Place the broccoli florets in a medium-sized pot of boiling water and cook for 2 minutes or just until tender-crisp. Drain well and set aside.
Heat ½ tablespoon of olive oil in a 10-inch skillet over medium-high heat. Season the chicken with salt and pepper. Place the chicken pieces in the pan and cook for 2 minutes on one side, flip and cook the other side for an additional 2 minutes. Remove the chicken from the pan and set aside.
Add the remaining ½ tablespoon of olive oil to the pan. Next, add the onions and cook, occasionally stirring until translucent, about 2 minutes.
Add the garlic and cook for 30 seconds more, stirring frequently.
Pour in the chicken broth and bring to a simmer, stirring occasionally.
Add the heavy cream and bring to a simmer. Once the mixture begins to simmer, cook stirring frequently for 1 minute.
Remove the pan from the heat and stir in the sour cream and Italian seasoning.
Stir in the chicken, half of the cheese, and the broccoli.
Transfer the mixture to a lightly buttered 5x5-inch baking dish.
In a small bowl, stir together the breadcrumbs, the remaining cheese, and melted butter. Sprinkle the topping over the casserole.
Place the dish on a rimmed baking sheet to catch any possible spills.
Bake for 20 minutes or until the breadcrumbs are lightly browned.
Enjoy warm.
Notes
Expert Tips
Read through the entire recipe and the Ingredient Notes section of the post and gather your ingredients. This small Chicken Divan comes together quickly so it's a good idea to have everything ready before beginning.
To save time, use store-bought rotisserie chicken or pre-cooked chicken strips instead of cooking the chicken.
Feel free to customize the recipe: Add a pinch of nutmeg or curry powder to the sauce for added depth of flavor.
Use a different cheese: Feel free to experiment with different cheeses such as Gruyère, Swiss, or Monterey Jack for unique flavor profiles.
The success of this recipe depends on the size of the baking dish you use. I use a5x5 inch baking dish with a base area of 25 square inches. The dishes we use in our recipes can be found on our Store page.Yes. If you'd like to double the recipe, simply double the ingredient amounts and use either two 5x5-inch baking dishes or one 6.5-inch square baking dish. Both of these dishes can be found on our Store page.