Chicken Divan is a classic, family-friendly dish. This modified version contains only 6 net carbs per serving and is naturally gluten free. It’s cheesy, rich, and delicious!
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Chicken Divan is a classic casserole style dish. It’s typically made with chicken, broccoli and a Mornay sauce.
Because Mornay sauce is made with all purpose flour, several modifications had to be made to the traditional Chicken Divan recipe to make it suitable for a low carb and/or gluten free diet.
This recipe uses cream cheese as the base of the sauce due to it’s thick, creamy texture. Cheddar cheese is also used, rather than Parmesan, to lend a familiar flavor to this dish that adults and kids both love.
The “breadcrumbs” are made with a combination of blanched almond flour and melted butter to add a bit of crispiness to the top of this dish.
Why This Recipe Works
This is a very family-friendly dish. You won’t have much trouble getting kids to eat this meal loaded with chicken, cheese, and broccoli with crispy almond flour crumbs.
It’s fairly quick to make, taking around 45 minutes total. You can prep the entire casserole ahead of time, store it in the refrigerator until evening, and then bake to speed things up a bit more.
This recipe is low in carbs and gluten free. With only 6 net carbs per serving, it’s also suitable for those following a keto diet, as well.
How to Make Keto Chicken Divan
Ingredients
- 4 cups broccoli florets
- 1.5 pounds chicken, cut into bite size pieces
- 2 tablespoons butter, divided
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon pepper
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 shallot, finely diced
- 1/4 cup heavy cream
- 1/2 cup chicken bone broth (or stock)
- 8 ounces cream cheese
- 4 ounces cheddar cheese, shredded (about 1 cup)
- 1/2 cup blanched almond flour
- 1 tablespoon melted butter
Prep!
Cut the broccoli into bite size florets and the chicken into cubes. Mince the garlic and shallot and shred the cheese.
Chef’s Tip: it is always recommended to shred the cheese from a block for the best melting and texture. Pre-shredded bagged cheese contains a starch to prevent it from sticking to itself. This can give melted cheese a grainy texture.
Preheat your oven to 375°F. Grease or butter the inside of a medium size casserole dish.
Create!
Fill a medium size saucepan about halfway with water and bring to a boil over high heat. Add the broccoli florets and boil until bright green and crisp tender, about 3 minutes.
Drain the water and add the broccoli to the prepared casserole dish.
Melt one tablespoon of the butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat.
Season the chicken with salt and pepper and add to the hot skillet.
Cook, stirring often, until the chicken is no longer pink in the center, about 5-7 minutes.
Add the chicken to the casserole dish with the broccoli and toss to combine.
Return the skillet to medium heat and add another tablespoon of butter. Once melted, add the garlic and shallots and cook until slightly softened and fragrant, about 1-2 minutes.
Add the heavy whipping cream, chicken bone broth, and cream cheese. Cook, breaking up the cream cheese, until melted and smooth, about 3-5 minutes.
Pour the cheese mixture evenly over the broccoli and chicken in the casserole dish.
Top with the cheddar cheese.
Mix the almond flour and 1 tablespoon of melted butter in a small bowl until it resembles crumbs. Evenly spread the almond flour crumbs over the top of the casserole.
Chef’s Tip: if the almond flour crumbs are bigger chunks, you can break them up more easily with a fork after baking.
Bake, uncovered, for 20-25 minutes or until everything is heated through and the almond flour crumbs are lightly browned.
Present!
Tips and Techniques
- Shred the cheddar cheese from a block for the best melting and texture.
- Break up any larger pieces of almond flour crumbs with a fork, after baking, if necessary.
- Store leftovers in an air-tight container in the refrigerator. Use within 3-4 days for the best results.
FAQ’s
Can You Freeze Chicken Divan?
Yes. You can freeze Chicken Divan before baking. Allow the cheese sauce to cool, then wrap tightly with plastic wrap and store in the freezer. Defrost overnight in the refrigerator before baking. You may need to add a few minutes to the bake time.
Can You Make Chicken Divan Ahead of Time?
Yes. You can make Chicken Divan up to the point of needing to bake it. When it’s time to bake, you may need to add a few minutes to the bake time.
More Keto Chicken Dinner Recipes to Try
Chicken is a very versatile meat that can be used in so many ways to suit a low carb or gluten free way of eating. Easy Garlic Chicken and Creamy Garlic Chicken are simple recipes that can be paired with most any low carb sides you prefer.
Skillet Creamy Lemon Chicken with Cauliflower Rice and Buffalo Chicken Cauliflower Casserole are complete, family-friendly meals with loads of flavor.
All of these recipe are excellent choices for those following a keto and/or gluten free diet.
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Keto Chicken Divan
Ingredients
- 4 cups broccoli florets * from 2 small-medium bunches
- 1.5 pounds chicken * cut into bite size pieces
- 2 tablespoons butter * divided
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon pepper
- 2 cloves garlic * minced
- 1 shallot * minced
- 1/4 cup heavy cream
- 1/2 cup chicken bone broth
- 8 ounces cream cheese
- 4 ounces sharp cheddar * shredded, approximately 1 cup
- 1/2 cup blanched almond flour
- 1 tablespoon butter *melted
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375°F. Grease or butter the inside of a medium size casserole dish.
- Fill a medium size saucepan about halfway with water and bring to a boil over high heat.
- Add the broccoli florets and boil until bright green and crisp tender, about 3 minutes.
- Drain and add the broccoli to the casserole dish.
- Melt one tablespoon of the butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat.
- Season the cubed chicken with salt and pepper and add to the hot skillet.
- Cook, stirring often, until the chicken is no longer pink in the center, about 5-7 minutes.
- Add the chicken to the casserole dish with the broccoli and toss to combine.
- Return the skillet to medium heat and add another tablespoon of butter.
- Once melted, add the garlic and shallots and cook until slightly softened and fragrant, about 1-2 minutes.
- Add the heavy whipping cream, chicken bone broth, and cream cheese. Cook, breaking up the cream cheese, until melted and smooth, about 3-5 minutes.
- Pour the cheese mixture evenly over the broccoli and chicken in the casserole dish.
- Top evenly with the cheddar cheese.
- Mix the almond flour and 1 tablespoon of melted butter in a small bowl until it resembles crumbs.
- Evenly spread the almond flour crumbs over the top of the casserole.
- Bake, uncovered, for 20-25 minutes or until everything is heated through and the almond flour crumbs are lightly browned.
Notes
Tips and Techniques for the Best Keto Chicken Divan
- Shred the cheddar cheese from a block for the best melting and texture.
- Break up and larger pieces of almond flour crumbs with a fork, after baking, if necessary.
- Store leftovers in an air-tight container in the refrigerator. Use within 3-4 days for the best results.
