Name: Air Fryer Chicken Divan
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 30 min
Ingredients: 2 tablespoons butter; 1 pound chicken breasts (cut into small pieces); Salt and pepper (to taste); ½ cup red onion (diced); 1 stick celery (diced); 2 cups broccoli florets (chopped); 1 tablespoon olive oil; 2 cups cream of chicken soup; ⅓ cup sour cream; ½ cup milk; ½ teaspoon garlic powder; ½ teaspoon onion powder; ½ teaspoon mustard; 1 ½ cups cheddar cheese (shredded); ½ cup crushed Ritz crackers; 2 tablespoons butter (melted)

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What I love about this Air Fryer Chicken Divan is that satisfying crunch on top that gives way to the creamy, cheesy layer underneath. Tender chicken and broccoli get coated in rich sauce, while buttery Ritz crackers add the golden, crispy finish. It’s comforting, flavorful, and one of those dishes you can’t help but go back to for seconds.

An Air Fryer Chicken Divan casserole, topped with chopped herbs, sits in a blue dish with a wooden spoon; plates, cutlery, and a side serving are nearby. — Air Fryer Chicken Divan. Photo Credit: Hungry Cooks Kitchen.

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I make this for busy weeknight dinners when I need something quick and comforting, but it’s also a crowd-favorite for game day or potlucks where it’s always one of the first dishes to disappear. It keeps well in the fridge for 3 to 4 days and freezes beautifully for up to 2 months.

Ingredients You’ll Need

You’ll need all the ingredients shown in the photograph below.

Top-down view of labeled ingredients for an Air Fryer Chicken Divan casserole, featuring chicken breasts, broccoli, cheddar cheese, cream of chicken soup, red onion, celery, sour cream, and seasonings. — Air Fryer Chicken Divan Ingredients. Photo Credit: Hungry Cooks Kitchen.

How to Make Air Fryer Chicken Divan with Step-By-Step Instructions

Scroll down for the full recipe card containing a full printable recipe and measurements in both US customary and metric units.

Let me show you how to make this comforting, family-favorite dish that’s surprisingly simple to prepare.

Season and Brown the Chicken

Season the chicken breasts with salt and pepper, then sear them in butter over medium-high heat until golden and cooked through, about 5–6 minutes per side.

Remove the chicken from the pan and set it aside to cool slightly before chopping it into bite-sized pieces. I love using my large nonstick skillet because it heats evenly and gives the chicken a perfectly golden sear every time.

Cook the Vegetables

In the same pan with the butter and chicken drippings, sauté the red onion and celery for about 3 minutes until softened. Add the chopped fresh broccoli florets, drizzle with olive oil, and cook 3–5 minutes more until bright green and tender.

Keep the veggies slightly crisp, as they’ll cook more in the air fryer. A good vegetable chopper makes prepping the broccoli, onion, and celery so much faster.

Make the Creamy Sauce

Remove the pan from heat and stir in the cream of chicken soup, sour cream, milk, garlic powder, onion powder, and mustard until everything’s well combined.

Add the chopped chicken back to the pan along with half of the cheddar cheese, stirring until it melts into the sauce and evenly coats the casserole. The mixture should stay rich, thick, and creamy, perfectly covering the chicken and vegetables.

Assemble in the Baking Dish

Transfer the chicken and broccoli mixture to a greased 9×13 dish that fits your air fryer, then top evenly with the remaining cheddar.

In a small bowl, combine the melted butter and crushed Ritz crackers until well coated, and then scatter over the cheese layer to turn golden and crispy in the air fryer rather than drying out or burning.

A rectangular baking dish filled with unbaked Air Fryer Chicken Divan casserole, topped with shredded cheese and cracker crumbs, sits on a light-colored surface. — Air fry the chicken and broccoli mixture topped with cheese and crackers at 350°F for 10 minutes until golden.

Air Fry Until Golden

Place the baking dish in the air fryer and cook at 350°F (180°C) for about 10 minutes, until the cheese bubbles around the edges and the cracker topping turns perfectly golden.

Let it sit for about 5 minutes before serving so the sauce can thicken slightly. Serve over mashed potatoes or rice to soak up all that creamy goodness. Enjoy!

If you’re bringing this dish to a potluck or game day, transfer it to a ceramic casserole dish and cover it tightly with foil. Place it in an insulated casserole carrier to keep it warm and mess-free.

Air Fryer Chicken Divan

I make Air Fryer Chicken Divan when I want a comforting casserole that comes together quickly on busy weeknights. Tender chicken and broccoli get coated in a rich, creamy sauce made with cream of chicken soup, sour cream, and melted cheddar cheese, then topped with buttery Ritz crackers that turn golden and crispy in the air fryer. The air fryer gives that bubbly, golden-topped casserole without heating up the whole kitchen, making it perfect for weeknight dinners, game day, or potlucks where it's always one of the first dishes to disappear. It keeps well in the fridge for 3 to 4 days and freezes beautifully for up to 2 months.

