Barefoot Contessa Chicken Divan Recipe (2024)

If you’ve been following our blog for long enough, you might have noticed we are big fans of Ina Garten and her exquisite dishes.

If you are, too, you must know about the Barefoot Contessa program she’s been hosting.

Today we’ll be making the famous Barefoot Contessa Chicken Divan, a delicious combination of broccoli and chicken bases in a cheesy sauce and breadcrumbs.

Although it is a trendystaple often served in restaurants.

It is easy to replicate at home, especially with the Barefoot Contessa Chicken Divan recipe.

How to Make Barefoot Contessa Chicken Divan

Barefoot Contessa Chicken Divan is often enjoyed in celebration of New Year’s Eve since it is warm comfort food.

But it doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy it whenever you crave a filling and nutritious meal.

It is rich, creamy, and full of chicken, broccoli, and creamy sauce, which makes this recipe a template for many different kinds of recipes.

After all, Chicken Divan is the best way to make your chicken dinner look fancy and delicious without spending a fortune on the ingredients.

Here’s all you’ll need.

Ingredients:

(4 servings)

• 3 1/2 pound cooked skinless chicken breast
• 1 tbsp fresh sage
• 5 tbsp all-purpose flour
• 1 cup milk
• 1 cup heavy cream
• 3 tbsp cooking sherry
• 1 cup chicken broth (chicken soup)
• 5 tbsp unsalted butter
• 1 bunch scallions
• 1 large head of broccoli
• 1 pinch nutmeg
• 1/2 cup sliced toasted almonds
• 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese (or Cheddar cheese)
• 1 1/2 cups Gruyere cheese
• 1/4 cup breadcrumbs
• Kosher salt to taste
• Freshly ground pepper to taste

Instructions

Once you go through this Barefoot Contessa Chicken Divan recipe, it will become your go-to chicken recipe.

Apart from being super simple, it is also healthy and nutritious.

So making it on any occasion, especially when having guests to impress, will become a tradition.

Besides, it is a great make-ahead meal you can reheat on a busy weeknight for an ultimate dinner-out-like experience.

Without building suspense, let’s get cooking.

Step 1:

Preheat an oven to 400°F and grease a shallow 3-quart casserole dish with butter.

Step 2:

Boil salted water in a large saucepan, and cook broccoli cut into 1-2-inch florets until bright green and almost tender.

Then remove from heat and cool under cold running water. Dry and set aside.

Step 3:

Take a large saucepan and melt 4 tablespoons of butter over medium heat.

Once the butter melts, sizzle it for a minute, and glour and sage.

Step 4:

Whisk in frequently for about 2-3- minutes, but don’t let it burn.

Then stir in sherry for about a minute and reduce it.

Step 5:

To taste, stir in one cup of chicken broth, milk, heavy cream, nutmeg, salt, and pepper to taste.

Bring the mixture to simmer within 6-7 minutes, continuously whisking to remove any lumps.

Step 6:

Stir the Gruyere and scallions into the sauce until they melt and remove from heat.

Step 7:

Combine sauce, cooked chicken, broccoli, and almonds in a large bowl and pour the mixture over the casserole dish.

Step 8:

Add 1 tablespoon of butter, breadcrumbs, and Parmesan to a small bowl and stir to combine.

Pour the mixture over the casserole.

Step 9:

Place the casserole in the oven and bake for about 35 minutes until browned and bubbly.

Serve with a fresh salad or any other of your favorite dishes.

We’ve got some ideas so stick for longer.

Ingredient Substitution

Barefoot Contessa Chicken Divan is not like other chicken divan recipes you might have come across before.

This recipe is simple yet complex, with a lot of ingredients to work around.

You can remove or substitute any as for your preference.

Rosemary

When used in moderation, Rosemary is an ideal substitute for sage since it boosts your dish with pine-like and woodsy flavors.

Much like sage, Rosemary adds depth and richness to the recipe.

Besides, you can find it available in the make store all year round if you don’t have it already.

Cinnamon

Cinnamon is one of the most used spices in a kitchen.

But we’re here to unveil the truth if you thought it was mainly used for pastry.

It adds warmth to any dish and bursts them with a pack of flavors, just like nutmeg.

So you can freely substitute the two.

But use about half as much cinnamon as you would nutmeg.

Yellow onion

While scallion is not as common as yellow or sweet onions, you can use them as an alternative for this easy Chicken Divan.

Besides, you probably already have them on hand.

But remember that yellow onion is more pungent than scallions, so you’ll need a smaller amount.

What to Serve with Barefoot Contessa Chicken Divan

Could there be anything more filling, healthy, and delicious at the same time as Barefoot Contessa Chicken Divan? Probably not, but hear what 一 it also pairs well with almost anything.

But go for something light and refreshing.

Green Beans

Tossed with garlic, olive oil, and fresh herbs, the simple side of Chicken Divan consists of green beans.

Just steam the beans until just tender, season, and serve immediately.

You can also add toasted bread crumbs for an extra crunch.

Alternatively, place oiled beans on the sheet pan and bake for about 10 minutes.

The result will be outstanding either way.

Lime rice

As rich as the Chicken Divan is, you should serve it with the side alongside it.

In this case, it’s the refreshing lime rice.

Old but gold steamed rice with a thin layer of butter and a sprinkle of lime won’t overshadow the flavors of the chicken divan but complement it.

You can even add things more interesting by adding spinach.

How to Reheat Barefoot Contessa Chicken Divan

Like any other casserole, Chicken Divan is super easy to reheat in an oven or a microwave. You have to follow a few recommendations.

Reheat Barefoot Contessa Chicken Divan in an Oven

Preheat an oven to 350°F and place the leftover Chicken Divan into a greased baking dish or as is (in the casserole dish if you stored it like that).

Reheat for about 20-25 minutes until bubbly and warmed through.

Reheat Barefoot Contessa Chicken Divan in a Microwave

It might not seem possible, but you can reheat an entire Chicken Divan in a microwave in about 2 minutes.

But we suggest reheating it in groups dedicating around 30 seconds for each piece.

How to Store Barefoot Contessa Chicken Divan

There are no issues with storing Barefoot Contessa Chicken Divan since it stores perfectly.

So you can make it beforehand and reheat it whenever you please.

Store Barefoot Contessa Chicken Divan in the Fridge

Chicken Divan stores in the fridge for about 3-4 days.

You can store it directly in the casserole dish by covering it with plastic wrap or aluminum foil.

Store Barefoot Contessa Chicken Divan in the Freezer

If you consider storing Chicken Divan in the freezer note, you should do so within 2 days of making it.

Also, store it in an airtight container or a freezer bag.

It will last like this for about 2-3- months.

To thaw it, put it in the fridge and reheat using your preferred method.

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