My southern-style, gluten free chicken Divan is of course full of scrumptious Louisiana flavors, y'all. Chopped Cajun trinity veggies, browned, tossed with broccoli, and cooked down just a bit with garlic. Then, the GF cream of chicken soup, half and half, and sour cream is stirred into the pot, along with leftover shredded grilled chicken and two types of ooey gooey cheeses. Finally, the buttered Cajun crackers go on top before a quick oven bake transforms the whole skillet into nostalgic, can't-get-enough comfort food deliciousness. Yep and yay...

A black cast iron skillet filled with Gluten Free Chicken Divan against a whitewash background.

Gluten Free Chicken Divan is a very forgiving comfort food meal that helps you transform leftovers into something new and unforgettably yum-delicious.

It Came All the Way Down From New York City, Y'all...

Chicken Divan is a broccoli and cheese casserole that was created in Manhattan in the late 1950s or early 1960s. Back then, chef Lagasi never divulged the recipe that became the famous signature dish of the Chatham Hotel's Divan Parisien Restaurant.

However, since then, no one has been able to get enough of the super rich and cheesy casserole. It's continued to pique the interests of many home cooks and chefs over the years. So, there are numerous versions of this recipe that usually include both prepared and fresh ingredients.

Some people use the version that includes a Bechamel or Mornay sauce. Others, like me, opt for the can of cream of chicken soup, sour cream, and milk or half and half, which makes the dish easier to prepare. And, gives it that ooooolllldddd school taste that makes eating a bowl of this incredibly special, y'all.

Super creamy and filling with a buttered cracker crumb topping, this gluten free chicken Divan is absolutely amazing! Indeed.

A round white plate filled with Gluten Free Chicken Divan with a blue napkin.

Serve this gluten free chicken Divan by itself for a less starchy meal. Or, serve it over GF pasta, mashed potatoes or rice for a filling, hearty dinner.

How to Make Gluten Free Chicken Divan

To start, shred the cooked chicken. Then, dice the veggies, and gather the rest of the ingredients:

Ingredients for southern-style chicken Divan.

You can pre-prep many of the ingredients for this gluten free casserole ahead of time. Leftover broccoli and chicken work really well in this easy recipe.

Next, combine the softened butter and crumbled gluten free crackers together in a bowl. Set aside:

Crumbled gluten free cracker crumbs and softened butter in a bowl.

Combing the gluten free cracker crumbs with softened butter adds lends the dish a scrumptious, crunchy finish.

Now, brown the Cajun trinity veggies in your cast iron skillet:

Browning the Cajun trinity injects deep, rich flavor into this southern-style chicken Divan.

Then, add the broccoli florets. And, cook down for another couple of minutes:

Broccoli and browned veggies in a skillet.

Heating the broccoli in the skillet brings it up to the same temp as the rest of the ingredients, and also gives a faint char that really adds to the flavors of the casserole.

Stir in the minced garlic. Then, cook for one additional minute:

Minced garlic and broccoli in a skillet with chopped veggies.

Using jarred minced garlic is a significant time saver in this recipe.

Then, add the sour cream, gluten free cream of chicken soup, and half and half:

Veggies, cheese, sour cream and gluten free cream of mushroom soup in a skillet.

The gluten free cream of chicken soup, sour cream and milk make each bite of this dish incredibly rich and flavorful.

Now, give it a big stir:

Stirring all of the ingredient groups together throughout the cooking process helps it all bake more evenly in the oven later.

Then, pile both cheeses into the skillet:

Two types of shredded cheeses over a broccoli casserole in a skillet.

Pepper Jack and cheddar cheeses make this spin on the classic dish super special.

Next, stir in the shredded cooked chicken:

Shredded grilled chicken over a cheesy broccoli casserole.

Any leftover chicken that hasn't been cooked in soy-based sauces should work well in this recipe.

Finally, sprinkle the buttered cracker crumb topping over the casserole. And, bake til browned and bubbly:

Crumbled cracker topping over a casserole in a cast iron dish.

The seasoned, butter and crumbled gluten free crackers put the finishing flavor bomb touch on this classic American dish fave.

And that's it, y'all!

This gluten free chicken Divan is the perfect pick-me-up comfort food meal for four. It's sooo creamy and cheesy, with pops of melt-in-your-mouth chicken and broccoli. And, the GF cracker crumb topping, y'all! It's simply incredible.

Share this gluten free chicken Divan with those whose presence brings back some of the sweetest memories of your life. Much food love, and see y'all on the yum side.

Closeup of southern style gluten free chicken Divan in a cast iron skillet.

Sweetly nostalgic and super comforting, this gluten free chicken Divan is full of soul-soothing south Louisiana flavors.

Gluten Free Chicken Divan

A south Louisiana-inspired version of the classic dish, this Gluten Free Chicken Divan is cheesy, delicious comfort food that's just as satisfying as it is easy to make.

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Course: Main Dish

Cuisine: American/Cajun

Keyword: cajun chicken divan, gluten free chicken divan, southern chicken divan

Prep Time: 15

Cook Time: 45

Servings: people

Author: Lyn Corinne Liner

Ingredients

For the Gluten Free Chicken Divan

3 tablespoons butter or oil
½ cup chopped onion
½ cup chopped bell pepper
½ cup chopped celery
12 ounces frozen broccoli, thawed
salt, black pepper and cayenne pepper to taste
1 tablespoon minced garlic
1 ½ cups half and half or milk
1 10.5-ounce can gluten free chicken soup
½ cup sour cream
4 cups shredded leftover chicken
1 ½ cups shredded cheddar cheese
1 cup shredded pepper Jack cheese

For the Buttery GF Cracker Crumb Topping

½ cup Cajun crackers or gluten free cracker crumbs
2 tablespoons softened butter

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
Combine the gluten free cracker crumbs and softened butter together in a bowl. Set aside.
Brown the Cajun trinity of chopped onion, bell pepper and celery in the butter or oil in a 12-inch cast iron skillet over medium-high heat.
When browned, add the thawed frozen broccoli and cook for an additional two minutes, stirring often.
Add the minced garlic and cook for one additional minute, stirring constantly.
Reduce heat to medium-low.
Stir the sour cream, half and half and gluten free cream of chicken soup into the pan mixture.
Add the chicken and stir until well combined.
Stir the cheddar and pepper Jack cheese into the casserole.
Sprinkle the GF cracker crumb mixture over the top of the casserole.
Bake for 15 to 20 minutes, or until browned and bubbly.
Let the casserole rest for 5 minutes before serving.

Notes

Leftover chicken that has been cooked with GF soy sauce will not complement the rest of the flavors in this recipe.

This dish picks up many of its flavors from the cooked, leftover chicken. If your cooked chicken is bland, season it with ¼ to ½ teaspoon paprika, onion powder, garlic powder and dried parsley flakes before adding to the casserole.

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The information shown is an estimate provided by a third-party, online computer-generated nutrition calculator, not a registered dietitian or certified nutritionist. Actual nutritional content will vary based upon brands used, measuring methods and individual portion sizes, along with other factors.

See our full nutrition disclaimer here.

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