Vintage 1960 Chicken Divan
Chicken Divan is a classic chicken casserole. This vintage family recipe goes back to 1960 and has stood the test of time – I’m still making it and still getting compliments.
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This Chicken Divan will get you enthusiastic compliments every time you serve it. My mom makes this dish, I make it, and now my daughter makes it for her family. Family and friends have been enjoying this dish for decades.
Because it’s easy to make, it’s a great go-to recipe for weeknights, yet it’s also perfect for serving guests, and believe me, they will love it!
What’s Is It?
Chicken Divan is a favorite casserole recipe consisting of layered broccoli and chicken topped with a rich, creamy, and cheesy sauce, then baked till hot and bubbly.
Where did Chicken Divan originate?
Created in the Divan Parisien Restaurant in the New York City Chatham Hotel, the dish was named after the place of its invention, where it was served as the signature dish in the early twentieth century.
The chef who created and received an award from the hotel for the dish was Anthony Lagasi. All the chefs of the hotel restaurant initially made it even though it’s uncertain who all they were. In french divan refers to a great hall or meeting place. It is believed that the name was given to imply elegance and bring attention to the restaurant’s owners.
By the late ’50s, Chicken Divan had become a home cook’s staple and remains one of the most classic American casserole dishes today. Since then, different variations of the recipe have been created.
How Do You Make Chicken Divan?
- Broccoli Layer:
First, you will add a layer of steamed broccoli. I prefer to use broccoli crowns because we don’t like the stems. - Chicken Layer:
Add chicken that has been thoroughly cooked. I bake mine in a covered dish in the oven. After baking, cut into bite-size pieces, or you can shred it if you prefer. - Sauce Layer:
After mixing your sauce, you will spread this over the top of the chicken. Sometimes, I heat my sauce enough to melt the cheese, but you don’t have to.
How to Bake Chicken Divan with Curry
It’s easy. You just put it in a preheated 350° oven and bake for about 30 minutes or until the edges are bubbly.
What Goes With This Dish?
I fix Basmati rice to go with this yummy dish. The rice goes perfectly with the creamy sauce. I round out the fixin’s with applesauce or red beets – with my family, it’s usually both. ;)
Although I like it best with chicken breast and fresh steamed broccoli, if you’d like, you can use rotisserie chicken or frozen broccoli that has been thawed or both. If you use frozen broccoli, you won’t need to steam it ahead of time.
Can Chicken Divan be made ahead of time and frozen?
Yes to both! You can make it the day or night before you plan to serve it. Cover it and place it in the fridge. Take it out about an hour before you plan to bake it. When ready to bake, remove the cover and bake as directed.
Or…
You can prep, bake, cool, and then freeze for up to three months. When you’re ready, take it out of the freezer about an hour before baking, then place in preheated oven and reheat until thoroughly heated.
You might also like trying out my Crock Pot Roasted Chicken and my Sweet and Sour Meatballs.
Have you had this Chicken Divan before? What sides would you like with it?
Vintage 1950 Chicken Divan
Ingredients
- 2-3 bunches fresh broccoli 2 – 10-ounce boxes frozen can be used
- 3 boneless chicken breast or 2 cups sliced rotisserie chicken
- 2 10 ounce cans cream of chicken soup
- 1 cup mayonnaise
- 1 tbsp lemon juice
- 1/2 tsp curry powder I use a tad bit more
- 1/2 cup sharp cheddar cheese shredded
- 1/2 cup butter cracker crumbs
- 1 tbsp butter
- Parsley
Instructions
- Steam broccoli in a pan until tender crisp.
- Arrange broccoli in a 9×13 baking dish + place chicken on top.
- Combine soup, mayonnaise, lemon juice, cheese, and curry powder; pour over chicken.
- Combine bread crumbs, butter, and parsley, and sprinkle over top.
- Bake in a 350° oven for about 30 minutes or until thoroughly heated and bubbly.
Disclaimer: Nutritional values (per serving) are approximates only and will vary based on cooking methods and brands of ingredients used.
