Slow Cooker Chicken Divan

Slow cooker chicken divan
Diana Rattray
Prep: 15 mins
Cook: 5 hrs
Total: 5 hrs 15 mins
Servings: 6 servings

A traditional chicken divan (which was created in the 1930s at the Divan Parisien Restaurant in New York City) is made with the addition of cheddar cheese, and the homemade sauce usually contains sherry. This version is made with cream of chicken soup because it holds up well in the slow cooker. Feel free to add a splash of dry sherry to the sauce and top the dish with shredded cheddar cheese if you'd like something closer to the original.

Serve this easy, great tasting chicken divan with a salad and crusty bread for a tasty everyday family meal. To make it even quicker, use a rotisserie chicken or 1 to 2 packages of pre-cooked chicken breast strips, diced. 

Ingredients

  • 3 cups chicken (diced cooked)
  • 2 tablespoons onion (finely chopped)
  • 1 (10 3/4-ounce) can condensed cream of chicken soup
  • 1/3 cup mayonnaise
  • 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
  • 2 ribs celery (sliced)
  • 1/2 teaspoon curry powder (or to taste)
  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice
  • 1 (10-ounce) package frozen broccoli cuts (about 1 1/2 to 2 cups)
  • 1 pound pasta (cooked; or rice)

Steps to Make It

  1. Butter the inside of a slow cooker.

  2. In a medium bowl, combine the diced chicken with the onion, soup, mayonnaise, flour, celery, curry powder, and lemon juice. Stir to blend ingredients thoroughly.

  3. Spoon the mixture into the lightly buttered slow cooker. Cover and cook on low for 3 hours or on high 1 1/2 to 2 hours.

  4. Add the broccoli and continue cooking on low for about 1 1/2 to 2 hours or on high for about 1 hour.

  5. When the chicken and broccoli mixture is nearly done, cook the pasta in boiling salted water following package directions.

  6. Serve the chicken divan over hot buttered noodles, rice, or pasta.

Tips

  • If you are cooking the chicken for this recipe, you may want to choose to poach it. Place 3 to 4 chicken breast halves in a large saucepan. Cover with cold water to a depth of about 1 inch above the chicken. Remove the chicken from the pan and bring the cold water to a boil over high heat. Return the chicken to the pan and add 1 teaspoon of kosher salt. Turn the heat down to the lowest settings and simmer for 18 to 20 minutes, or until the chicken is fully cooked.
  • This recipe can be doubled but if it becomes too thick, add a little chicken broth.

Recipe Variations

  • If you'd like a cheese topping, after the divan is cooked, transfer the mixture to a baking dish and top with about 1 cup of shredded Cheddar cheese. Place under the broiler until the cheese has melted and the top is lightly browned.
  • Add a few tablespoons of dry sherry and a dash of ground nutmeg to the chicken and sauce mixture for traditional flavor.
  • Make the dish with diced cooked turkey instead of chicken, or replace 1 cup of the diced chicken with 1 cup of diced ham.

Glass Bakeware Warning

Do not use glass bakeware when broiling or when a recipe calls to add liquid to a hot pan, as glass may explode. Even if it states oven-safe or heat resistant, tempered glass products can, and do, break occasionally.

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
618 Calories
32g Fat
55g Carbs
27g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 6
Amount per serving
Calories 618
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 32g 41%
Saturated Fat 13g 64%
Cholesterol 99mg 33%
Sodium 325mg 14%
Total Carbohydrate 55g 20%
Dietary Fiber 4g 15%
Protein 27g
Calcium 94mg 7%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)