Slow Summer Spaghetti with Zucchini Ribbons, Sweet Corn and Roasted Cherry Tomatoes

An easy farmers market spaghetti with roasted summer vegetables, a nostalgic ’70s soundtrack, and a reminder that the best moments in life are often the simplest.

An Easy Summer Pasta made for Slowing Down

Summer cooking should feel different.

It should be lighter, looser, and a little less concerned with perfection. It should leave time for sitting outside, chasing sunsets, listening to music, and spending long evenings with the people we love.

“Summer isn’t asking us to do more. It’s inviting us to notice more.”

This easy summer spaghetti is designed for exactly that kind of night.

Fresh cherry tomatoes, sweet white corn, and garlic roast together on one sheet pan until the tomatoes burst,

the corn begins to caramelize, and the garlic becomes tender and fragrant.

Paper-thin zucchini ribbons join the pan during the final few minutes so they soften gently without becoming heavy or watery.

The roasted vegetables are then tossed with al dente spaghetti, fresh basil, parsley, a small drizzle of extra-virgin olive oil, and enough pasta water to bring everything together.

There is no cream sauce, no complicated preparation, and no long list of ingredients.

The vegetables create their own light sauce as they roast. Their juices mingle with the garlic and olive oil, coating the spaghetti with fresh summer flavor.

It is simple, colorful, and satisfying without feeling heavy—the perfect pasta for warm evenings on the patio, at the lake, or around a table filled with friends.

“Summer teaches us that slowing down isn’t falling behind—it’s finally catching up with life.”


Why You’ll Love This Summer Pasta Recipe

  • Everything comes together with one pot and one sheet pan.
  • It highlights fresh farmers market vegetables.
  • The pasta is light and flavorful without a heavy sauce.
  • It can be served hot, warm, or at room temperature.
  • The recipe is easy to customize with seafood, chicken, beans, or cheese.
  • It leaves more time for enjoying summer and less time washing dishes.

Slow Summer Spaghetti with Zucchini Ribbons, Sweet Corn and Roasted Tomatoes

Prep Time 15 minutes

Cook Time 25 minutes

Total Time 40 minutes

Yield 4 to 6 servings

Ingredients

  • 12 ounces high-quality spaghetti
  • 2 cups cherry or grape tomatoes
  • 2 ears fresh sweet white corn, husked
  • 6 garlic cloves, peeled and lightly smashed
  • 2 medium zucchini
  • 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, divided
  • ¾ teaspoon kosher salt, divided
  • Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
  • ¼ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes, optional
  • ½ cup loosely packed fresh basil leaves, torn
  • ¼ cup chopped fresh Italian parsley
  • ½ to 1 cup reserved pasta water
  • Zest of ½ lemon, optional
  • Freshly grated Parmesan or Pecorino Romano, optional

Instructions

1. Prepare the sheet pan

Preheat the oven to 425°F. Line a large rimmed sheet pan with parchment paper for easier cleanup.

2. Roast the tomatoes, corn, and garlic

Cut the corn kernels from the cobs and add them to the prepared sheet pan with the cherry tomatoes and garlic cloves.

Drizzle the vegetables with approximately 1½ tablespoons of the olive oil. Season with ½ teaspoon kosher salt, freshly ground black pepper, and crushed red pepper flakes, if using.

Toss gently and spread the vegetables into an even layer.

Roast for 15 minutes.

3. Make the zucchini ribbons

While the vegetables are roasting, trim the zucchini. Use a vegetable peeler or mandoline to slice each zucchini lengthwise into long, paper-thin ribbons.

Rotate the zucchini as you work, stopping when you reach the soft, seedy center.

4. Add the zucchini to the sheet pan

Remove the sheet pan from the oven and add the zucchini ribbons.

Gently toss the zucchini with the tomatoes, corn, garlic, and roasting juices. Return the pan to the oven and roast for an additional 6 to 8 minutes.

The zucchini should be tender but still hold its shape.

5. Cook the spaghetti

While the zucchini finishes roasting, bring a large pot of generously salted water to a boil.

Cook the spaghetti until al dente according to the package directions.

Before draining the pasta, reserve at least 1 cup of the starchy cooking water.

6. Toss the pasta

Drain the spaghetti and return it to the pot.

