Alright, listen up, y’all. Today, I’m gonna tell ya how to make this chicken thing, a real fancy dish called “chicken divan.” Don’t you go gettin’ all scared now, it ain’t as hard as it sounds. It’s just chicken and some other stuff, all mixed up together, and it tastes mighty fine. My old man used to love it, God rest his soul.
First off, you need some chicken. Now, don’t go gettin’ all high and mighty with fresh chicken if you ain’t got the time. A can of that cooked chicken works just fine. Yep, that’s what I said, canned chicken. Saves you a whole heap of trouble, and nobody gonna know the difference once it’s all cooked up. If you got leftover chicken from Sunday supper, that works too. Just shred it up real good.
Next, you gonna need some broccoli. Them little green trees. You can get the frozen kind, the kind that comes in a bag, or you can get the fresh kind. If you get the fresh kind, you gotta boil it up a bit first, till it’s kinda soft, not too mushy though. We ain’t makin’ baby food here. And chop it up, not too big, not too small, just right.
Important stuff for the sauce, listen close
- Alright, now for the sauce, that’s where the magic happens, they say. You need a can of that creamy chicken soup. Yeah, the stuff in the red and white can. That stuff is a lifesaver, I tell ya.
- And you gonna need some mayonnaise. Not too much, just enough to make it creamy.
- And some sour cream, the thick kind, like what you put on a baked potato.
- And here’s the kicker, some of that fancy cheese, the kind that smells a little bit like feet, Parmesan, that’s what they call it. Grate it up real fine, or buy it already grated, that’s what I do if I want to be lazy. Ain’t no shame in it.
- Oh, and don’t forget the Sherry; just a splash, like what you put in a cake to make it moist. Don’t go pourin’ in the whole bottle, now. We ain’t tryin’ to get nobody drunk. Just a little bit for flavor, they say it makes things fancy, that sherry.
- And a squirt of lemon juice. Just a little bit, to make it tangy. You don’t want it too sour, just enough to wake up your taste buds.
Now, you mix all that together in a bowl. The chicken, the broccoli, the soup, the mayonnaise, the sour cream, the cheese, the Sherry, and the lemon juice. Mix it all up real good, till everything is coated and creamy. It should look kinda like a big ol’ mess, but don’t you worry, it’ll taste just fine.
Then, you gotta put it in a dish, a casserole dish, they call it. The kind you use for potlucks and such. Spread it out even, and then sprinkle some more of that Parmesan cheese on top. And if you feeling real fancy, you can sprinkle some breadcrumbs on top too. Makes it crunchy, you know.
Then, you bake it in the oven, at 350 degrees, for about 30 minutes, or until it’s bubbly and golden brown. And that’s it. It’s done. Let it sit for a bit before you serve it, so it ain’t too hot. And there you have it, chicken divan. Easy as pie, ain’t it?
Now, some folks like to add all sorts of other things to it, like mushrooms or water chestnuts or whatnot. But I like to keep it simple. Just chicken, broccoli, and that creamy sauce. That’s all you need, I tell ya.
And let me tell you somethin’ else, this dish is good for any occasion. You can serve it for Sunday supper, for a potluck, or even for a fancy dinner party. It’s always a crowd-pleaser. And it’s so easy to make, you can whip it up even on a weeknight. So there you have it, my secret recipe for chicken divan. Don’t you go tellin’ nobody, now. It’s just between you and me. And if anybody asks where you got the recipe, you just tell ’em it’s an old family secret. They ain’t gotta know nothin’ else.
So go on, now, get yourself to the store and get the fixin’s. And make yourself some chicken divan. You won’t regret it. And your family will thank you for it. Trust me, I know what I’m talkin’ about. I been cookin’ longer than you been alive.
Oh and before I forget, if you want to be really fancy, you can whip up some cream, they call it heavy cream, until it stands up all stiff, then you fold it into the sauce right at the end, before you put it in the dish. Makes it extra fluffy and light. My daughter-in-law showed me that trick. She’s always trying out new things, that one. But it does make it good, I gotta admit.
And that’s all there is to it. Go on now, and get cookin’!
Tags: [Chicken Divan, Easy Recipe, Casserole, Chicken Recipe, Dinner Recipe, Parmesan Cheese, Sherry, Quick Meal]