This Keto Chicken Divan Casserole offers a rich and creamy blend of broccoli, cheddar cheese, and a hint of curry, transforming the classic comfort food into a keto-friendly dish. By making a few smart substitutions, you can enjoy all the comforting flavors of traditional chicken divan without the added carbs.
Introduction
Chicken Divan is a casserole traditionally made with chicken, broccoli, and a creamy cheese sauce. The dish was invented in the Divan Parisien Restaurant in the New York City Chatham Hotel. Since then, people have created copycat recipes with tons of variations. This recipe brings a low-carb twist to a beloved classic, making it suitable for those following a ketogenic lifestyle. This version ditches the condensed soup but uses only a few extra ingredients that are still staples in most keto pantries.
Why This Recipe Works
This keto chicken divan casserole recreates the creamy, cheesy flavors of the original while significantly reducing the carbohydrate content. The base of this classic recipe is chicken, broccoli, and cheese sauce, it wasn’t a stretch to make it keto-friendly. It’s filling and satisfying, perfect for a main course or a hearty lunch. This recipe is also freezer-friendly, making it ideal for meal prepping.
Key Ingredients and Substitutions
Cooked Chicken: This is a great recipe to use up leftover cooked chicken in. Pre-cooked chicken breast cut into cubes works well, but rotisserie chicken or cooked chicken thighs can be used as well. Save time and just use rotisserie chicken. Or, chop up some canned chicken.
Fresh Broccoli Florets: Fresh steamed broccoli is preferred, but in a pinch, bags of frozen broccoli that steam in the microwave can be used. Some people roasted the broccoli rather than steaming it to cut down on the liquid
Read also: Easy Low-Carb Cheese Crackers
Cheese: Cheddar cheese is a key component, contributing to the casserole's creamy and cheesy texture. Some people add parmesan cheese until I get the consistency I like usually does the trick. Plus adds an additional layer of flavor.
Curry Powder: The star of this dish, curry powder adds a unique flavor dimension. Most curry powder recipes include cumin, fenugreek, coriander, turmeric, and chili peppers in their blends.
Mayonnaise and Sour Cream: These replace the traditional Mornay sauce (made from butter, flour, and milk with gruyere cheese added) to create a low-carb creamy sauce.
Dried Minced Onion: Adds a nice flavor without being overpowering.
Butter, Xanthan Gum, and Chicken Stock: These replace the canned condensed soup, combined with mayo and sour cream.
Read also: Keto Calorie Counting: A Detailed Guide
Paula Deen's recipe uses two cans of condensed cream of mushroom soup, but they add 40 grams of carbs and contain unhealthy ingredients. Wine can enhance the flavor of a dish but we don’t need a 1/2 cup of white wine like Paula Deen suggested. This recipe really only needs a 1/4 cup of wine. I’d rather drink that extra 1/4 cup than use it in my dish.
Step-by-Step Instructions
Preparing the Casserole
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C) if baking immediately. The casserole can also be prepped ahead and kept in the refrigerator for a day or two. Or preheat the oven to 375F and lightly grease a casserole dish. Prepare a 9x13 casserole dish with nonstick cooking spray and set aside.
- In a large bowl, combine sour cream, mayonnaise, and spices, mixing thoroughly.
- Add the cooked chicken, broccoli, and 3/4 of the cheese to the bowl and mix well.
- Dump the mixture into a 9x13 baking dish sprayed with cooking spray.
Making the Sauce
- In a large skillet or cast-iron pan, melt the butter over medium heat.
- Whisk in the xanthan gum and cook, continually stirring, until the butter turns light brown (about 2 minutes), being careful not to burn.
- Whisk in the chicken broth and bring to a simmer.
- Stir in the onion powder, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Cook until the mixture thickens, about 5 minutes.
- Remove from the heat and allow to cool slightly.
- Add the mayonnaise, sour cream, and chicken stock mixture to the large bowl with the chicken and broccoli.
Baking the Casserole
- Sprinkle the remaining cheese over the top of the casserole.
- Bake in the preheated oven for 20-25 minutes, or until golden brown and bubbly.
- To get the topping a golden brown, change the oven temperature to LO broil and lightly brown the top of the casserole for 2-3 minutes.
- Let stand for a few minutes before serving.
- Garnish with fresh chopped parsley and serve while warm.
Optional Topping
For a buttery, crunchy topping, mix parmesan cheese and almond flour in a small bowl. Sprinkle this mixture evenly over the top of the casserole before baking. You can also use keto crackers for the topping. Just add a few handfuls to a Ziploc bag along and crush up with a rolling pin. Then mix with melted butter and sprinkle on top of the casserole before baking.
Tips and Variations
- Make it a Skillet Meal: Heat the sauce in a large skillet over low to medium heat and add the other ingredients.
- Add More Sauce: For a saucier casserole, mix 1/2 cup of heavy cream into the sauce mixture.
- Spice it Up: Add a pinch of cayenne pepper or a dash of hot sauce for a spicier kick.
- Add Vegetables: Sautéed mushrooms, spinach, or asparagus can be added for extra nutrients and flavor. we’re not broccoli fans over here and I had spinach that I needed used up, so I subbed that and mushrooms in for those, It lowered the carb count and also when I cooked the mushrooms in with the broth it absorbed the excess liquid.
- Use Different Cheeses: Experiment with different cheeses like Gruyere, Monterey Jack, or a blend of your favorites.
Make-Ahead and Freezing Instructions
- Make Ahead: The casserole can be assembled ahead of time and stored in the refrigerator for up to 24 hours before baking.
- Freezing: Assemble the casserole in a freezer-safe dish, cover tightly with foil, and freeze for up to 3 months. When ready to bake, thaw overnight in the refrigerator and bake as directed, adding 10-15 minutes to the baking time. Another make-ahead tip is to cook two pans and freeze one for another night. Just defrost and reheat in the oven at 350 degrees, covered, for 30 - 40 minutes until heated through and bubbly.
Serving Suggestions
This Keto Chicken Divan Casserole is filling on its own but can be served with a side of low-carb vegetables or a fresh salad.
- Low-Carb Vegetables: Serve with asparagus, zucchini noodles, or sautéed spinach.
- Salad: A simple green salad with a vinaigrette dressing complements the richness of the casserole.
- Chicken Alfredo Soup: If you really like cheese and cream, then start out the meal with chicken alfredo soup.
- Cheesy Turnips: You can never go wrong with cheesy turnips.
Nutritional Information
This recipe makes a total of 6 servings of Keto Chicken Divan. The nutritional information is calculated as a courtesy and is an approximate only.
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