Easy Chicken Divan Recipe (2024)

Easy Instant Pot Chicken and Broccoli Casserole, or Chicken Divan. A one pot recipe the family loves.

This easy busy weeknights dinner recipe is a favorite with simple ingredients using fresh broccoli florets making a Chicken Divan and Rice Dinner will be a family favorite recipe for years to come.

Loaded with a rich and creamy sauce and topped with cheese, what's not to like? I'm using the Pot in Pot method of high pressure cooking in this Instant Pot recipes and I'm going to share with you all the steps along with tips along the way.

The whole family loves this easy recipe, in fact it's one of my personal favorites. Let's get started!

Shopping List for Chicken Broccoli Casserole

Chicken. Chicken Breasts is preferred but Chicken thighs or chicken pieces will also work well.

Vegetables. Broccoli

Sauce. Mayonnaise, Sour Cream, Cream of Chicken Soup, Lemon Juice, Curry Powder

Topping. Ritz Crackers, Butter and Cheese

Additional. White Rice and water

How to make Chicken Divan in the Instant Pot or Electric Pressure Cooker

Gather all the ingredients and supplies you might need to prepare the recipe. It's a good idea to have measuring cups and measuring spoons handy. I also like to use a mixing bowl, cutting board, sharp knife and some sort of a mixing spoon for this recipe.

This is a Pot in Pot style of pressure cooking which means that the casserole will cook in a pressure cooker safe pot inside of the Instant Pot. I am using a flat bottom metal pot and a trivet.

Wash and prep broccoli by cutting small bite size florets and setting aside.

Prepare chicken. Using a sharp knife remove any excess fat and cut chicken into bite-size pieces. I prefer using boneless skinless chicken breast but you can also use boneless chicken thighs or a combination of both in this recipe.

In a separate bowl combine the ingredients for the thick and creamy sauce by combining mayonnaise, sour cream, soup, lemon juice and curry powder. Mix all together and set aside.

Heat Instant Pot on saute using saute function until front panel reads Hot. Add a little olive oil to inner pot and cubed chicken. You want to saute chicken until it's no longer pink. Season with salt, pepper, and garlic powder if you wish while the chicken cooks.

Once all the chicken has sautéed and is no longer pink. Remove chicken.

Add water to bottom liner of pressure cooker and with a wooden spoon or silicone scraper make sure to remove any stuck bits from the bottom of the liner. Then add rice to water in the bottom of the pot. Use a tall trivet to place on top of rice and water.

In a large bowl combine cut up broccoli, chicken and sauce mixture and mix everything together. Pour mixture into metal pan and place pan on top of trivet in Instant Pot.

Now it's time to pressure cook for the allotted cooking time. Place Instant Pot lid on top and make sure to lock lid and close pressure valve on top. Set pressure cooker to high and cook for 12 minutes.

Once pressure cooking has completed, Quick Release (QR) pressure making sure to move Instant Pot away from cabinets and/or over head lights. Allowing the steam to fully release before removing the lid. Don't forget to press Cancel on the display panel.

In a separate small bowl combine crushed Ritz crackers and melted butter and toss together. This will be added at the end for a nice seasoned crunchy topping.

Remove the pan of Chicken Broccoli Casserole and add cheese on top then top with buttered cracker mixture. If you wish you can use an Air Fryer or oven broiler to toast the crackers for a minute or two.

Fluff rice using a fork to carefully lift the rice and separating the rice. A spoon with smash rice together. It's always best to fluff rice first with a fork before serving.

Serve casserole over cooked rice it's a delicious cheesy chicken casserole and a great way to enjoy a one-pot meal.

Pro Tips

I've added a bunch of FAQ below so make sure to take a look at those. But here are a few of my simple tips to help you

Rice. Rinse rice in water before cooking. This helps to remove the excess starch before cooking.

Fluff Rice. Use a fork to fluff and lift the individual rice. A spoon will smash and mash rice together. First fluff with a fork to separate rice.

On Pot Meal. Chicken Divan or Chicken and Broccoli Casserole is a one pot recipe where everything is cooked together at once. Starch, vegetable, protein, and cheese, all perfectly blended together.

Substitutions. Try making Cauliflower Rice or make Zucchini Noodles for a low carb option. Substitute Chicken broth for water when cooking rice for a delicious rice flavor.

While there is no need to add a side dish on your plate, following it up with a decadent chocolate dessert may be exactly what you need. This chocolate peanut butter pie is sure to have your taste buds in heaven.

What is Pot in Pot Pressure Cooking?

I am asked this question a lot. I love Pot in Pot cooking in my pressure cooker. It means to cook foods inside a separate pot inside the liner of the pressure cooker. Recipes that are best for Pot in Pot cooking would be Quiche, French Toast, Casseroles that don't require lots of liquids, etc. It's a process to cook ingredients in a separate pot away from the needed liquid to pressure a pressure cooker.

Can I use Fresh Broccoli over Frozen?

While you can use frozen broccoli to make Chicken Divan, you may find that the finished texture is not like you’d be expecting. Cooking frozen broccoli in this casserole may result in it turning out mushy. Using fresh broccoli will give a much better result.

What is Chicken Divan?

Chicken Divan is a casserole dish often served with broccoli and a Mornay sauce, but in this case, we use sour cream, mayonnaise, and cheddar cheese for a similar flavor with less physical effort.

Can Chicken Divan be made ahead of time?

With this version of Chicken Divan being cooked in a pressure cooker, you may find that prepping in advance can be a little difficult. There are a few things that you can do in advance to make dinner time that much faster and more efficient. Meal prep is always helpful no matter how you look at it.

For instance, the day before you can:

• Prepare the chicken by cooking, cubing or shredding.
• Crush the Ritz crackers.
• Make the sour cream and mayonnaise mix and store it in a sealed container within your fridge.
• Chop the broccoli.

Can you Freeze Chicken Divan?

Yes! You can freeze any uneaten Chicken Divan for later. This is the perfect way to store leftovers for a future meal.

With Chicken Divan Casserole being so rich and savory, it may take less than expected to fill your stomachs. Freezing the leftovers for a future dinner will not only help you to have an easy future dinner but can also help you to avoid wasting uneaten food! It’s a Win-Win!

Family Favorite Instant Pot Recipes

If you loved this delicious Instant Pot Chicken recipe make sure to leave a comment below and check out these other easy Instant Pot Recipes

• Chicken Chile Verde
• Sweet Salad Chicken Salad
• Chicken Alfredo Taco Pasta
• White Chicken Chili
• Chicken Carbonara
• Chicken Cordon Bleu Casserole
• Easy Garlic Chicken Take Out
• Cashew Chicken (Personal Favorite)

Published September 2019 ~ Republished August 2022