce called a Mornay is created by adding Parmesan and Cheddar cheeses to a béchamel base of butter, flour, and milk. Before adding the milk, cook the butter and flour mixture until browned for extra nutty flavor.
A toasted, crispy topping of panko bread crumbs and almonds makes this dish special. Flaky and unevenly shaped, panko is a favorite coating for Japanese fried foods, and makes a great casserole topping. Pouring melted butter over the top gives the dish a toasty finish.
Ingredients
BLANCH:
MELT:
TOP:
Test Kitchen Tip
Update this classic casserole by replacing the usual canned soup base with a rich and cheesy sauce. A roux of flour and browned butter helps thicken it.
Instructions
Preheat oven to 375°. Coat a 2-qt. baking dish with unsalted butter.
Blanch broccoli in a large pot of boiling salted water until tender, about 3 minutes; drain.
Melt 4 Tbsp. butter in a large saucepan over medium-high heat. Whisk in flour; cook until browned and fragrant, 2 minutes.
Slowly whisk in milk. Stir in Cheddar, ½ cup Parmesan, Dijon, paprika, and garlic powder. Cook sauce until thickened, 4–5 minutes; season with salt and pepper.
Stir in chicken and broccoli; transfer mixture to prepared dish.
Top casserole with panko, almonds, and remaining ¼ cup Parmesan. Melt remaining 2 Tbsp. butter and pour over top of casserole.
Bake casserole until topping is golden, 25–30 minutes. Serve casserole with hot rice or buttered egg noodles.
To keep the butter from melting in your hand, fold back the wrapper and hold it as you butter the dish.
Form a roux of butter and flour and cook until flour browns, to thicken the sauce and give it nuttier flavor.
Pour melted butter over the dish before baking. It adds flavor and gives the almonds a toasted look.
Nutritional Facts
Nutritional Facts
Per serving
Calories: 495
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 29g 44%
Saturated Fat 16g 80%
Cholesterol 131mg 43%
Sodium 511mg 21%
Carbs 16g 5%
Fiber 1g 4%
Protein 42g
*Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.