Add the roasted vegetables and all the juices from the sheet pan. Add the remaining olive oil, torn basil, chopped parsley, and approximately ½ cup of reserved pasta water.

Toss the pasta over low heat until the vegetables are evenly distributed and the spaghetti is lightly coated and glossy.

Add additional pasta water, a few tablespoons at a time, if needed.

7. Finish and serve

Taste and adjust the seasoning with additional salt and black pepper.

Add fresh lemon zest for brightness or grated Parmesan or Pecorino Romano for a richer finish, if desired.

Serve immediately, or allow the pasta to cool slightly and enjoy it warm or at room temperature.


Tips for the Best Summer Vegetable Pasta

Choose ripe cherry tomatoes

Look for tomatoes that feel heavy for their size and have a rich color. Mixed-color heirloom cherry tomatoes also make the finished dish especially beautiful.

Use fresh corn when possible

Fresh market corn provides a crisp texture and natural sweetness. Frozen corn can be substituted, but thaw and pat it dry before roasting.

Do not overcook the zucchini

Because the zucchini is sliced into delicate ribbons, it only needs a few minutes in the oven. Add it after the other vegetables have already begun roasting.

Save the pasta water

Starchy pasta water helps the roasted vegetable juices and olive oil cling to the spaghetti. It creates a silky finish without adding cream or butter.

Use a flavorful extra-virgin olive oil

Because this recipe uses so few ingredients, the quality of the olive oil matters. Choose one with a fresh, fruity flavor rather than an overly bitter or aggressive finish.


Recipe Variations

Add grilled shrimp or scallops for a light seafood pasta.

Top each bowl with burrata, ricotta, feta, or goat cheese.

Add cannellini beans or chickpeas for a vegetarian protein boost.

Substitute linguine, bucatini, angel hair, or your favorite short pasta.

Add arugula or baby spinach when tossing the hot pasta so the greens wilt slightly.

Finish with toasted pine nuts, pistachios, walnuts, or breadcrumbs for texture.

“The sweetest moments are rarely planned. They happen somewhere between the last rays of sunlight and the first stars.”


What to Serve with Summer Spaghetti

Serve this pasta with grilled bread, a simple green salad, marinated olives, or a platter of sliced melon and prosciutto.

For dessert, keep things equally relaxed with fresh peaches, cheesecake or lemon sorbet, berries and whipped cream, or a rustic summer fruit galette.


Summer Cocktail Pairings

Elderflower Gin and Tonic

Ingredients

  • 1½ ounces gin
  • ½ ounce elderflower liqueur
  • 4 ounces chilled tonic water
  • Fresh lemon
  • Cucumber ribbon or basil, for garnish

Instructions

Fill a large wine glass with ice. Add the gin and elderflower liqueur. Top with tonic water and a squeeze of lemon.

Stir gently and garnish with cucumber, basil, or a lemon wheel.

Limoncello Spritz

Ingredients

  • 2 ounces limoncello
  • 3 ounces chilled Prosecco
  • 1 ounce sparkling water
  • Lemon wheel and basil, for garnish

Instructions

Fill a wine glass with ice. Add the limoncello, Prosecco, and sparkling water. Stir gently and garnish with lemon and basil.

Aperol Spritz

Ingredients

  • 3 ounces Prosecco
  • 2 ounces Aperol
  • 1 ounce sparkling water
  • Orange slice, for garnish

Instructions

Fill a wine glass with ice. Add the Prosecco, Aperol, and sparkling water. Stir briefly and garnish with an orange slice.

Wine Pairings for Summer Vegetable Pasta

Choose a wine with crisp acidity, fresh citrus notes, and enough brightness to complement the tomatoes, corn, zucchini, and herbs.

Recommended options include:

  • Vermentino
  • Pinot Grigio
  • Sauvignon Blanc
  • Dry rosé
  • Soave
  • Gavi
  • Prosecco

Serve white and rosé wines well chilled, preferably outside as the sun begins to set.


A ’70s Slow Summer Playlist

Complete the experience with a playlist filled with smooth, easygoing ’70s soft rock and yacht-rock favorites.

