Barefoot Contessa's Chicken Divan

Ina Garten's chicken divan is a delicious mixture of chicken, broccoli, and cheese in a creamy sauce. It is also a wonderful make-ahead meal that you can reheat on a busy weeknight for your family. Here is some information about Barefoot Contessa's chicken divan and how to make it.

Ina Garten's Chicken Divan

Chicken divan is one of the best go-to dinner options because it contains your protein and vegetables in one dish. Chicken and broccoli bake in a rich and creamy sauce until warm and bubbly, making it an appealing meal for both adults and children alike.

Ina Garten's Chicken Divan Ingredients

• 5 tablespoons unsalted butter, divided, plus more for greasing
• Kosher salt, to taste
• 1 large head of broccoli, cut into 1- to 2-inch florets, tender stems peeled and cut into ½-inch slices (about 5 cups)
• 1 tablespoon chopped fresh sage
• 5 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 3 tablespoons dry sherry (or chicken broth)
• 1 cup low-sodium chicken broth
• 1 cup milk
• 1 cup heavy cream
• 1 pinch of freshly grated nutmeg
• Freshly ground pepper, to taste
• 1 bunch of scallions, chopped (about 1 cup)
• 1 ½ cups shredded gruyere cheese (about 6 ounces)
• 1 cooked 3 ½ pounds chicken, meat removed and cut into chunks, skin, and bones discarded (3 to 3 ½ cups meat)
• ½ cup sliced or slivered almonds, toasted
• ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
• ¼ cup breadcrumbs

How to Make Ina Garten's Chicken Divan 

1. Preheat the oven to 400 F.

2. Grease a shallow 3-quart casserole dish with butter.

3. Boil salted water in a large saucepan.

4. Cook the broccoli until bright green and almost tender (you want it to still have a little bite; it will continue to cook in the oven).

5. Drain well, cool under cold running water, and pat very dry.

6. Set the broccoli aside. 

7. Melt 4 tablespoon of butter in a large saucepan set over medium heat.

8. Stir the sage and flour into the melted butter and cook them for 1 minute.

9. Cook the roux, whisking frequently, for approximately 2 to 3 minutes, without letting it brown.

10. Add the sherry (or broth) and cook for 1 minute until reduced. 

11. Add the broth, milk, heavy cream, nutmeg, and salt and pepper to taste. 

12. Simmer the mixture, while whisking occasionally, until thickened, about 6 to 7 minutes.

13. Add the scallions and gruyere to the sauce and stir until the cheese is melted. Remove from the heat.

14. Toss the sauce with the broccoli, chicken, and almonds in a large bowl and toss until well combined. 

15. Pour the chicken mixture into the prepared casserole dish. 

16. Microwave the remaining 1 tablespoon butter in a small bowl. Stir in the Parmesan and breadcrumbs. 

17. Sprinkle the mixture on top of the casserole. 

18. Bake for 35 minutes or until browned and bubbly.

19. Serve with your favorite sides.

Chicken Divan With Rice

This chicken divan with cooked rice is a wonderful variation of the traditional chicken divan. The rice absorbs the sauce making the dish a heartier meal.

Chicken Divan With Rice Ingredients

• 2 (10-ounce) packages of frozen broccoli spears or florets
• 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese, divided
• 2 to 3 cups cubed cooked chicken
• 2 cups cooked rice
• 2 tablespoon unsalted butter
• 2 tablespoon all-purpose flour
• 1 cup milk
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice
• 1 cup sour cream
• Seasoned salt blend, to taste
• Freshly ground black pepper, to taste

Chicken Divan With Rice Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 400 F.
2. Follow the package directions for cooking the broccoli and allow it to drain well.
3. Place the broccoli in a 13 x 9 x 2-inch baking dish.
4. Add ½ cup of the cheddar cheese to the broccoli.
5. Place the cubed chicken on top of the broccoli.
6. Add the cooked rice on top.
7. Gently melt the butter in a saucepan set over low heat.
8. Stir in the flour.
9. Turn the heat up to medium heat, and stir the milk into the mixture and cook it, while continuously stirring, until it thickens and bubbles.
10. Add the lemon juice and remove it from the heat.
11. Fold in the sour cream and season it with the seasoned salt blend and black pepper to taste.
12. Pour the sauce over the chicken and rice. Sprinkle the top with the remaining cheese.
13. Bake for 15 to 20 minutes.

How Long Does Chicken Divan Last in the Fridge?

The leftover chicken divan can be kept in the fridge for up to 4 days. It is important to let the chicken divan casserole cool to room temperature before wrapping it with plastic wrap and storing it in the refrigerator. Furthermore, you can divide the chicken divan casserole into portions and store each one in separate containers (glass containers are recommended) before refrigerating. This will make reheating a whole lot easier.

How Long Does Chicken Divan Last in the Freezer?

