My Mom’s Chicken Divan recipe is so delicious and healthier than traditional recipes, made with rice, broccoli, chicken and a creamy curry sauce.
Want more chicken dishes? Try Thai Chicken Lettuce Wraps, Chicken Tetrazzini, Chicken and Dumplings, or Chicken Pot Pie!
Why I love this meal:
- Family Favorite – My kids love my mom’s Chicken Divan recipe as much as I did at their age. It’s the kind of healthier comfort food we crave in the cooler months.
- Healthier – Traditional Chicken Divan is loaded with cheese, sour cream, and bread crumbs, but I far prefer this lighter version! There is so much flavor in the simple homemade sauce and it hits the spot every time.
- Make Ahead – You can prep this entire meal in the morning and put it in the fridge until you’re ready to bake it for dinner. The leftovers are also great for meal-prep.
How to Make Chicken Divan:
Cook Rice according to package instructions. Set aside.
Make Sauce: In a small saucepan whisk together milk and cornstarch then add butter, bouillon, salt, pepper, onion powder, garlic powder and parsley. Cook over medium heat until it starts to thicken. Remove from heat then stir in mayonnaise, lemon juice and curry powder.
Cook Chicken: Season the chicken on both sides with salt and pepper and cook in a hot skillet until no longer pink, flipping once. Allow the chicken to rest for 5 minutes before chopping into pieces.
Assemble Casserole: Spoon the cooked rice into a 9×13” pan or similar size casserole dish. Add cooked chicken and steamed broccoli on top of the rice
Bake: Spoon sauce over the top of the chicken and rice. Bake at 350 F for 30 minutes.
Serve hot with a green salad on the side and some artisan bread.
Make Ahead Instructions:
To Make Ahead: All elements of the recipe could be made ahead and stored separately; cooked rice, cooked chicken, steamed broccoli, and sauce, and assembled when desired. Prepare this chicken divan with curry up to 2 days ahead of time (depending on freshness of ingredients) and store covered, in the fridge. Remove from fridge 30 minutes before baking, then bake as directed.
Recipe Variations:
- More Veggies: Substitute, or add, any of your favorite sautéed or steamed vegetables.
- Sauce: The older version of this recipe included cream of chicken soup, in place of a homemade sauce. To use that recipe, omit the first 9 sauce ingredients, and instead, mix 2 cans of cream of chicken soup with mayo, curry powder and lemon juice.
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Recipe
Chicken Divan
Ingredients
- 2 large boneless skinless chicken breasts , or about 7 chicken tenders
- 2 cups long-grain wild rice or white or brown rice
- 2-3 cups fresh broccoli florets* , steamed
Sauce:*
- 2 cups milk
- 1/4 cup cornstarch
- 3 Tablespoons butter
- 2 teaspoons chicken bouillon paste
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/4 teaspoon dried parsley flakes
- 1 cup mayonnaise (or plain Greek yogurt)
- 1 teaspoon curry powder , or more, to taste
- 2 teaspoons lemon juice
Instructions
- Cook rice according to package instructions. Set aside.
- Make Sauce: In a small saucepan whisk together milk and cornstarch. Add butter, bouillon, salt, pepper, onion powder, garlic powder and parsley. Cook over medium heat until it starts to thicken. Remove from heat and stir in mayonnaise, lemon juice and curry powder.
- Cook Chicken: Season the chicken on both sides with salt and pepper and cook in a hot skillet until no longer pink, flipping once. Allow the chicken to rest for 5 minutes before chopping into pieces.
- Assemble Casserole: Spoon the cooked rice into a 9×13'' pan or similar size casserole dish. Add cooked chicken and steamed broccoli on top of the rice.
- Spoon Sauce over the top of the chicken and rice.
- Bake at 350 F for 30 minutes
Notes
Macros Recipe Adaptation
Unsweetened almond milk, 1.5 lb raw boneless skinless chicken breasts, 3 cups broccoli, nonfat greek yogurt, use cooked brown rice.Per Serving Amount
217 gramsMacros
250kcal, Fat: 9g, Carbs: 19g, Protein: 24g (serves 8) | MFP: Chicken Divan (TBFS Macros)Nutrition
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*I originally shared this recipe March 2014. Updated November 2018 and August 2023.
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I made this recipe, but I used the 2 cans of soup with 1 cup of fat free greek yogurt. However, I know I did something wrong as the sauce was too thick and did not bubble. I do not know what I did wrong. I know now I should have added maybe milk to my mixture. Please advise as I would like to make this dish again the correct way.
This took me a long time to make but it was worth it. My family loved it and it serves about 15 people. It first I thought the sauce was too salty but it was fine once I spread it over the casserole.