Spotify playlist

  • “Summer Breeze” — Seals & Crofts
  • “Right Down the Line” — Gerry Rafferty
  • “Reminiscing” — Little River Band
  • “How Long” — Ace
  • “Baby Come Back” — Player
  • “Dreams” — Fleetwood Mac
  • “Lovely Day” — Bill Withers
  • “What a Fool Believes” — The Doobie Brothers
  • “Moonlight Feels Right” — Starbuck
  • “Brandy (You’re a Fine Girl)” — Looking Glass
  • “Cool Change” — Little River Band
  • “Sailing” — Christopher Cross

Turn up the music, pour something cold, and bring the pasta outside.

Summer is too short to spend the whole evening standing over the stove.

“Maybe reminiscing isn’t about wishing we could go back. Maybe it’s about remembering what mattered most, so we can choose it again today.”


Savor the Slow Summer Moments

This recipe is less about doing something elaborate and more about paying attention to what is already good.

Fresh corn. Warm tomatoes. Fragrant basil. Music playing through an open door. A chilled glass in your hand. People you love gathered around the table.

Take it easy.

Savor each bite.

Laugh more. Live more.

Chill out more.

Watch the sunset instead of watching the clock.

Save this easy summer spaghetti recipe for your next farmers market haul, backyard dinner, lake weekend, or relaxed evening with friends.

“You don’t have to travel far to find paradise. Sometimes it’s waiting on the back patio with spaghetti, basil, good friends, and a July sunset.”

Leave a comment and tell me: What song would you add to the ultimate slow-summer playlist?

Subscribe to The Artful Gourmet for more seasonal recipes, nostalgic food stories, cocktails, curated playlists, and inspiration for living—and eating—a little more deliciously.

“The older I get, the more I realize that luxury isn’t found in extravagance—it’s found in time. Time to cook, time to laugh, time to linger, and time to simply be.”


About the Author

Kristen Hess – Host, Author, Photographer and Creator of The Artful Gourmet

Kristen Hess is a Food Stylist, Photographer, Food Writer, Recipe Developer and the Creator of The Artful Gourmet Blog, Substack and Social Media — a food + lifestyle media brand rooted in fresh comfort food, visual artistry, and the stories we tell around the table. Find her on Substack, The Artful Gourmet Podcast and YouTube Channel and food blog at theartfulgourmet.com.

© 2026 Kristen Hess, The Artful Gourmet | New York | NYC | Remote | Worldwide

kristen@kristen-hess.com | 727-256-7162 |

Podcast | YouTube | Blog | PortfolioSocial | Substack

Better to Fail Gloriously ✨

What Anthony Bourdain Taught Me About Taking Chances, Starting Over, and Trusting the Journey

“Sometimes the bravest thing you can do is simply try. — Anthony Bourdain

Chef Anthony Bourdain

There’s something about June that feels hopeful.

Maybe it’s the longer days, the farmers markets bursting with color, or the smell of freshly cut grass drifting through an open window.

Or maybe it’s because summer always feels like a fresh start.

A new season.

A chance to begin again.

Lately, I’ve been thinking a lot about Anthony Bourdain and one of my favorite quotes from him:

“It’s better to try and fail gloriously than to not try at all.”

Every time I hear those words, they stop me in my tracks.

Because if I’m being honest, there have been plenty of times in my life when I almost didn’t try.

Times when I questioned myself.

Times when I wondered if I was too old, too late, too inexperienced, or simply not good enough.

Moving to New York City.

Starting The Artful Gourmet.

Launching a podcast.

Creating YouTube videos.

Applying for dream jobs.

Pitching magazines.

Putting myself out there creatively.

None of it came with a guarantee.

And that’s exactly why it mattered.


Anthony Bourdain Wasn’t an Overnight Success

One of the things I admire most about Bourdain is that his success story wasn’t neat and tidy.

For years he worked in restaurant kitchens, often struggling, often wondering what was next.

Before he became a bestselling author, television host, and one of the most respected storytellers in the world, he was simply a chef trying to make a living.

Then, at age 44, everything changed.

His book Kitchen Confidential became a phenomenon and launched a second act that nobody could have predicted.

Imagine if he had talked himself out of writing it.

Imagine if he thought it was too late.

Imagine if he never took the chance.

The world would have missed out on one of its greatest voices.

And that’s a lesson worth remembering.

Just because something hasn’t happened yet doesn’t mean it never will.


