Dinner / Casseroles & pot pies
Chicken Divan with Curry Cream Sauce
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A pinch of curry warms the cream sauce without announcing itself. Bright broccoli, tender chicken, a crisp Parmesan crumb, and nothing from a can.
The short version
Blanch the broccoli for 2 minutes so it stays green, make a quick cream sauce with curry, lemon and mayonnaise, fold in chicken, layer with the broccoli, and top with Parmesan crumbs. Bake at 375°F for about 25 minutes. Use rotisserie chicken and it all happens in about an hour.
What makes ours better
the tricks Nonna pretends she never taught me
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Blanch the broccoli first. Two minutes in boiling water and an ice bath keeps it bright green and just tender. Raw broccoli baked in sauce goes army-green and mushy before the casserole is hot.
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Add curry powder and lemon to the sauce. It's the old-fashioned divan signature. You won't taste curry so much as a warm, rounded depth, and the lemon keeps the cream from feeling heavy.
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Stir mayonnaise into the sauce at the end. A few spoonfuls make the sauce silky and help it brown at the edges. This is a classic divan move and it works.
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Make the sauce from scratch. Butter, flour, broth and milk take five minutes, taste like chicken instead of a can, and let you decide how much salt goes in.
What you need
the cast, in order of appearance
- Broccoli crowns1½ pounds
- Unsalted butter4 tablespoons
- All-purpose flour⅓ cup
- Sharp cheddar1 cup
- Mayonnaise¼ cup
- Shredded cooked chicken4 cups
- Panko or fresh bread crumbs¾ cup
- Grated Parmesan½ cup
Casserole
Topping
yes, all of the butter
Steps
deep breath. you’ve got this.
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Heat the oven, boil the water
Heat the oven to 375°F with a rack in the middle. Butter a 9×13-inch baking dish. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and set a bowl of ice water next to it.
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Blanch the broccoli
Drop the florets into the boiling water for 2 minutes, until bright green and barely tender. Lift them out with a spider or drain, plunge them into the ice water for a minute, then drain very well and spread in the baking dish.
Pat the florets dry. Water clinging to them thins the sauce.
About 2 min. Cook mode has a timer for this step.
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Cook the onion and flour
Melt the butter in a large saucepan over medium heat. Add the onion, if using, and cook until soft, about 4 minutes. Stir in the flour and curry powder and cook, stirring, for 1 minute, until it smells toasty.
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Make the sauce
Whisk in the broth a little at a time, then the milk, until smooth. Bring to a simmer and cook, whisking, for 3 to 4 minutes, until it coats the back of a spoon. Stir in the salt and pepper.
About 4 min. Cook mode has a timer for this step.
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Finish the sauce and add the chicken
Take the pan off the heat. Stir in the cheddar until melted, then the mayonnaise and lemon juice. Fold in the chicken and taste for salt.
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Assemble and top
Spoon the chicken and sauce over the broccoli, spreading it to the edges. Toss the panko, Parmesan and melted butter in a small bowl and scatter over the top.
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Bake
Bake 22 to 28 minutes, until the sauce bubbles at the edges and the topping is golden. If the top isn't browned, run it under the broiler for 1 minute, watching closely.
About 25 min. Cook mode has a timer for this step.
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Rest
Let the casserole rest for 5 minutes. It'll be easier to serve and the sauce thickens slightly. Good over rice or egg noodles.
About 5 min. Cook mode has a timer for this step.
Good to know
the stuff I’d tell you over the phone
- No rotisserie chicken? Simmer 1½ pounds of boneless chicken breasts in lightly salted water for 12 to 15 minutes, until the thickest part reads 165°F, then shred.
- Skip the curry if you must, but it's the thing that makes this divan. Start with 1 teaspoon if you're nervous.
- Make ahead by assembling without the topping, covering, and chilling up to 1 day. Add the topping and add 10 minutes to the bake.
- A splash of dry sherry or white wine, 2 tablespoons, added to the sauce with the broth is a classic and welcome.
- Storage. Fridge, 4 days. Freezer, 2 months, though the broccoli softens. Reheat covered at 350°F for 20 minutes, then uncover for 5 to re-crisp the top.
Questions, answered
the questions my cousins text me
What is chicken divan?
A baked casserole of chicken and broccoli in a cream and cheese sauce with a crumb or Parmesan topping. The classic version has a hint of curry and sometimes sherry.
Can I use frozen broccoli?
Yes. Thaw it and squeeze it dry, or roast it straight from frozen at 425°F for 10 minutes, then use it in place of the blanched broccoli. It will be softer.
Why is my casserole watery?
Wet broccoli is the usual cause. Drain and pat dry after blanching, and make sure the sauce is thick enough to coat a spoon before you assemble.
Can I make it ahead?
Yes. Assemble without the topping, chill up to a day, then add the topping and bake 10 minutes longer.
Can I leave out the mayonnaise?
Yes. Use 3 tablespoons of sour cream or plain yogurt stirred in off the heat, or leave it out. It will be a little less rich.
From the table
Made it? I want the full report: first bite, best compliment, and who tried to take the leftovers home.
Made it?
be honest. I can take it. probably.
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Published October 29, 2026.