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Chicken Divan Casserole
I love traveling, particularly to other countries, and finding small boutique hotels to stay in. Whether at a hotel bar, on a velvet couch in a lounge, or in a place that has hot coffee and Wi-Fi, my husband and I naturally look for places to gather with friends or family. This chicken dish, topped with almonds and broccoli, is a memorable dish no matter where we go.
- Prep Time: 25 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour
- Total Time: 1 hour 25 minutes
- Yield: Serves 8
- Category: Entrées
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 pound broccoli florets and stems, chopped
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 onion, diced
- 1 1/2 cups white rice
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter plus 2 tablespoons, melted
- 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
- 3/4 cup heavy cream
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 1/2 cups shredded cheddar or Monterey Jack cheese
- 4 cups chicken breasts, cooked and shredded
- 1/2 cup dried bread crumbs
- 1/2 cup chopped almonds
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F and lightly coat a 9 × 13-inch baking dish with cooking spray. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook the broccoli for 5 minutes. Drain, reserving 1 cup of the liquid, and set broccoli and liquid aside.
- In a large saucepan, heat the olive oil over medium-high heat. Add the onion and cooked broccoli and sauté, stirring, until the onion is translucent. Add the rice and 3 cups water and bring to a boil. Cover and simmer for 15 minutes (the rice may not be completely cooked but will cook further in the oven).
- In a medium saucepan, melt 4 tablespoons butter over medium heat. Add the flour and cook, stirring, for 1 full minute until the mixture is beginning to color. Add 1 cup of the set-aside cooking liquid and stir until the sauce becomes creamy and thick. Add the cream and cook until the mixture is thick enough to coat a spoon. Remove from the heat, add the mustard and salt, then stir in the cheese until it is melted.
- Spread the rice mixture into a smooth layer in the bottom of the baking dish. Add the broccoli around the edges, then arrange the chicken pieces in the center of the dish. Pour the sauce overall, leaving the broccoli florets peeking through.
- Combine the bread crumbs, almonds, and the 2 tablespoons melted butter in a small bowl. Sprinkle over the casserole and bake for 30 to 35 minutes, until bubbling and lightly browned.
Notes
- To cook the chicken, place 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts on a baking sheet and bake at 350 degrees F for 30 minutes. Remove from the oven and shred.
