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Chicken Divan
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Chicken Divan
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Chicken Divan

A staple of mid-century dinner parties, this from-scratch chicken divan skips the canned soup entirely. You'll build a simple, velvety sauce using a quick butter roux, whipping cream, and a splash of white wine for depth. Layered over tender broccoli and sliced chicken breast, the whole dish gets a quick trip under the broiler until the parmesan topping turns golden and bubbly. It's rich, comforting, and surprisingly fast to pull together.

Prep
15 min
Cook
15 min
Total
30 min
Servings
6

Ingredients

  • 2 lb fresh broccoli
  • ¼ cup butter
  • ¼ cup all-purpose flour
  • ⅛ teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • 1 ½ cups chicken broth (for homemade broth, see page 528 )
  • 1 cup grated or shredded Parmesan cheese (4 oz)
  • ½ cup whipping cream
  • 2 tablespoons dry white wine or chicken broth
  • 6 large slices cooked chicken or turkey breast, ¼ inch thick ( ¾ lb)

Instructions

  1. 1Cut the fresh broccoli into half-inch florets and boil in a saucepan with an inch of water for 5 minutes. Drain well and set aside.
  2. 2In the same saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat. Stir in the flour and nutmeg, cooking constantly until smooth and bubbly. Cooking the raw flour taste out here ensures a better sauce. Remove from the heat and whisk in the chicken broth.
  3. 3Return the saucepan to the heat and bring the mixture to a boil while stirring constantly. Let it boil for 1 minute to thicken, then remove from the heat. Stir in half a cup of the Parmesan cheese, the whipping cream, and the white wine.
  4. 4Preheat your broiler. Arrange the warm broccoli in an ungreased 11x7-inch broiler-safe baking dish. Layer the cooked chicken breast slices over the broccoli, then pour the cheese sauce evenly over the top.
  5. 5Sprinkle the remaining half cup of Parmesan cheese over the dish. Place under the broiler, about 3 to 5 inches from the heat source, for roughly 3 minutes until the cheese is bubbly and lightly browned. Let the casserole cool slightly before serving.

Notes

  • Safety: Do not use a glass baking dish for this recipe. It cannot withstand the direct heat from the broiler and may shatter. Stick to metal or broiler-safe ceramic.
  • Swap: If you prefer not to use white wine, substitute it with an equal amount of extra chicken broth.
  • Prep: This is a great way to use up leftover roast chicken or Thanksgiving turkey.