Chicken Divan with Buttery Ritz Crust

This is one of those dinners I can always count on. Creamy, cozy, and somehow still broccoli-approved. Cutting the chicken into bite-sized pieces and seasoning it first gives every bite flavor — and the buttery Ritz topping takes it straight to a 10/10 family favorite.

Ingredients

For the chicken:

• 1½–2 lbs chicken breast tenderloins, cut into bite-sized cubes

• ½ tsp garlic powder

• ½ tsp paprika

• Salt & pepper, to taste

• 1 tbsp olive oil

For the casserole:

• 3 cups broccoli florets

• 1 can (10.5 oz) cream of chicken soup

• ½ cup sour cream

• ½ cup mayonnaise

• 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese

• 1 tsp lemon juice

For the buttery topping:

• 1 sleeve Ritz crackers, crushed

• 4 tbsp butter, melted

• 1/4 cup parmesan cheese (optional)

Instructions

• Preheat oven to 350°F and grease a 9x13 baking dish.

• Cook the chicken:Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat.Add cubed chicken, garlic powder, paprika, salt, and pepper.Cook until the chicken is no longer white and just cooked through.(It doesn’t need to be browned — it will finish cooking in the oven.)

• Prepare the broccoli:Steam or blanch until just tender. If using frozen, thaw and drain well.

• Assemble the casserole:Spread broccoli evenly in the baking dish. Top with cooked chicken.

• Make the sauce:In a bowl, mix cream of chicken soup, sour cream, mayo, cheddar cheese, and lemon juice until smooth.

• Combine:Pour sauce over the chicken and broccoli and spread evenly.

• Make the topping:Mix crushed Ritz crackers with melted butter and sprinkle generously over the casserole.

• Bake:Bake uncovered for 30–35 minutes, until bubbly and golden.

• Rest & serve:Let sit for 5 minutes before serving.

Why This Works for Kids

• Bite-sized chicken = easier to eat

• Seasoned first so it’s flavorful but not “weird”

• Buttery cracker crust distracts from the broccoli

Mom Tips

• Use frozen broccoli on busy nights — just drain it well

• Double the Ritz topping if your kids fight over the crunchy bits

• I like to use Vegetable Flavored Ritz. Try different alternatives to kick it up.

• Leftovers reheat beautifully

Tools I Used For This Recipe

Tools I used in this recipe and others can be found on my Shop My Kitchen Page

1. Large Nonstick Skillet

Perfect for cooking the seasoned chicken cubes evenly before baking.👉 See it on Amazon

2. Broccoli Steamer Basket

Makes steaming fresh broccoli quick and easy, especially on busy nights.👉 See it on Amazon

3. 9×13 Casserole Dish

The classic size for dinner-for-five (or more). Easy to serve straight from the oven!👉 See it on Amazon

Tools I Use in this recipe and more can be found here.

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