Description
Classic Ina Garten chicken divan combines tender chicken, broccoli, and a creamy sauce for a comforting casserole. Rich parmesan and crisp breadcrumbs create a golden, satisfying meal you’ll crave again and again.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 3 ½-pound chicken, cooked and cut into chunks (3 to 3 ½ cups meat)
- 5 cups broccoli, cut into florets and tender stems
- 1 ½ cups gruyere cheese, shredded (about 6 oz)
- ½ cup parmesan cheese, grated
- 5 tbsps unsalted butter (extra for greasing)
- 1 cup low-sodium chicken broth
- 3 tbsps dry sherry (or chicken broth)
- 1 cup milk
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1 tbsp sage, fresh and chopped
- 5 tbsps all-purpose flour
- 1 cup scallions, chopped
- ½ cup almonds, sliced or slivered, toasted
- ¼ cup breadcrumbs
- 1 pinch kosher salt
- 1 pinch nutmeg
Instructions
- Preparation: Preheat oven to 400°F and generously butter a 3-quart casserole dish. Blanch broccoli florets in salted water until crisp-tender, then drain and set aside.
- Sauce Creation: In a skillet, melt butter and whisk sage with flour until frothy and golden. Deglaze with sherry, then gradually incorporate chicken broth, milk, and heavy cream. Season with nutmeg, salt, and pepper. Simmer and whisk until sauce thickens to a luxurious consistency, about 6-7 minutes.
- Ingredient Integration: Stir scallions and Gruyère into the sauce until fully melted. Combine cooked broccoli, chicken chunks, and toasted almonds in a large bowl. Pour sauce over ingredients, gently folding to ensure complete coating.
- Topping and Baking: Spread mixture into prepared casserole dish. Mix melted butter with Parmesan and breadcrumbs, then sprinkle evenly over the casserole. Bake for 35 minutes until the top achieves a golden-brown, crispy crust.
Notes
- Optimize Broccoli Texture: Precisely cook broccoli in salted water until crisp-tender to maintain vibrant color and prevent mushiness.
- Master Roux Technique: Watch butter and flour mixture carefully, stirring consistently to achieve a light golden color without burning, which develops rich foundational flavor.
- Sauce Consistency Control: Whisk sauce continuously while simmering to prevent scorching and ensure smooth, velvety texture that coats ingredients evenly.
- Cheese Melting Secrets: Remove skillet from heat before adding cheese to prevent separation, allowing gradual melting for maximum flavor integration and creamy consistency.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Lunch
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 5
- Calories: 580
- Sugar: 4 g
- Sodium: 500 mg
- Fat: 42 g
- Saturated Fat: 24 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 14 g
- Trans Fat: 1 g
- Carbohydrates: 29 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 25 g
- Cholesterol: 120 mg