My Mom’s Chicken Divan Is So Good, I Make It All the Time

There are a few dishes I will forever associate with my mom: devilled eggs, pot roast, and the classic casserole, chicken Divan. Growing up, my mom made chicken Divan so often and with such enthusiasm that I thought she had invented it. We even called it “Chicken Alice” because it was, for all intents and purposes, her signature dish.

What Is Chicken Divan?

The original chicken Divan was created in the early 1900s at the Divan Parisienne Restaurant in Hotel Chatham in New York City, and it probably more closely resembled this skillet version of the dish than the casserole most of us know and love.

In its casserole form, chicken Divan combines shredded chicken and broccoli in a creamy sauce topped with a crispy cracker crumb topping. During the 1950s, the casserole was so popular that a recipe for it was printed on Campbell’s Soup can labels.

My Mom’s Chicken Divan

I still crave the comforting predictability of chicken Divan on cold days. It’s also a great choice for busy weeknight dinners because you just load everything in a casserole dish and let the magic happen in the oven. 

I like to stick to the recipe I learned from my mom (who eventually shared that “her” recipe came from the Southern Junior League Cookbook), which includes the basic elements—chicken, broccoli, and cream of chicken soup—seasoned with a little curry powder and white wine.

I’ve seen many recipes that omit these last two ingredients, but I feel strongly that they are non-negotiables that add essential flavor to what is otherwise a pretty one-note casserole. That said, if you don’t drink alcohol, feel free to omit the wine.

Tweaking and Serving Chicken Divan

Served over rice or, my favorite, egg noodles, chicken Divan is its own satisfying meal, but to get it to an entertaining-worthy level, you could add a simple green salad or an easy cucumber salad. 

There’s also some versatility built into the recipe format. You can poach your own chicken breasts or use rotisserie chicken or roast turkey. You could swap half the broccoli for cauliflower florets, add sautéed mushrooms, or switch up the Ritz cracker topping for panko or even crispy fried shallots. 

To prepare chicken Divan in advance, make the casserole without the cracker topping, and store in the refrigerator. Bring to room temperature and top with cracker topping before baking. No matter how you make it, you’ll be met with a hearty, comforting dinner with about 10 minutes of hands-on time and 45 minutes of cooking.