Curiosity Is Greater Than Fear

One of Bourdain’s most famous quotes was:

“Travel isn’t always pretty. It isn’t always comfortable. Sometimes it hurts. It even breaks your heart. But that’s okay.”

I think that quote applies to life just as much as travel.

Life isn’t always comfortable.

Building a business isn’t comfortable.

Changing careers isn’t comfortable.

Starting over certainly isn’t comfortable.

But growth rarely happens inside our comfort zone.

The most meaningful things in my life have happened because I was willing to get uncomfortable.

Not because I knew exactly what would happen.

But because I was curious enough to find out.

Bourdain approached the world with curiosity.

He sat down with strangers.

He tried unfamiliar foods.

He visited places most tourists would never go.

He listened.

He learned.

He stayed open.

What if we approached our own lives the same way?

What if instead of focusing on what could go wrong, we focused on what we might discover?

Progress Isn’t Always Visible

One of the hardest things about pursuing a dream is that progress often happens quietly.

You put in the work.

You show up.

You keep creating.

And sometimes it feels like nothing is happening.

I’ve felt that way more times than I can count.

But then I look back and realize something important:

The growth was happening all along.

The connections.

The skills.

The experience.

The confidence.

The opportunities.

They were all building beneath the surface.

Much like a garden in spring.

The seeds don’t bloom overnight.

But they’re growing.

Even when you can’t see it.

That’s why I think summer is such a beautiful reminder to keep going.

Everything around us is proof that growth takes time.

Spring Vegetable Soup

A Bowl of Soup and a Fresh Start

Whenever the seasons change, I find myself drawn back to simple recipes.

Food has always been my way of slowing down and reconnecting with myself.

This Spring Minestrone Soup is exactly that.

Fresh peas.

Tender zucchini.

Green beans.

Herbs from the garden.

Bright lemon.

A little Parmesan.

Simple ingredients that come together to create something nourishing and comforting.

And honestly?

It feels like a metaphor for life.

A handful of small things can become something beautiful when given enough time.

The same is true for dreams.

Spring Vegetable Soup

Serving Size:
6
Time:
45 mins
Difficulty:
intermediate
  • 2 small carrots, diced
  • 2 celery stalks, diced
  • 1 yellow onion, chopped
  • 2 small zucchini, diced
  • 1 small butternut squash, diced
  • 1 bunch escarole, chopped
  • ½ cup peas, frozen
  • 1 tablespoon basil leaves, chopped
  • 1 tablespoon parsley, chopped ¼ cup Parmigiano Reggiano, grated
  • 6 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil, plus extra for bread and for drizzling on soup
  • 4 quarts chicken stock
  • 1 small ciabatta bread
  • Sea salt to taste
  • Pepper to taste

Directions

  1. Sauté carrots, celery and onions in a large stock pot over medium heat, for approximately 5 minutes, making sure that you stir the vegetables while they cook
  2. Add chicken stock to the pan. Increase the heat to high, cover the pan, bring to a boil and then reduce the heat to medium-low. Cook for 10-15 minutes.
  3. Slice bread into 1” thick slices. Brush slices with the additional olive oil on both sides and place in a sauté pan over low heat. Turn bread slices once and cook until they are golden brown. Place bread in a tray and lightly sprinkle with sea salt. Set aside.
  4. Add butternut squash to the stockpot and cook for 3 minutes.
  5. Add zucchini and peas to the stockpot and cook for 3 more minutes.
  6. Add escarole, basil, parsley, salt and pepper and cook for 4 additional minutes.
  7. Remove two ladles of soup from the stockpot and puree in a blender, then return the pureed soup to the pot (the puree will thicken the soup). Stir and cook for 1 minute, then turn off the heat.
  8. Add some grated cheese into the soup and stir. Ladle soup in individual bowls, drizzle oil and sprinkle additional cheese.

The same is true for healing.

The same is true for starting over.

Serve it on a warm June evening and make a toast to whatever new chapter you’re stepping into.

So Here’s Your Reminder

If you’ve been waiting for a sign to start something…

This is it.

Apply for the job. Launch the business. Write the article.

Start the podcast. Take the trip. Learn the skill.

Make the call. Send the email. Try.

Dreams take time.

Because as Anthony Bourdain reminded us:

“Your body is not a temple. It’s an amusement park. Enjoy the ride.”

Life is messy.

The path rarely unfolds exactly as planned.