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This is one of my all time favorite casseroles! I am going to make this one night this week and can’t wait!
Hi Paula!
It’s one of our favorites too! I hope you enjoy! ;)
I remember my mom making this for dinner. I love the pictures.
Thanks, Sue!
I always loved it when my mom made this for supper!
Great recipe…..had never had or never made before. I had no broccoli so I used Spinach……we like spinach….and my recipe had
mayo and dijon mustard with the white sauce.
Hi Jo!
I’m so glad you liked it. I never thought of using spinach. I love how you got creative and made something you loved! That’s what cooking is all about. Thanks so much for stopping by!
Are you supposed to cut up the chicken or place it in the casserole dish uncut, as the recipe suggests? I want to make this dish tomorrow night’s dinner. I love to make 1950s dishes!
I made this for a small family get together over the holidays. We ate it over the Basmati rice you recommended. It was so good I almost fell off my chair, and I was the cook! Thank you for posting this vintage recipe and making it so clear and easy to understand.
My mother-in-law used to make chicken divan for her 4 children when they were little. And it happens to be one of my husband’s favorite childhood food memories, but I’ve had a hard time finding the old-fashioned, traditional recipe. It seems everyone has revamped it to make it ‘lighter’ or ‘healthier’. Well let me tell you, this recipe was true to form, and it hit a home run with people who’ve loved chicken divan since the 80’s. It’s PERFECT as is, but I think next time I’ll add even more cracker crumbs on top, LOL.
Thank you again. This recipe is traditional and delicious! It scored me a lot of points this Christmas :).
Hi Erica! I’m so glad you and your family loved the chicken divan. You’re so right about everyone revamping the recipe. But, sometimes, it’s better to leave well enough alone. I’m happy it scored you some extra points during the Christmas holidays.;) Thank you so much for stopping by and letting us know how y’all liked it. Happy New Year!
This has been a family favorite for decades. However, my original recipe did not include bread crumbs or parsley.
The cheddar was the topping.
My grandfather, John Paffrath, after migrating from Germany, started the Divan Parisien Restaurant in the 1920’s and actually developed the recipe with his chief chef John(who he stole from Delmonico’s steakhouse) and
an Italian waiter who introduced “Broccoli” to the hallmark dish in the late1920’s. The original dish called for Parmesan cheese and I always added a dash of Dijon mustard to the sauce for a little bite.
Bon Appetit
Dr. John
Your grandfather and his chef and waiter all created heaven on a plate. I’ve been making this for years and years.
And the Parmesan is what I use also. Will definitely add Dijon ! Thank you!
I’ve tried this recipe and it brought back so many memories! The combination of tender chicken, broccoli, and that rich, creamy sauce is the definition of comfort food. I love how you’ve kept this classic 1960 recipe alive while making it easy for modern home cooks to follow. Thanks for sharing.
My grandmother made a version of Chicken Divan with cheddar and a hint of curry back in the day, and it really is one of those comforting casseroles that never feels dated.
This vintage Chicken Divan recipe looks like the perfect blend of comfort, nostalgia, and homemade goodness! 🥦🧀 I love how classic family recipes can bring generations together around the dinner table. For more delicious menu inspiration and refreshing drink ideas, check out [7 Brew Menus](https://7brewmenus.org/). 🍽️✨
Chicken Divan is pure comfort food. My family had a similar 1960s index card version with a pinch of curry powder that we still pull out whenever the weather turns cold.
I actually started putting together a printed family recipe binder last weekend. I’ve been using GPT Image 2.5 to mock up little vintage-style mid-century kitchen sketches for each chapter, and this image generator managed to match that faded retro print aesthetic pretty well without blowing out the finer linework.
My mom used to make this for special occasions and now it’s my kids’ favorite meal. My mom’s recipe follows everything here except the cheddar cheese is optional and I don’t use it. I also toast panko or cornflake crumbs for the top instead of crackers. The curry is what takes this recipe over the top. I’d say I use almost a teaspoon. Even the pickiest eaters go back for seconds. Make it!
