This warm and hearty Slow Cooker Chicken Divan is no-fuss comfort food at its finest packed with delicious creamy, cheesy flavor the whole family will love. With 10 minutes of prep time and easy to find ingredients, this is a meal that’s both affordable and so satisfying.
I always say the slow cooker is the MVP of mealtime, and that’s definitely the case with this dish. Cozy, creamy, and packed with flavor, this rich and hearty Chicken Divan in the slow cooker recipe is the ultimate family-friendly classic made even easier with the help of a crock pot. This “dump and go” dinner comes together with little prep (10 minutes), so it’s perfect for busy weeknights and feeding a crowd.
Full of tender browned chicken, a perfectly seasoned creamy sauce, and melty cheese served over fluffy rice, this Slow Cooker Chicken Divan is truly the ultimate comfort food. Believe us when we say, you’ll be making this one on repeat in no time — it’s a family favorite craved by all.
If you like this classic dish, try some of these other warm, cozy recipes. This easy Creamy Chicken and Rice is hearty and delicious, and we love this Creamy Spinach Stuffed Chicken, too.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Hands-Off Cooking: Let the slow cooker do the heavy lifting for you here. With an easy process, a few simple ingredients and minimal prep, just add everything in, set it, forget it, and enjoy a few hours later.
- Great for Meal Prep: This is a great recipe to prep in advance and have at the ready when dinner rolls around. And leftovers reheat beautifully, so you’ve got a meal for tomorrow, too.
- Kid-friendly: With familiar, savory, cheesy flavors, this dish is craved by kids and adults — it’s great for the whole family.
- Customizable: This recipe is easy to customize. Add in veggies, use a rotisserie chicken, change up the flavor profile — make it a different way each time you serve it.
Ingredients
- Chicken: Boneless skinless breasts work great and are tender and juicy, but thighs are super flavorful too.
- Cream of Chicken Soup: Rich, savory and thick to build the sauce. We also recommend using our Cream of Something Soup recipe for this!
- Mayonnaise: Creamy and tangy in flavor.
- Lemon Juice: Bright and acidic, use freshly squeezed.
- Curry Powder: Fragrant and spiced, don’t skip this!
- Broccoli: Added fresh flavor and pop of color.
- Salt & Pepper: Seasoning is always essential.
- Cheddar Cheese: Sharp and bold, use freshly grated for the best melt.
- Parsley: A fresh and bright finishing touch.
How To Make Slow Cooker Chicken Divan
1. Lightly spray the slow cooker with nonstick cooking spray and place the chicken breasts in the bottom.
2. In a medium bowl, mix together the cream of chicken soup, mayonnaise, lemon juice, curry powder, salt, and pepper.
3. Pour the sauce mixture over the chicken. Cover and cook on High for 2+ hours or Low for 4+ hours, until the chicken is tender and easy to shred.
4. Shred the chicken directly in the slow cooker, then stir in the broccoli florets.
5. Sprinkle the cheddar cheese over the top, cover again and turn the slow cooker up to High, and cook for about 30 more minutes, or until the broccoli is tender and the cheese is melted.
Equipment
- This is my go-to slow cooker for absolutely everything.
Expert Tips
- Use Freshly Shredded Cheese: It’s worth the (minimal) effort, we promise. Freshly grated will melt perfectly for the best texture. Pre-shredded cheese has a coating that prevents it from melting and can give the sauce a grainy consistency.
- Don’t Overcook Broccoli: Add it towards the end of cooking to keep it vibrant and tender. You don’t want it overly soft, mushy, or brown.
- Use Rotisserie Chicken: Feel free to use cubed or shredded rotisserie chicken for a shortcut and time-saver. Simply cut down and adjust the cook time.
- Add Cooked Rice: To make this a heartier meal, stir in cooked rice at the end or serve alongside of the saucy chicken.
- Try Homemade Condensed Soup: To control what ingredients you’re using, try making your own soup mix — we love our Cream of Something Soup recipe.
- Bake in the Oven: For another hands-off, no-fuss method, try baking this recipe instead of using the slow cooker.
What To Serve With Chicken Divan in the Slow Cooker
Chicken divan is hearty and satisfying, and pairs perfectly with some of these delicious ideas.
- Steamed White or Brown Rice
- Egg Noodles
- Crusty Bread or Garlic Bread
- Simple Green Salad or Lemon Caesar Salad
Storage
Store leftover chicken divan in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. To reheat, warm on the stove over medium heat with a splash of broth or milk to loosen, or reheat covered in the oven at 350°F until hot.
You can freeze chicken divan for up to 3 months in an airtight container. Thaw in the fridge the night before serving, then reheat as instructed above.
Chicken divan is a great make-ahead meal. Prep and cook the whole dish a day or two in advance, cool, then store in an airtight container in the fridge. When you’re ready to serve, bring to room temperature and reheat covered in the oven with a splash of stock to loosen, or on the stovetop over medium heat.
Variations
- Add Mushrooms: For an extra hearty texture and even more flavor.
- Try Different Cheeses: Swap cheddar for nutty Gruyère or melty Monterey Jack.
- Use Other Veggies: Try adding in cauliflower instead of broccoli florets for a slightly different flavor profile.
- Add a Crunchy Topping: Right before serving, sprinkle on buttery breadcrumbs, crushed potato chips or butter crackers for texture and extra flavor.
FAQs
For food safety reasons, we recommend fully thawing raw chicken before adding to the slow cooker and cooking.
You can, but it might have a slightly different flavor. You can swap in full-fat greek yogurt or sour cream for another rich, tangy, creamy note.
You don’t need it, but we really recommend it since it’s a traditional ingredient that adds depth and a subtle warm flavor to the creamy sauce.
More Easy Slow Cooker Recipes
- Slow Cooker Sweet and Sour Pork
- Slow Cooker Chicken Enchilada Casserole
- Crockpot Loaded Mashed Potatoes
- Fall Apart Crock Pot Roast
Slow Cooker Chicken Divan
Ingredients
Method
- Lightly spray the slow cooker with nonstick cooking spray and place the chicken breasts in the bottom.
- In a medium bowl, mix together the cream of chicken soup, mayonnaise, lemon juice, curry powder, salt, and pepper.
- Pour the sauce mixture over the chicken. Cover and cook on High for 2+ hours or Low for 4+ hours, until the chicken is tender and easy to shred.
- Shred the chicken directly in the slow cooker, then stir in the broccoli florets.
- Sprinkle the cheddar cheese over the top, cover again and turn the slow cooker up to High, and cook for about 30 more minutes, or until the broccoli is tender and the cheese is melted.