Chicken Divan, Lightened Up

Broccoli and chicken in a creamy cheesy sauce, topped with more cheese and breadcrumbs. Your family will thank you for this! Casseroles are highly requested makeovers, so I will try to publish at least one new casserole a week. Put in your requests here if you have a favorite.

Chicken Divan was created in the 1930s at the Divan Parisian Restaurant in Manhattan, and since has become an American classic. While most recipes call for mayonnaise, canned soup, and a lot more fat, this recipe has been significantly lightened up to maintain it's flavor without all the added fat.

You can make this quicker by using leftover chicken, or precooked chicken breasts. Can you use frozen broccoli? Yes, of course you can, but nothing beats the flavor of fresh broccoli in my opinion. I served this with a green salad on the side to make this a complete meal.





Chicken Divan, Lightened Up
Gina's Weight Watcher Recipes

Servings: 6 • Serving Size: 1/6th • Old Points: 7 pts • Points+: 8 pts

Calories: 335.7 • Fat: 12.3 g • Protein: 34.5 g • Carb: 19.8 g • Fiber: 4.1 g  

• 1-1/2 lbs broccoli (3 large heads) chopped
• 24 oz boneless skinless chicken breasts (or 18 oz cooked)
• salt and fresh ground pepper
• 1 tbsp butter
• 2 tsp extra virgin olive oil
• 2 cloves garlic, crushed
• 2 tbsp shallots, minced (onions would work too)
• 4 tbsp flour
• 1 cup fat free chicken broth
• 1 cup fat free milk
• 2 oz dry sherry (white wine would work)
• 6 oz shredded reduced-fat swiss
• 1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese
• 1/4 cup seasoned whole wheat breadcrumbs
• cooking spray

Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Add the broccoli and blanch 3 minutes. Rinse with cold water to stop the cooking. Drain well and set aside.


Preheat oven to 350°. Grease a 9 x 13 inch baking dish with cooking spray.

Season the chicken with salt and pepper. Using a grill pan or Forman grill, saute chicken on medium-low heat on both sides until browned, and just about cooked through, about 5 minutes on each side. Remove from heat and transfer chicken to a cutting board. When cooled, slice chicken into bite sized pieces.

Heat a medium skillet on medium heat. Add the butter and oil until melted and then add garlic and shallots. Sprinkle the flour and whisk until smooth. Stir in broth, milk and sherry and bring to a boil. Remove from heat and stir in half of the swiss cheese. Season to taste with salt and pepper.



Arrange the broccoli in a casserole dish and pour half of the sauce over the broccoli. Arrange the chicken on top and cover with remaining sauce. Sprinkle the remaining swiss cheese, grated parmesan and top with breadcrumbs. Spray a little oil on top.

Bake 30 minutes, serve hot.