I’ve always loved the idea of a creamy chicken and broccoli casserole, especially since my family has been enjoying similar dishes for years. This vintage recipe sounds like it could be a great addition to our dinner rotation, even with the slight twist of curry. It’s comforting to know that a meal from 1960 can still stand the test of time and bring people together around the table.無料 テトリス ゲーム
The detail about Chicken Divan originating at the Divan Parisien Restaurant in the Chatham Hotel gives this casserole real historical grounding, and I appreciate that the recipe keeps the retro curry powder and mayo sauce rather than modernizing it. The make-ahead and freezing notes are genuinely useful for weeknight planning, and serving it with Basmati rice makes sense to soak up that creamy sauce. For a bit of light entertainment between kitchen tasks, here is something unrelated but fun: martin fighting game.
The history behind Chicken Divan is what caught my attention here, especially the detail about the Divan Parisien Restaurant and chef Anthony Lagasi. I also appreciate that the recipe keeps the curry powder modest and suggests serving it with Basmati rice, since the creamy sauce really needs something plain alongside it. Making it a day ahead sounds like a practical shortcut for a weeknight dinner. If you enjoy quick, skill-based challenges in between kitchen tasks, stunt bike extreme offers a light way to pass the time.
The detail about Chicken Divan originating at the Divan Parisien Restaurant and being named for its elegant setting adds real depth to a recipe I mostly think of as a weeknight casserole. I also appreciate the practical notes on using rotisserie chicken or thawed frozen broccoli, and the reminder that the curry powder can be increased slightly. It is helpful to know it can be assembled the night before or frozen for up to three months. For a quick break between kitchen tasks, I sometimes play scooby doo creepy run at scooby doo scary run .
I enjoyed the background on how Chicken Divan originated at the Divan Parisien Restaurant and became a home cook’s staple by the late ’50s. The tip about using broccoli crowns and making the dish ahead or freezing it for up to three months is genuinely practical. I like that the curry powder is described as adjustable, since that seems to be the flavor that divides people. For anyone who enjoys giving vintage recipes a playful visual twist, glitch gif maker is a fun little tool.
The detail that this Chicken Divan traces back to the Divan Parisien Restaurant in the Chatham Hotel, and that the family recipe itself goes back to 1960, gives the dish a nice sense of continuity. I also appreciate the practical notes about using rotisserie chicken or thawed frozen broccoli, and the make-ahead and freezing instructions make it seem very doable for a weeknight. The curry powder in the creamy sauce is what I’d be most curious to taste. For anyone who enjoys casual pet-simulation games between kitchen tasks, there’s also take care of your own shadow milk.
The detail about Chicken Divan originating at the Divan Parisien Restaurant and being named for the Chatham Hotel setting adds real depth to what is otherwise a familiar casserole. I also appreciated the practical notes on using rotisserie chicken or thawed frozen broccoli, and the make-ahead freezing instructions make this feel like a recipe I could actually fit into a busy week. The curry powder in the sauce is the small touch that sets this version apart from others I have tried. For anyone who likes turning favorite food photos into a different visual style, Wplace Pixel Art Converter is a simple related tool.
I enjoyed the backstory about Chicken Divan originating at the Divan Parisien Restaurant and becoming a home cook’s staple by the late ’50s. The tip about using rotisserie chicken or thawed frozen broccoli is practical for busy weeknights, and serving it with Basmati rice makes sense to soak up that creamy curry sauce. I also appreciate the make-ahead and freezing notes, which are helpful for planning. For anyone juggling meal prep and other tasks, daily toolbox has some handy utilities worth a look.
I enjoyed the history behind this Chicken Divan, especially the detail about the Divan Parisien Restaurant in the Chatham Hotel and chef Anthony Lagasi. The make-ahead and freezing tips are practical, and I like that the recipe notes using rotisserie chicken or frozen broccoli as shortcuts. The curry powder in the creamy sauce sounds like the detail that makes it worth repeating. For a fun break from cooking, your name in landsat nasa spells names with real NASA Landsat imagery.