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Prep Time: 10

Cook Time: 20

Total Time: 30

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: American

Keyword: Air Fryer Chicken Divan

Servings:

Calories: 444kcal

Ingredients

2 tablespoons butter
1 pound chicken breasts cut into small pieces
Salt and pepper to taste
½ cup red onion diced
1 stick celery diced
2 cups broccoli florets chopped
1 tablespoon olive oil
2 cups cream of chicken soup
⅓ cup sour cream
½ cup milk
½ teaspoon garlic powder
½ teaspoon onion powder
½ teaspoon mustard
1 ½ cups cheddar cheese shredded

For the toppings:

½ cup crushed Ritz crackers
2 tablespoons butter melted

US Customary – Metric

Instructions

Season chicken with salt and pepper.
1 pound chicken breasts, Salt and pepper
In a large pan, melt butter and cook chicken until browned. Add onion and celery, cook for 3 minutes. Add broccoli and olive oil, cook 3–5 minutes.
2 tablespoons butter, ½ cup red onion, 1 stick celery, 2 cups broccoli florets, 1 tablespoon olive oil
Remove from heat. Stir in cream of chicken soup, sour cream, milk, garlic powder, onion powder, mustard, and half the cheese.
2 cups cream of chicken soup, ⅓ cup sour cream, ½ cup milk, ½ teaspoon garlic powder, ½ teaspoon onion powder, ½ teaspoon mustard, 1 ½ cups cheddar cheese
Transfer mixture to a greased 9×13 dish. Top with remaining cheese. Mix melted butter with crushed crackers and sprinkle on top.
½ cup crushed Ritz crackers, 2 tablespoons butter
Place dish in the air fryer. Cook at 350°F (180°C) for 10 minutes, until bubbly and golden. Let sit for 5 minutes before serving. Great over mashed potatoes or rice.

Notes

Brown the chicken well: Don’t skip this step because it adds rich flavor and creates a delicious base for the veggies.
Keep broccoli slightly firm: It keeps cooking in the air fryer, so don’t let it get too soft on the stovetop.
Grease your dish thoroughly: Use butter or nonstick spray generously so the cheesy edges don’t stick.
Check air fryer fit: Before cooking, make sure your 9×13 dish fits in your air fryer basket. If not, use a smaller oven-safe dish and adjust the cook time.
Let it rest before serving: Give the casserole about 5 minutes to settle after air frying so the sauce thickens up nicely.
Flash freeze for meal prep: Freeze single portions on a baking sheet for an hour before storing to make quick grab-and-reheat meals later.

Nutrition

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How to Store Leftovers

Let the casserole cool completely before storing. Transfer leftovers to stackable airtight containers and refrigerate for up to 3-4 days. When ready to enjoy, reheat individual portions in the microwave for 1–2 minutes or warm the whole dish in the air fryer at 300°F for 5–7 minutes until hot and bubbly again.

For longer storage, freeze the cooked dish in a freezer-safe container or divide portions into airtight containers for up to 2 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge before reheating. The Ritz topping might lose some crunch after freezing, but adding fresh crushed crackers on top restores its crisp texture.

What to Serve With Air Fryer Chicken Divan

Serve it over fluffy white rice to soak up every bit of the creamy sauce. The casserole acts as a rich topping that makes the rice more flavorful. You can also serve it on its own as a complete meal since it already has protein, vegetables, and a buttery cracker topping.

A simple green salad with tangy vinaigrette cuts through the richness of the cheese and cream, adding freshness to balance the heaviness. Soft dinner rolls are perfect for mopping up extra sauce if you’re serving it at a potluck or family dinner. I also like adding roasted green beans or honey glazed carrots when I want more vegetables to round out the meal.

More Easy Recipes for You to Try at Home

I’ve got other delicious air fryer casserole recipes that are just as comforting as this one.

About the Author

A woman with long brown hair is smiling and standing with her arms crossed. She is wearing a sleeveless, black and white diamond-patterned dress.

Hey there! I’m Mandy

Mandy Applegate is a home cook, food blogger, and writer who believes the best meals are the ones shared with the people you love.

She’s all about easy recipes that taste amazing, the kind that make ordinary days feel a little more special and remind you why cooking at home matters.

She has been published on NBC, the Daily News, the Boston Herald, and the Chicago Sun-Times, amongst many others.

Air Fryer Chicken Divan

Ingredients You’ll Need