This turkey divan recipe is such a great way to extend the meals with your Thanksgiving turkey. Loaded with fresh broccoli and turkey, then topped with a creamy cheese sauce and fried panko crumbs. Serve over rice for a complete dish.
A chicken divan is one of my all-time favorite dinners. I grew up on it and continue to make it for my family.
This version is slightly easier because it uses leftover turkey from our Thanksgiving dinner. And since we do a herb and butter smoked turkey, those flavors compliment this dish nicely.
Take it a step higher and make your own homemade turkey broth this year from holiday leftovers as well. It's super simple and great to use in recipes like this turkey divan, my turkey noodle soup or turkey stroganoff.
What I love most about this recipe is it doesn't use cream, chicken soup or cream of mushroom soup. Instead, all you need is a homemade creamy sauce.
With just some butter, flour, stock, and milk you can make a cream of chicken (or turkey) that is much better than the canned stuff. This is the right way to make a divan and I'm certain you will enjoy I!
Need some other dinner ideas? Check out my soup recipes.🥦
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⭐️Why You'll Love This Recipe
- Uses leftover turkey: A fun way to use left over Thanksgiving Turkey.
- Tons of fresh broccoli: Use chopped up fresh broccoli.
- Creamy cheesy sauce: Uses a fresh homemade creamy sauce. No canned version needed!
- Crispy bread crumb topping: This buttery crispy top is so irresistible.
- Makes great leftovers: This dish itself is almost better next day for seconds or thirds.
🥦Ingredients
Turkey: A mix of turkey breast and dark meat can be used. I would recommend taking the skin off as it can get chewy. Cooked chicken can also be used.
Cheese: Use only fresh grated cheese. The pre-graded bagged cheese will not melt properly as there is a preserve coating that effects the melting temperature.
Bread Topping: For the toasted bread crumbs you can use panko, Italian bread crumbs or crushed up ritz crackers.
Fresh Broccoli: Use only fresh broccoli. Frozen can get too mushy.
Cooked Rice: Serve over your favorite cooked rice.
See full information on ingredients and quantities in the recipe card.
🔪How to Make
Step 1: Heat oven to 350 degrees.
Step 2: Take a 9x13 baking dish or casserole dish and spray it with cooking spray.
Steam the Broccoli
Step 3: In a large pan over medium heat, add ½ cup of water. Bring to a light simmer and add the broccoli. Sprinkle a ½ teaspoon of salt and ¼ teaspoon of black pepper and toss to coat. (Image 1).
Step 4: Place lid on and steam for a few minutes. Broccoli is done with it's bright green and still has a little bit of a crunch to it.
Step 5: Drain the broccoli and add to the baking pan in a single layer. (Image 2).
Step 6: Discard water and place the now empty pan back onto the stove.
Step 7: Take the chopped up turkey (or shredded) and place on top of the broccoli in a single layer. (Image 3).
Creamy Cheese Sauce
In the now empty pan, make the cheesy sauce.
Step 8: Melt the butter and olive oil over medium heat. Once melted add in the flour and mix. It should be clumpy. Cook until all the flour is cooked out. (Image 4).
Step 9: Very slowly, add in the broth and milk. Whisking as it is being incorporated.
Step 10: Add in mustard, sour cream, and all the seasoning then bring to a light simmer. (Image 5).
Step 11: Simmer for about 5-10 minutes or until the sauce thickens up. Whisk often. The sauce is done when it coats the back of a spoon. (Image 6).
Step 12: Remove from heat and stir in ½ cup of the cheddar cheese and ½ cup of parmesan cheese. Whisk until it is completely melted. (Image 7).
Step 13: Pour over the top of the turkey and broccoli mix. Make sure it is evenly covered. (Image 8).
Step 14: Sprinkle the remaining cheddar cheese on top. (Image 9).
Bread Crumb Topping
Step 15: In a small pan over medium heat, melt 2 tablespoons of butter.
Step 16: Add the panko crumbs then toss to coat. Cook for a few minutes, tossing often, to get it nice and golden brown. (Image 10).