Tip when you’re making the sauce, make sure to stir constantly, and it’d be a good idea to get someone to help you while you make the chicken. Other this was a great dish!!
I was saving the recipe, it sounds delicious and looks easy too!! Great combo. When doubling or tripling does the number of cream of chicken soup cans change? In the notes the number stays at two. I really look forward to making this recipe.
Great question and good catch on that! Yes, you’ll need to double or triple the amount in the notes! Let me know how it turns out for you!
I lost my original recipe and found yours! Yay! It is very good and a pretty simple dish that everyone loves. It’s perfect for leftovers, too. I love the tastes of lemon and curry together, and now I use 1 tablespoon of lemon.
And if you don’t have cream of chicken soup, you can use cream of brocolli soup or cream of mushroom soup and it always comes out good.
This meal is truly DELICIOUS!I have prepared it for family that has been making their own versions of Chicken Divan and they actually prefer this recipe to their 30 year+ recipes!
(I substitute turkey for chicken for our dietary needs).
Thank you so much for this fabulous recipe!
It’s the lady who didn’t have curry powder!
I went and bought curry powder, used the homemade cream of chicken soup recipe linked, and WOW!
This dish is delicious! I can’t WAIT for leftovers, it was a phenomenal, easy, comforting dish
Ok, I didn’t have any curry powder so I opted for a snooch of poultry spice in the sauce instead, and didn’t have the right size pan, but this recipe was delicious and my kids ate A LOT and fought over who got the leftovers too!
I put the (cooked and drained) broccoli in a food processor, as some people don’t like the chunks, but processed, ok.. I also add 1 1/2 C C Cheddar, and top with buttered croutons..
Hi, I was wondering if you ever tried freezing this dish? I love this recipe and would love to make it for a friend as a freezer casserole. Thanks.
This has become my go to quick and easy dinner, because it is delicious and I always have all the ingredients. Thank you for another yummy recipe.
(Also I’ve made this with just the sauce and chicken bake, and left the rice out of the baking, when I forgot to hit start on the rice cooker 🤦♀️..but timing worked out perfect. Rice finished in the cooker and bake came out of the oven at the same time and then just scooped the sauce on top of the rice and it was delicious! )
Thanks so much Kristi–I’m happy you’ve liked it! <3
I just wanted to say that I have been searching for a meal plan resource for a while now. I have acquired “memberships”, etc, and still find myself having to do so much planning and research. I wanted someone else to tell me what to make, provide the recipe and I can do the rest. I haven’t made any of the recipes yet, but I am already so excited and relieved to have this big helper. I downloaded the 5 week meal plan and can’t wait to get cooking. Thank you
I’m so happy you found me! I can’t wait to hear how you like the 5-week meal plan!
Super easy and the family loved it
This did not go over super well with our family. It was alright. But be warned, it makes A LOT so if you’ve never had it or you’re unsure maybe start by halving the recipe. Me, husband and two young kids (4 & 3) who are not very picky maybe ate a third of the casserole dish. I am really appreciating these meal plans though and it’s never bad to try something new!!
Sooooo delicious, my mother made a similar recipe when I was growing up. Yours is better!! Thanks for the wonderful recipe.
Just fabulous! I used your cream of chicken recipe with almond milk. It was so easy and it worked out great! I forgot to double the recipe for soup but it was still so tasty.
So wonderful to have healthy choices like greek yogurt and homemade soup, thank you!
Next time I will try it with homemade mayo just to see the difference.
So delicious, healthy comfort food! A-plus.
Wonderful to hear! Thanks so much for the positive comment.
This was my favorite meal growing up! We called it chicken broccoli casserole and our recipe is basically identical to yours. I’ve never seen it outside my family.
I made this last week for my family of boys and everyone absolutely loved it. The sauce is so good, and I love how easy it was. I used a box of wild rice and some cooked white rice that I had leftover in the fridge.
Sounds good. I need some healthy stuff in my life. I’ve never had this before, although I have heard of it. Kathleen @ Fearlessly Creative Mammas
Is this really Chris’s favorite?? My whole family makes fun of me because it is my favorite meal! (Not the skinny version though, haha)! Ours never had bread crumbs in it though. Its fun how there are so many different variations of a classic!
It looks delicious. I’ve never had this dish. I think my kids will enjoy it.
I love chicken divan! But I use miracle whip and a little brown sugar.
This is one of our families favorite recipes (not the skinny version) – in fact I was just talking to my mom about it and she’s making it for family dinner on Sunday. I’m gonna have to pass this version of it on to her! Thanks lady!
This looks so yum! I love cooking with broccoli. My kids actually love it too!