Chicken Divan is a layered casserole of roasted broccoli, cauliflower and sliced chicken breasts smothered in a decadent red-wine-Parmesan-cream-sauce.
With sliced almonds, roasted red peppers, onions and garlic, it is not the old school Chicken Divan made with canned soup and sherry. . . Do people still make that?
Sometimes I think I was born in the wrong generation. Send me back to the time when casseroles were all the rage and I will fully embrace the habit.
Plunk down a well-made casserole and a dinner plate holding a piece of meat, a starch and a vegetable and I will dive head first straight for the casserole.
Every. Single. Time.
The bottom layer of this old-fashioned casserole is made of roasted broccoli and cauliflower tossed with sautéed roasted red peppers, onions and garlic.
Cooked, thinly-sliced chicken is layered over top, followed by a smattering of almonds. To tie everything together a creamy sauce made with chicken stock, milk, half & half, parmesan cheese and red wine is poured over top.
To catch all that divinely rich sauce serve over a bed of fluffy couscous, quinoa or rice.
Chicken Divan is a layered casserole of roasted broccoli, cauliflower and sliced chicken breasts smothered in a decadent red-wine-Parmesan-cream-sauce.
Ingredients
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Season chicken with salt and pepper. Bake until cooked through. Add broccoli and cauliflower to a large roasting pan or baking sheet. Drizzle 2-3 tablespoons oil over top, season with salt and pepper then spread out so they are in one layer. Roast 25-30 minutes or until fork tender.
- Meanwhile in a large skillet saute onion, red pepper and garlic in a tablespoon or two of olive oil until tender about 10 minutes. Butter a 9x11 or 9x13 baking dish. Toss the onion mixture with broccoli and cauliflower, spread out evenly in pan. Allow chicken to rest 5-10 minutes then slice lengthwise into thin slices. Arrange over top of the vegetables so the entire pan is covered. Sprinkle almonds over top.
- In a medium saucepan melt butter over medium-low heat, whisk in flour, cook 4 minutes, whisking continuously. Slowly whisk in chicken broth, then milk, then half & half, bring to a simmer, cook 5 minutes while constantly whisking, whisk in red wine, then 1/2 cup of the Parmesan cheese; remove from heat. Whisk in nutmeg, 1/2 teaspoon sea salt, and a few cracks of black pepper. Pour cream sauce over chicken. Sprinkle with remaining 1/3 cup Parmesan.
- Bake until bubbly all over 25-30 minutes. Meanwhile cook couscous, rice or quinoa. Allow casserole to set 5 minutes before serving.
The winner of my cookbook giveaway Mint, Cinnamon & Blossom Water, Flavours of Cyprus, Kopiaste is Kirsten @ From Kirsten’s Kitchen to Yours. Congrats Kirsten and thanks to all who entered! And a special thank-you to Ivy @ Kopiaste for providing her beautiful cookbook to giveaway.
ooooh looks good
Is that a mini-casserole dish with a matching lid??? How cool is that little guy!
I haven’t made Chicken Divan in ages…your version sounds delicious. Like you, I love a good casserole!
I’ve never had this – and for someone who makes chicken twice (even three times) a week – I am amazed that it slipped through. This takes the humble chicken breast and makes it into a full-fledged comfort-machine.
A friend of mine once she cooked chicken divan for me and I loved it. I was trying to find a good recipe for this one, but I couldn’t. i am keeping this Reeni to try it, because it looks delicious and I am sure just like everything you make it will taste equally delicious!