Paleo Chicken Divan: A Healthy Twist on a Classic Comfort Food

Introduction

Paleo Chicken Divan takes a beloved classic and transforms it into a wholesome, flavor-packed dish that fits a clean-eating lifestyle. With tender chicken, fresh broccoli, and a creamy, dairy-free sauce, this recipe offers all the cozy comfort of the original while aligning with paleo principles. It’s ideal for family dinners or meal prepping, making it easy to enjoy comfort food without the guilt.

Why This Paleo Chicken Divan is a Weeknight Hero

This version of Chicken Divan shines with its rich, savory sauce—entirely free from grains and dairy. The secret lies in blending coconut milk and a touch of nutritional yeast for a cheesy flavor, without actual cheese. Broccoli adds a burst of freshness, while chicken keeps the meal hearty and satisfying. The whole dish bakes in one pan, promising little cleanup and lots of flavor—perfect for busy households seeking healthy comfort food.

Crafting a Creamy, Dairy-Free Sauce

This sauce reimagines tradition by skipping the canned soup and heavy cream in favor of coconut milk, chicken broth, and seasonings. Nutritional yeast delivers an umami-rich, cheesy note, while a hint of Dijon mustard gives the sauce depth and zest. Simmering everything together creates a velvety texture that coats every piece of chicken and veggie beautifully.

Simple Assembly for Paleo Chicken Divan

Layer tender cooked broccoli and juicy bite-sized chicken in a casserole dish. Pour your luscious dairy-free sauce over the top, then finish with a crisp almond flour “breadcrumb” topping. Bake until golden and bubbling—your kitchen will fill with comforting aromas. For an even crunchier topping, toast the almond flour briefly in a skillet before adding.

Serving Suggestions for Paleo Chicken Divan

Serve this dish straight from the oven, garnished with fresh herbs like parsley or chives. It pairs wonderfully with cauliflower rice or a crisp green salad to round out your paleo meal. Leftovers reheat beautifully, making it a smart option for batch cooking or packed lunches.

Nutritional Information and Serving Size

This recipe yields about 4 generous servings. Each contains roughly 380 calories, 30g protein, 9g net carbs, and 22g healthy fats, depending on your chicken and coconut milk brands. With ample veggies and clean proteins, it’s a balanced choice for wholesome weeknight dining.

Recap: Paleo Chicken Divan

This reinvented classic offers comfort and nutrition in every bite. With its creamy, dairy-free sauce and crisp topping, Paleo Chicken Divan is an easy, crowd-pleasing dish that fits beautifully into meal prep plans and satisfies any craving for familiar flavors.

💡Meal Planning Tip: Save this recipe to instantly create a streamlined shopping list—with every ingredient sorted by grocery section—for easy and efficient meal prep.

Instructions

1. Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C). Lightly grease a 9×13” baking dish.
2. Steam the broccoli florets until just tender, about 4-5 minutes. Spread in the bottom of the baking dish.
3. Heat 1 tablespoon oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add onion and sauté until soft, about 3 minutes. Add garlic and cook for 1 minute more.
4. Add the cubed chicken to the skillet. Season with salt, pepper, and paprika. Sauté until just cooked through. Arrange over the broccoli in the baking dish.
5. In a mixing bowl, whisk together coconut milk, chicken broth, Dijon mustard, and nutritional yeast. Pour sauce over the chicken and broccoli.
6. In a separate bowl, combine almond flour with 1 tablespoon oil and a pinch of salt. Stir to moisten, then sprinkle evenly over the casserole. (Toast the almond flour in a dry skillet for 2-3 minutes first for extra crunch, if desired.)
7. Bake for 15-20 minutes, or until the top is lightly golden and the sauce is bubbling at the edges.
8. Garnish with fresh parsley and serve hot.

Weekly Meal Planning

This recipe is a meal prep superstar. Save and schedule Paleo Chicken Divan in your weekly plan to streamline ingredients and dodge mealtime stress, thanks to automatic, organized shopping lists.

Planning Benefits:

• Automatically aggregates ingredient quantities for all weekly recipes
• Sorts shopping lists by grocery aisle for speedy trips
• Reduces kitchen waste and prevents duplicate purchases
• Makes healthy batch cooking simple and convenient

Pro tip: If you’re planning both this recipe and another coconut milk–based dish, schedule recipes together so the tool combines coconut milk amounts, keeping your pantry organized and your cart waste-free.

Cook and Prep Times

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 25 minutes
Total Time: 40 minutes