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This chicken divan is a paleo version of a comfort food classic! It’s dairy-free, gluten-free, and AIP compliant.

chicken divan

What is Chicken Divan?

Chicken divan is a classic comfort food casserole! It’s made with cubed chicken, broccoli, a creamy sauce, and a crunchy and cheesy topping. It’s the perfect comforting dish to serve to a family!

Though it may be delicious, it’s not necessarily the most allergen-friendly dish. This version is made to dairy-free, gluten-free, but still as decadent!

How to make this paleo chicken divan

  • Using a large deep pot, place the broccoli in a large pot with enough water to cover. Bring to a low boil and simmer for 5 minutes or until lightly fork tender. Strain and set aside in a large 9×13″ casserole dish.
  • Season the chicken with salt and pepper and coat with arrowroot starch. Using a large pan, heat the avocado oil over medium heat. Cook the chicken in the pan for 4-5 minutes or until the internal temperature reads 165 F. Set the chicken aside.
  • Clean out the same pot used for the broccoli and heat the avocado oil over medium heat. Saute the garlic until fragrant.
  • Pour in the chicken broth (reserve 1/4 cup on the side), apple cider vinegar, coconut cream, and salt. Stir and bring to a low simmer.
  • Using a small bowl, whisk together the 1/4 cup of broth and the arrowroot starch. Pour into the broth mixture and stir well. Allow to simmer and thicken for 2-3 minutes. Set aside and allow to cool slightly.
  • Preheat the oven to 400 F. Add the chicken to the casserole dish with the broccoli and stir to evenly disperse.

Chicken Divan  

  • Pour the sauce over the chicken and broccoli and top with the finely crushed plantain chips and nutritional yeast.
  • Bake in the preheated oven for 15-18 minutes or until the top is crispy.
  • Top with fresh parsley and serve with cauliflower rice if desired!

Chicken divan

The Ingredients for the Chicken Divan

Chicken breast

You can likely also use chicken thigh, but breast is what is traditionally used.

Broccoli

The broccoli adds greens to this dish for some extra flavor and nutrients.

Chicken broth and coconut cream

Chicken divan is usually made with canned cream soup, but these ingredients help to make your own at home.

Plantain chips

Crushing plantain chips as a topping makes such a delicious crunchy topping for this casserole! I used a food processor to finely crush the plantains, but you can also use manual methods like adding the plantain chips to a bag and crushing with a rolling pin.

Nutritional yeast

The nutritional yeast adds the cheesy flavor that you’d usually get with chicken divan!

Optional- cauliflower rice for serving

This dish can stand on its own or you can serve it over cauliflower rice.


chicken divan over cauliflower rice

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Chicken Divan

★★★★★

5 from 3 reviews
  • Author: Michelle
  • Total Time: 1 hour
  • Yield: 5 servings 1x
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Description

This chicken divan is a paleo version of a comfort food classic! It’s dairy-free, gluten-free, and AIP compliant.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 5 cups broccoli florets
  • 1 lb chicken breast, cubed
  • 1/2 tsp sea salt
  • 1/4 tsp black pepper (omit for AIP)
  • 1 tbsp arrowroot starch
  • 2 tbsp avocado oil

For the sauce

  • 2 tbsp avocado oil
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 1/4 cup chicken broth
  • 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar
  • 1/3 cup coconut cream
  • 1/3 tsp sea salt
  • 1 tbsp + 2 tsp arrowroot starch

For topping

  • 1 1/2 cup plantain chips (finely crushed, manually or with a food processor)
  • 2 tbsp nutritional yeast
  • 1 tbsp parsley, chopped

Instructions

  1. Using a large deep pot, place the broccoli in a large pot with enough water to cover. Bring to a low boil and simmer for 5 minutes or until lightly fork tender. Strain and set aside in a large 9×13″ casserole dish.
  2. Season the chicken with salt and pepper and coat with arrowroot starch. Using a large pan, heat the avocado oil over medium heat. Cook the chicken in the pan for 4-5 minutes or until the internal temperature reads 165 F. Set the chicken aside.
  3. Clean out the same pot used for the broccoli and heat the avocado oil over medium heat. Saute the garlic until fragrant.
  4. Pour in the chicken broth (reserve 1/4 cup on the side), apple cider vinegar, coconut cream, and salt. Stir and bring to a low simmer.
  5. Using a small bowl, whisk together the 1/4 cup of broth and the arrowroot starch. Pour into the broth mixture and stir well. Allow to simmer and thicken for 2-3 minutes. Set aside and allow to cool slightly.
  6. Preheat the oven to 400 F. Add the chicken to the casserole dish with the broccoli and stir to evenly disperse.
  7. Pour the sauce over the chicken and broccoli and top with the finely crushed plantain chips and nutritional yeast.
  8. Bake in the preheated oven for 15-18 minutes or until the top is crispy.
  9. Top with fresh parsley and serve with cauliflower rice if desired

Notes

All nutritional information are estimations and will vary. Nutritional information does not include optional ingredients.

  • Prep Time: 20 minutes
  • Cook Time: 40 minutes
  • Category: casserole
  • Method: Baked
  • Cuisine: American

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 1 serving
  • Calories: 683
  • Fat: 40.7g
  • Carbohydrates: 53.6g
  • Fiber: 4.5g
  • Protein: 26.8g

Chicken divan