But the alternative—never trying at all—is far worse.

Summer is here.

A new season is beginning.

And maybe your next chapter is waiting on the other side of one brave decision.

Here’s to fresh starts.

Here’s to curiosity.

Here’s to hope.

And here’s to failing gloriously.

Because sometimes that’s exactly how the best stories begin.

With gratitude,

Kristen

Continue the Journey

📖 Read the full companion essay on Substack

Subscribe for weekly stories about food, creativity, travel, mindset, entrepreneurship, and living a more artful life.

🎙️ Stay tuned for the companion podcast episodecoming soon

The Artful Gourmet Podcast is available on:

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Subscribe, leave a review, and share this episode with someone who might need a little encouragement today.

Because sometimes the biggest adventure starts with simply saying yes.

“The greatest risk isn’t failure. It’s never beginning.”

More recipes you might enjoy:

Gutsch’s Linguine & Clams

Rochester-Style Chicken French

Sweet & Spicy Shrimp Noodle Salad (Keto/Low carb)

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From Rock Bottom to Reinvention: Author Maria Costanzo Palmer Gets #UNFILTERED

New episode on our #UNFILTERED interview series of The Artful Gourmet Podcast 🎬


What does it really mean to tell the truth—especially when it’s your own story?

In this episode of #UNFILTERED, I sit down with Maria Costanzo Palmer—author, journalist, and speaker whose work lives at the intersection of vulnerability, identity, and transformation.

We dive into her memoir “On the Rocks”, unpacking the emotional layers behind major unexpected life changes, family dynamics, and personal healing.

Maria shares what it took to write something so deeply personal, how storytelling can become a powerful tool for growth, and why owning your voice matters more than ever.

Gnocchi Making Cook ‘n Book @ Mrs. G’s

We also explore her work in media, her local cooking class events, and what’s next—including a new book and documentary currently in the works.

This conversation is honest, raw, and deeply human—just the way we like it on #UNFILTERED.


This episode matters because shifting your narrative can restore your sense of self and spark powerful transformation. Maria shows us that our most imperfect moments, when truthfully told, become the foundation of our greatest rebirths.


Watch a clip from the episode


Key Takeaways

  • Why storytelling is one of the most powerful tools for healing
  • The journey from journalist to author to filmmaker
  • The emotional reality behind writing a memoir
  • How addiction and family dynamics shape identity
  • The courage it takes to share your truth publicly
  • The connection between food, memory, and personal history
  • What it really means to live “unfiltered”
  • How Maria is expanding her story into a second book, a new TV documentary + next steps in her career

Sound Bites

“Gratitude for everything that happened to me”

“Our roots and family stories shape who we are”

“Storytelling is a powerful form of healing”


Chapters/Timestamps

00:00 Introduction to Kristen Hess and Maria Palmer

01:21 Maria Palmer’s Background and Journey into Writing

03:36 Family Roots and the Restaurant in McKees Rocks

04:56 Life-Changing Moments and Moving to Los Angeles

06:39 Documenting Family History and Confronting the Past

09:10 Healing Through Storytelling and Family Connections

11:37 Reuniting Family Through Food and Shared Memories

13:48 The Book Project: Writing in Multiple Voices

18:46 The Documentary Series: Production and Future Plans

26:00 Writing Challenges and Lessons Learned

32:40 Balancing Control and Collaboration in Creative Projects

45:16 Final Thoughts and Unfiltered Life Lessons


This episode dares you to confront your past, embrace your true voice, and find healing through the raw power of storytelling—because what we hide can ultimately make us whole.


Tune In and Watch the full episode

🎧 Listen now on AppleAmazon MusicSubstack & iHeartRadio

📺 Watch the full video on Spotify or YouTube

👉 Don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and share this episode with someone who needs to hear it.

Q+A: What’s one truth you’ve learned the hard way?

We’d love to hear your comments below!


