Description
Creamy tortellini and chicken divan bake combines classic comfort with Italian-inspired elegance. Home chefs can enjoy this hearty casserole that delivers rich flavors and satisfying textures you’ll crave again and again.
Ingredients
Scale
- 4 cups chopped cooked chicken
- 1 (20 oz / 567 g) package refrigerated cheese-and-spinach tortellini
- 3 cups chicken broth
- 1 ½ cups half-and-half
- 4 cups chopped fresh broccoli
- ½ cup butter
- 1 cup (4 oz / 113 g) freshly shredded Parmesan cheese
- ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- ½ cup dry white wine
- ½ cup chopped sweet onion
- ½ cup chopped red bell pepper
- ½ cup chopped pecans
- 3 tbsps butter, melted
- ¼ cup all-purpose flour
- 15 round buttery crackers, crushed
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- ¼ tsp table salt
- ¼ tsp ground red pepper
Instructions
- Preparation: Preheat oven to 350°F with rack centered for even heat distribution.
- Sauce Foundation: In a Dutch oven, melt butter and sauté onions, red bell peppers, and garlic until vegetables become translucent and fragrant, releasing their essential aromatics.
- Roux Development: Sprinkle flour over the vegetable mixture, stirring thoroughly to eliminate raw flour taste and create a smooth base for the sauce.
- Liquid Integration: Gradually whisk in chicken broth, half-and-half, and white wine, creating a silky, lump-free sauce that develops rich complexity.
- Sauce Refinement: Simmer until thickened, then remove from heat and incorporate Parmesan cheese and ground red pepper, adding depth and subtle warmth.
- Ingredient Harmony: Fold tortellini, broccoli florets, and chicken into the sauce, ensuring complete coating and flavor integration.
- Casserole Assembly: Transfer the mixture to a greased 13×9-inch baking dish, spreading evenly to create a consistent layer.
- Crispy Topping: Combine Parmesan cheese, crushed crackers, chopped pecans, and melted butter to create a crunchy, golden-brown crown for the casserole.
- Baking Process: Bake for 40-45 minutes until the top turns golden and edges bubble, signaling perfect doneness and flavor melding.
- Serving Preparation: Allow the casserole to rest briefly after removing from oven, enabling flavors to settle and sauce to stabilize before serving.
Notes
- Prep Sauce Strategically: Develop a smooth, lump-free sauce by whisking constantly and adding liquids gradually to prevent separation.
- Enhance Flavor Depth: Toast flour briefly in the vegetable mixture to eliminate raw taste and build a rich, complex foundation for the dish.
- Prevent Overcooking Vegetables: Add broccoli florets carefully to maintain their bright color and crisp texture during the final baking process.
- Cracker Topping Tip: Crush crackers to medium-fine consistency for the perfect balance between crunch and even coverage on the casserole surface.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 45 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 7
- Calories: 553
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 735 mg
- Fat: 36 g
- Saturated Fat: 19 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 13 g
- Trans Fat: 1 g
- Carbohydrates: 39 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 24 g
- Cholesterol: 109 mg