Chicken Divan Casserole is loaded with all things you love in a dish: roasted broccoli, cauliflower rice, a “cheesy” and delicious sauce, browned chicken bites, and topped with a nutty crunch. This simple dinner is hearty, kid friendly, and a much healthier version of traditional Chicken Divan!
If your childhood was anything like mine, casseroles were a fixture for family dinners. While they give us that comfort feeling just hearing the word, you may also get that skittish feeling that casserole means “loaded with canned crap”. I promise you, this Paleo Chicken Divan Casserole is anything but that!
As a nutritionist, I love to create classic comfort food recipes and turn them into something healthy! My Buffalo Chicken Casserole, and Low-Carb Chicken Enchilada Casserole are a few of my favorites.
After reaching out to many of you for what YOU wanted as we transition into late fall and colder weather, lots of requests for casseroles. My brain started working overtime thinking of some of my favorite casseroles. I decided I would take it back to one of the very first recipes I ever made as a married woman almost 15 years ago, Chicken Divan Casserole.
What is Chicken Divan Casserole?
Chicken Divan actually gets its origins from a restaurant in Manhattan called Divan Parisien Restaurant in the Chatham Hotel. It was a signature dish developed by the chefs that included a layer of broccoli, a decadent béchamel sauce, and chicken with a crunchy topping. Current variations of this dish included canned soup with crazy toppings such as ritz crackers or potato chips (Yikes).
How to Make Keto and Paleo Chicken Divan Casserole
My current version is nothing like the one I made early in my twenties. In fact, I am pretty sure I topped mine with some buttery crackers. This one is much healthier, yet still filling and decadent!!
- I actually begin this recipe by roasting the broccoli. Just to give it a head start!
- While the broccoli is roasting in the bottom of the casserole dish, we saute the cauliflower rice, and then the chicken pieces.
- In the meantime, I also made my “cheesy” sauce which is a dairy-free cashew sauce that is downright delicious! It includes soaked cashews, chicken broth, garlic, nutritional yeast, and dijon mustard.
- Now we combine the broccoli, cauliflower rice, chicken in the casserole dish
- We’ll now pour the sauce on top, and add some variation of crunch. I used chopped almonds, but any nut would work great. You can also add chopped plantain chips.
- Bake for 20-25 minutes, and you have yourself one tasty dinner!
Other Variations:
- Want to add cheese? You can sprinkle some parmesan cheese on top if dairy is tolerated. My kids loved this addition on their portion!
- Feel free to swap out the nut used on top: almonds, pecans, walnuts, and even hazelnuts work well
- You can easily substitute white rice or brown rice for the cauliflower rice. Use 2 cups of cooked rice! I prefer the low carb version. Omitting the rice part altogether is also an option!
Healthy Casseroles:
Looking for other ideas? Here are a few of my other favorite healthy casseroles! These are Paleo and Whole30 compliant!
- Beef Enchilada Bake with Cilantro Avocado Sauce
- Bacon Ranch Chicken and Broccoli Casserole
- Turkey Pot Pie with Biscuits
- Baked Zucchini Noodle Spaghetti
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Chicken Divan Casserole
Chicken Divan Casserole is creamy and decadent, but loaded with vegetables! You'll love this low-carb and dairy-free version of the classic dish.
Ingredients
- 1 large head of broccoli cut into florets
- 2 tbsp avocado oil or olive oil divided
- 4 cloves garlic, minced divided
- 12 oz riced cauliflower*
- 1/3 cup diced white onion
- 1.5 lbs chicken breast cut into bite sized pieces
- 1 cup raw cashews**
- 1 cup chicken broth
- 1/4 cup nutritional yeast
- 1 tbsp dijon mustard
- 1/2 tsp kosher salt
- 1/2 cup chopped almonds
Instructions
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Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Lightly grease a 9×13 casserole dish. Line the bottom with broccoli florets and brush 2 tsp of oil on top.
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Once the oven is hot, transfer the casserole dish with broccoli to the oven. Cook for 17-18 minutes, leave the oven hot once broccoli is removed.
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Heat a large skillet to medium high heat. Once hot, coat the pan with 1 tbsp oil then toss in the onion and 2 cloves garlic. Saute for 3-4 minutes, then add the cauliflower rice. Continue to cook the cauliflower rice until fragrant (about 5-6 minutes). Remove the cauliflower rice from heat, keep the skillet hot.
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Add the remaining oil to the skillet, and cook the chicken until browned on all sides (about another 5-6 minutes). Remove from heat.
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Meanwhile, make the cashew sauce. Place the drained cashews, chicken broth, nutritional yeast, dijon mustard, remaining garlic cloves, and salt to a blender or food processor. Blend until smooth 2-3 minutes. You may need to pause and use a rubber spatula to scrape down the sides. Add an additional tbsp of water if the sauce is too thick.
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In the casserole dish with the broccoli, mix together the chicken and cauliflower rice mixture. Pour the cashew sauce on top. Sprinkle with chopped almonds.
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Bake for 22-25 minutes or until the nuts are golden brown and the sauce is bubbly. Serve hot.
Recipe Notes
*You can use 12 oz store bought riced cauliflower. Or, cut 1 large head of cauliflower into florets, and pulse in a food processor to create rice.
**Pre-soak the cashews in boiling water for at least 15 minutes before making the sauce. Drain the water.
How well does this reheat? Thinking of subbing it for green beans for Thanksgiving, but would want to make in advance and reheat in oven before serving.
This was soooooo good!!!! Thank you for this version, my family loved it.
So happy to hear, Anna!
What is the nutrition count for this dish?
Hi Carol, I just updated the recipe to include the nutrition facts. They are in the note section of the recipe card.
Is there something I can sub for cashews due to an allergy??
Hi Jessica, the cashews are really the only nut that creates such a creamy sauce. You could try almonds, but it will be more “paste” like and gritty.
I want to make this ahead of time. Can it be frozen (maybe prepare all but the cashew sauce then pour that on after thawed)?
Yes, you can freeze and make the cashew sauce separately.
My husband and I loved this, the sauce is fabulous!