• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Home
  • Start Here
  • Contact
  • Shop
  • Nav Social Menu

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
Serving Up Southern

Serving Up Southern

  • Simple Home
    • Crafts & DIY’s
    • Decor
    • Homemaking
    • Laundry
    • Gardening
  • Recipe Box
  • Simple Life
    • At Home – Simple Southern Sundays
    • Everyday Life
    • Faith
    • Holidays/Seasonal
      • Valentine’s Day
      • Easter
      • 4th of July
      • Fall Recipes
      • Thanksgiving
      • Christmas
Home | Chicken/Poultry | Vintage 1960 Chicken Divan

Vintage 1960 Chicken Divan

By Kim | 6 Comments | this post may contain affiliate links. Please read my Disclosure here.

53shares
  • Share
  • Email

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.

Baked chicken divan in a white casserole on a white wood surface.

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?

  • White casserole dish filled with lightly steamed broccoli
  • White casserole dish filled with lightly steamed broccoli and chicken.
  • 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.
White casserole dish of chicken divan waiting to be baked..

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. ;)

Just out of the oven baked Chicken Divan in a white casserole dish with a dish towel on a white wood surface.

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.

Chicken Divan plated on a white plate with a silver fork on a wooden surface.

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?

Just out of the oven baked Chicken Divan in a white casserole dish with a dish towel on a white wood surface.

Vintage 1950 Chicken Divan

A classic chicken casserole made using broccoli, chicken, and a rich sauce.
5 from 1 vote
Print Pin Rate
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 30 minutes
Total Time: 50 minutes
Servings: 6

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 tab 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.

Notes

 
© SERVING UP SOUTHERN – All images are copyright protected.
Pinterest graphic of delicious Chicken Divan just baked in a white casserole dish.
Three image collage Pinterest graphic of Chicken Divan in a casserole dish and on a plate.
53shares
  • Share
  • Email

Looking For More Inspiration?

Broccoli Cheese Casserole Recipe

Broccoli Cheese Casserole

Chicken Noodle Soup

Chicken Noodle Soup

Slow Cooker BBQ Chicken Sliders served on a plate.

Slow Cooker BBQ Chicken Sliders

Filed Under: Chicken/Poultry, Easy Recipes, Main Dish

subscribe to get the latest

By subscribing to our newsletter, you consent to receive new post updates and occasional promotional emails related to our company.

Previous Post: « Homemade Egg Drop Soup
Next Post: Cucumber Tea Sandwiches »

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




Comments

  1. Paula@SweetPea says

    January 13, 2020 at 6:55 am

    This is one of my all time favorite casseroles! I am going to make this one night this week and can’t wait!

    Reply
    • Kim at Serving Up Southern says

      January 15, 2020 at 12:07 pm

      Hi Paula!
      It’s one of our favorites too! I hope you enjoy! ;)

      Reply
  2. Susan says

    January 14, 2020 at 11:54 pm

    I remember my mom making this for dinner. I love the pictures.

    Reply
    • Kim at Serving Up Southern says

      January 15, 2020 at 12:09 pm

      Thanks, Sue!
      I always loved it when my mom made this for supper!

      Reply
  3. Jo Gibson says

    March 1, 2021 at 9:30 pm

    5 stars
    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.

    Reply
    • Kim says

      March 1, 2021 at 10:29 pm

      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!

      Reply

Primary Sidebar

Hey! It is nice to meet you!

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter

Never miss a post

Search by Category

Footer

let’s stay connected!

  • Facebook
  • Google+
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter

join our community

copyright & sharing of content

I love it when you share! Please keep in mind that all images and written content on this site are property of Serving Up Southern. Feel free to use ONE of my photos (with watermark) provided that credit is given to this blog with a link back to my original post. Absolutely no alterations of photos are permitted, which includes editing, text overlays, cropping, or removing any watermarks. All printables (free or otherwise) are for personal use only and may not be sold, altered, or uploaded to another site. Do not use recipe or project instructions, please link back to original post. Please feel free to pin away: Pinning is always welcomed and very much appreciated (if a source is given outside of this website, please pin from the original source out of courtesy to the owner of the image).

amazon affiliate disclosure

Serving Up Southern is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.

This error message is only visible to WordPress admins

Error: No connected account.

Please go to the Instagram Feed settings page to connect an account.

Copyright © 2021 by Serving Up Southern · Privacy Policy

This website uses cookies to improve your experience. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. Cookie settingsACCEPT
Privacy & Cookies Policy

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled

Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.

Non-necessary

Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.

SAVE & ACCEPT