Guest Links – Maria C Palmer

Website

Twitter

Instagram

Facebook

Linktree

Contact Maria

Maria Palmer’s Book ‘On the Rocks’

Venture Road Pictures


Follow Kristen Hess – The Artful Gourmet

LinkTree: https://linktr.ee/theartfulgourmet

Portfolio: www.kristen-hess.com

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LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/klhinnyc

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@foodiegirl87

#Storytelling #Leadership #CreativeEntrepreneur #PodcastInterview #PersonalGrowth


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Kristen Hess | The Artful Gourmet 

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Groovy Eats Ep 1 | January 1978 :: Chicken Divan + Baby Come Back

Welcome to Groovy Eats – our new YouTube show + Podcast that goes back in time, pairing retro music + recipes from the 70s, 80s and 90s 🎶 ⭐

Episode 1 |  January 1978 :: Chicken Divan, “Baby Come Back,” + the Comfort of Simple Times

Some years stay with you forever.
For me, 1978 is one of them.

Kristen, Jen and Dad
Me, my Sister Jen and Dad

January 1978 wasn’t flashy or loud — it was warm, comforting, and full of everyday magic. The radio played soft rock on repeat, dinner was often a casserole bubbling in the oven, and family time happened around the table, not a screen.

Baby Come Back by Player
Baby Come Back by Player

That’s the spirit behind Groovy Eats Episode 1, my long awaited, brand new cooking show series. Each episode I’ll be pairing a #1 retro hit from the week with a beloved retro recipe from that same time period. Groovy Eats is all about letting food and music do what they do best – take us back in time,  bring back the good memories, and take us home.


The Song That Sets the Mood: “Baby Come Back”

The #1 song this week in January 1978 was “Baby Come Back” by Player

Baby Come Back Player
Baby Come Back by Player

a smooth, emotional soft-rock anthem that helped define the late ’70s “yacht rock” era. It remained #1 on the charts for 6 weeks in January and February 1978, along with other Yacht Rock and soft rock bands like the Bee Gees, Paul Simon, Ambrosia, Fleetwood Mac, and Styx.

Billboard Top 100 - January 1978
Billboard Top 100 – January 1978

“Baby Come Back” is a song about lost love, longing, regret, and hope — wrapped in gentle harmonies and that unmistakable mellow groove. It didn’t demand attention. It earned it. And it remains one of my favorite 70s love songs today.

Baby Come Back #1 Single 1978 Player
Baby Come Back #1 Single 1978 Player

For me, this song instantly brings back memories of an epic and unforgettable  five-week family road trip in the Summer of 1978 from New York to California and back.

Kristen and Jenni 1978
Me and my sister Jen on roadtrip out West 1978

I was 8 years old and my family packed me and my sister up in the back of a truck, with a hitch and an RV – and we adventured off into the unknown to the wild wild West.

Long highways, crossword puzzles, campfires and marshmallows, hiking and exploring nature, panning for gold, salt flats in Salt Lake City, feeding Prairie Dogs in the Badlands, walkie talkies, Seattle, Mount Rushmore, geysers in Yellowstone Park, desert sunsets, and the radio always on.

Yacht Rock
Yacht Rock

This music was the soundtrack to childhood freedom — when life felt simple and wide open. Yacht Rock was king and something that always reminds me of that trip and the memories with my family as we traveled out West, without a care in the world.


The Dish That Brings It All Back: Chicken Divan

If the song sets the emotional tone, Chicken Divan sets the table.

Chicken Divan Hotel Parisien

Originally created in the early 1940s by Anthony Lagasi, chef at at the elegant Divan Parisien restaurant at Hotel Chatham in New York City, Lagasi had created a baked dish using chicken and broccoli in a rich bechamel sauce, creating the casserole we now know as Chicken Divan. It eventually made its way into American home kitchens — and by the 1970s, it was a full-blown casserole classic that everyone loved.

Chicken Divan

Creamy. Cozy. Comforting.
It was the kind of dish that felt “fancy” but familiar — perfect for family dinners and dinner parties alike.

Mom and Dad 1970s

This was a recipe my mom made for us, and when it was in the oven, you knew dinner was going to be good. It meant everyone was home. It meant we were sitting down together.

Chicken Divan

The casserole features chicken, broccoli, and a creamy curry sauce with a little lemon and wine added for flavor, topped with Cheddar cheese, buttery parmesan panko breadcrumbs and slivered almonds, all baked in the oven for a delicious and easy weeknight retro dinner the family will love.

This cozy and delicious casserole only takes about 30-45 minutes to make from start to finish,  and you can make it ahead of time and reheat it in the oven or microwave leftovers, or cover it well in plastic wrap/foil and freeze it for later.

