This is an easy casserole full of delicious chicken, creamy sauce, perfectly cooked broccoli and the most amazing butter cracker topping to add a perfect touch of texture. You'll find yourself coming back to it again and again for a perfect weeknight option! We love casseroles not only because they're easy to throw together, but because they're so delicious! This classic chicken divan features broccoli, chicken and a creamy sauce made from scratch with original ingredients like cheddar cheese, sour cream and a hint of mustard. It's a delicious upgrade from the usual!
For more casserole ideas, try our Chicken Cordon Bleu Casserole or us Delicious Taco Casserole.
Why our recipe?
- Our recipe uses a sauce made from scratch instead of canned soup.
- You can't go wrong with that buttery ritz cracker topping!
- This casserole can be made ahead of time and stored until ready to bake, making a perfect meal prep option.
Casseroles are the epitome of comfort and convenience and this one is no exception! Preparation time is not long, and assembly will take you only a few minutes. If you want to make this ahead of time, it's super easy to prepare ahead of time and then refrigerate or freeze until you're ready to bake it!
Material notes
- Chicken: Rotisserie chicken is a great time saver here, but any leftover cooked chicken will work. You will need about 2 pounds or roughly 4 cups of chicken.
- Frozen Broccoli: There's no need to thaw them beforehand – they'll cook perfectly in the oven. If you prefer fresh broccoli, you can substitute it, but steam for 7 minutes to soften the florets before layering.
- Staffing: We do not recommend any particular brand of stuffing, so feel free to get your family's favorite brand.
- Sour Cream: If you need an alternative, Greek yogurt works equally well.
- Cheddar cheese: Sharp cheddar is ideal for this recipe, but a mild cheddar or other cheese such as Gruyere or Monterey Jack also works.
- Ritz Crackers: We recommend using Ritz crackers for the casserole topping, but you can use a standard breadcrumb topping instead if you prefer!
- Mayonnaise: If you're not a fan of mayo, you can use an equal amount of plain Greek yogurt or more sour cream.
- Lemon: For this recipe, you will need the juice of two medium sized lemons. If you don't have lemons, you can also use bottled lemon juice in a pinch, but we recommend a fresh squeeze if you really want that tangy, citrus flavor.
making the sauce
One of the best parts of this casserole is the sauce, which is perfectly creamy with a slight tang from the lemon juice and sour cream. Many other casseroles use a can of creamed soup to make the sauce, but taking the extra step to make your own sauce will make such a huge difference that you'll never want to use premade sauce again! Making the sauce isn't complicated, and all it takes is some stirring and heating on the stove. So!
Make Ahead Option
This meal is a great option if you're looking to meal prep for a busy day later in the week. You can make this casserole up to 24 hours ahead of time and then store it in the refrigerator until you're ready to bake it. If you use this method, you'll need to bake it a little longer, about an hour total.
If you want to make it further in advance, you can freeze the casserole before baking it. Cover the casserole with several layers of plastic wrap or foil, and you can store it in your freezer for up to three months. Thaw in the refrigerator overnight before baking and then you need to cover it with foil for the first 30 minutes it's in the oven. Once you remove the foil, cook uncovered for another 45-55 minutes.
Storage and reheating instructions
Keep in fridge Leftovers in an airtight container up to 7 days.
to freeze Store leftovers in an airtight container or resealable plastic freezer bag. Thaw overnight in the fridge.
Reheat Microwave parts in 30-second increments, stirring in between for even heating.