Step 17: Spread on top of the casserole, cover with aluminum foil, and transfer to the oven for 30 minutes. (Image 11).
Step 18: For the last 5-10 minutes, remove the foil. It's done when the mix is bubbly and the top is golden brown. (Image 12).
💡Pro tip: To get an even crispier top, switch the oven to broil for a few minutes. Watch it carefully.
Step 19: Remove from oven and allow to cool for 10 minutes.
Serve with cooked rice.
❓Recipe FAQs
Chicken, or turkey, divan is a casserole that consists of steamed broccoli, a creamy cheese sauce with chicken or Turkey and then topped with bread crumbs. It is usually served over cooked rice.
This turkey divan will last up to 5 days when stored in the refrigerator in an air tight container.
🦃Other Turkey Recipes
📋Recipe
Turkey Divan
Ingredients
- 1.5 Pounds Leftover Turkey - Chopped or Shredded
- Cooked Rice - For Serving
Steamed Broccoli
- 1 pound Broccoli - Cut into florets or bite sized pieces.
- ½ teaspoon Kosher Salt
- ¼ teaspoon Black Pepper
- ½ Cup Water
Cheese Sauce
- 2 tablespoons Olive Oil
- 2 tablespoons Unsalted Butter
- ⅓ Cup All Purpose Flour
- 1.5 Cups Turkey Broth - or Chicken Broth
- 2 Cups Whole Milk
- 1 teaspoon Dijon Mustard
- 1 teaspoon Chicken Boullion
- 1 teaspoon Garlic Powder
- 1 teaspoon Onion Powder
- 1 teaspoon Dried Parsley
- 1 teaspoon Salt
- ½ teaspoon Black Pepper
- ½ Cup Sour Cream
- 1.5 Cups Cheddar Cheese - Shredded and Divided
- ½ Cup Parmesan Cheese - Shredded
Panko Topping
- 2 tablespoons Butter
- 1 Cup Panko Crumbs
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
- Take a 9x13 or other banking pan and spray with cooking spray. Set aside.
Steam The Broccoli
- In a large pan over medium heat, add ½ cup of water.
- Bring to a light simmer and add the broccoli. Sprinkle a ½ teaspoon of salt and ¼ teaspoon of black pepper and toss to coat.
- Place lid on and steam for a few minutes.
- Broccoli is done with it's bright green and still has a little bit of a crunch to it.
- Drain the broccoli and add to the baking pan in a single layer.
- Discard water and place the now empty pan back onto the stove.
- Take the chopped up turkey (or shredded) and place on top of the broccoli in a single layer.
Creamy Cheese Sauce
- In the now empty pan, make the cheesy sauce.
- Melt the butter and olive oil over medium heat. Once melted add in the flour and mix.
- It should be clumpy. Cook until all the flour is cooked out.
- Very slowly, add in the broth and milk. Whisking as it is being incorporated.
- Add in mustard, sour cream, and all the seasoning then bring to a light simmer.
- Simmer for about 5-10 minutes or until the sauce thickens up. Whisk often.
- The sauce is done when it coats the back of a spoon.
- Remove from heat and stir in ½ cup of the cheddar cheese and ½ cup of parmesan cheese.
- Whisk until it is completely melted.
- Pour over the top of the turkey and broccoli mix.
- Make sure it is evenly covered.
- Sprinkle the remaining cheddar cheese on top.
Toasted Panko
- In a small pan over medium heat, melt 2 tablespoons of butter.
- Add the panko crumbs then toss to coat.
- Cook for a few minutes, tossing to get it nice and golden brown.
- Spread on top of the casserole and cover with aluminum foil.
Baking
- Transfer to the oven for 30 minutes.
- For the last 5-10 minutes, remove the foil.
- It's done when the mix is bubbly and the top is golden brown.
- To get an even crispier top, switch the oven to broil for a few minutes. Watch it carefully so it doesn't burn
- Remove from oven and allow to cool for 10 minutes.
- Serve with rice.
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