Chicken divan casserole can be frozen for up to 3 months. To freeze the chicken divan, divide the casserole into medium-sized servings and place them in freezer bags, leaving a ¼ to ½ inch of space to accommodate for expansion during freezing. It is also a good idea to label the bags with the freezing date.

You can thaw frozen chicken divan portions by placing them in the refrigerator 24 to 36 hours before serving. You can also place the portions in a warm water bath to speed up the process.

How to Reheat Chicken Divan

How to Reheat Chicken Divan in the Oven

Preheat the oven to 350 F. Place the leftover chicken divan into a greased baking dish. Reheat the chicken divan for about 20 to 25 minutes or until the temperature reaches 165 F.

How to Reheat Chicken Divan in the Microwave

While you can reheat the whole chicken divan casserole in the microwave in about 2 minutes, I recommend that you reheat it in batches. Each batch will take about 30 seconds to 1 minute to reheat, stirring once to ensure it heats through evenly.

What to Serve With Ina Garten's Chicken Divan?

Cooked rice and pasta are the most popular side dishes to serve with chicken divan and they are easy to prepare. In the case of pasta, you can boil any kind you like, but I particularly love spaghetti. To serve it, you can simply pour the chicken divan on top and then eat it. If you are serving white rice with it, you can serve it in the same way. Chicken divan can also be served with fresh vegetables such as cucumber salads and tomato and lettuce salads. You can also serve it with mozzarella cheese sticks or roasted vegetables.

Below are some recipes that go well with chicken divan:

• How To Cook Costco Cauliflower Rice
• Julienne Salad
• Butternut Squash Salad
• Quinoa Salad
• Pioneer Woman's Sausage Balls
• Pioneer Woman's Goulash Recipe

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Ina Garten’s Chicken Divan

Yield: 4 servings

Prep Time: 30 minutes

Cook Time: 30 minutes

Additional Time: 5 minutes

Total Time: 1 hour 5 minutes

Ina Garten’s chicken divan is a delicious mixture of chicken, broccoli, and cheese in a creamy sauce. It is also a wonderful make-ahead meal that you can reheat on a busy weeknight for your family. Here is some information about Barefoot Contessa’s chicken divan and how to make it.

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Ingredients

• 5 tablespoons unsalted butter, divided, plus more for greasing
• Kosher salt, to taste
• 1 large head of broccoli, cut into 1- to 2-inch florets, tender stems peeled and cut into ½-inch slices (about 5 cups)
• 1 tablespoon chopped fresh sage
• 5 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 3 tablespoons dry sherry (or chicken broth)
• 1 cup low-sodium chicken broth
• 1 cup milk
• 1 cup heavy cream
• 1 pinch of freshly grated nutmeg
• Freshly ground pepper, to taste
• 1 bunch of scallions, chopped (about 1 cup)
• 1 ½ cups shredded gruyere cheese (about 6 ounces)
• 1 cooked 3 ½ pounds chicken, meat removed and cut into chunks, skin, and bones discarded (3 to 3 ½ cups meat)
• ½ cup sliced or slivered almonds, toasted
• ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
• ¼ cup breadcrumbs

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 400 F.
2. Grease a shallow 3-quart casserole dish with butter.
3. Boil salted water in a large saucepan.
4. Cook the broccoli until bright green and almost tender (you want it to still have a little bite; it will continue to cook in the oven).
5. Drain well, cool under cold running water, and pat very dry.
6. Set the broccoli aside. 
7. Melt 4 tablespoon of butter in a large saucepan set over medium heat.
8. Stir the sage and flour into the melted butter and cook them for 1 minute.
9. Cook the roux, whisking frequently, for approximately 2 to 3 minutes, without letting it brown.
10. Add the sherry (or broth) and cook for 1 minute until reduced. 
11. Add the broth, milk, heavy cream, nutmeg, and salt and pepper to taste. 
12. Simmer the mixture, while whisking occasionally, until thickened, about 6 to 7 minutes.
13. Add the scallions and gruyere to the sauce and stir until the cheese is melted. Remove from the heat.
14. Toss the sauce with the broccoli, chicken, and almonds in a large bowl and toss until well combined. 
15. Pour the chicken mixture into the prepared casserole dish. 
16. Microwave the remaining 1 tablespoon butter in a small bowl. Stir in the Parmesan and breadcrumbs. 
17. Sprinkle the mixture on top of the casserole.  
18. Bake for 35 minutes or until browned and bubbly.
19. Serve with your favorite sides.

Nutrition Information:

Yield: 4 Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving:Calories: 1548Total Fat: 93gSaturated Fat: 43gTrans Fat: 1gUnsaturated Fat: 42gCholesterol: 525mgSodium: 1234mgCarbohydrates: 30gFiber: 5gSugar: 7gProtein: 144g