The recipe below is the shortcut version that my Mom used to make in the 70s-80s but if you have time and the desire – you can choose to make a creamy Mornay sauce in place of the Cream of Chicken Soup and mayo if you’re feeling fancy.

Side Note: A Mornay sauce is a béchamel sauce with grated cheese added. The usual cheeses in French cuisine are Parmesan and Gruyère, but other cheeses may also be used. In French cuisine, it is often used in fish dishes. In American cuisine, a Mornay sauce made with cheddar is commonly used for macaroni and cheese.

Please enjoy this luscious curry chicken cheesy broccoli delight – and let’s go back in time to 1978 – when life was good. 


Chicken Divan (Late-’70s Casserole Style)

A true “Retro Metro” staple — exactly how it was loved in 1978.

Chicken Divan

Chicken Divan was a A “Retro Metro” staple that remained highly popular in 1978. It consisted of chicken and broccoli smothered in a cheese-infused Mornay sauce (or the shortcut version I made in the recipe below, using condensed soup), often topped with buttered breadcrumbs and/or toasted almonds.

How it was typically served:
Over rice or buttered noodles with a green salad and crusty bread and a crisp white wine — very late ’70s “continental dinner party” vibes.

Chicken Divan

Chicken Divan (Late-’70s Casserole Style)

In January 1978, popular recipes centered on elegant "Continental" dinner party fare, hearty winter stews, and the burgeoning "gourmet-to-go" movement. This month saw the peak of French-inspired classics and the debut of unique internationally-influenced dishes that defined the late 1970s. Chicken Divan was a "Retro Metro" staple that remained highly popular in 1978. It consisted of chicken and broccoli smothered in a cheese-infused Mornay sauce (or the shortcut version using condensed soup), often topped with toasted almonds.
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Total Time 40 minutes
Servings: 6 people
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American, French

Ingredients
  

  • 3 cups cooked chicken, chopped or shredded (rotisserie works well)
  • 4 cups broccoli florets (or 2 (10 oz) packages broccoli spears), cooked until just tender
  • 2 cans (10.5 oz each) condensed cream of chicken soup (or cream of mushroom)
  • 1 cup mayonnaise
  • 1-2 tsp lemon juice
  • 1-2 tsp curry powder
  • 1/4 cup dry white wine or a splash of sherry
  • 1.5 cups shredded cheddar
  • 4 tbsp grated Parmesan
  • 1/4 cup panko or italian breadcrumbs
  • 1 knob butter, melted for Parmesan Panko topping
  • 1/2 cup sliced almonds

Method
 

  1. Heat oven to 350°F.
  2. Arrange broccoli in the bottom of a greased 9x13-inch baking dish. Top with chicken.
  3. In a bowl, mix soup, mayonnaise, lemon juice, curry powder, and wine/sherry until smooth.
  4. Spread sauce over the chicken and broccoli. Sprinkle with cheese.
  5. Top with sliced almonds (and/or buttered crumbs).
  6. Bake 25–35 minutes, until hot and bubbling. Let rest 5–10 minutes before serving.

Notes

How it was typically served in the 70s: over cooked rice or with buttered noodles (very “Continental dinner party” energy).
Garlic bread and a green salad are great sides. And a light crisp white wine like Sauvignon Blanc or Chardonnay pairs well, if you're feeling fancy.
You can make it ahead of time and freeze it for later. Simply let it thaw and bake at 350 degrees for 25-30 minutes. 


Why Music and Food Are the Ultimate Time Machines

What I love most about this pairing is how effortlessly it transports you.

Baby Come Back Player

One song. One dish.
Suddenly you’re back in another decade — remembering the people, the places, the feeling of being safe and cared for.

Player

Food holds memory. Music unlocks it.

Dad, Jen and Mom

Dad, my Sister and Mom in 1978.

My childhood home in 1978 on Cherry Hill Lane, in West Webster NY .

That’s the heart of Groovy Eats — cooking through the decades, one groove at a time, and honoring the moments that shaped us along the way.

Groovy Eats


Watch & Listen 🎶🍽️

🎥 Watch the full episode on YouTubeto groove out to the song and cook along with me

🎙️ Listen to the podcast episode on Spotify

✍️ Subscribe on Substack for weekly essays, behind-the-scenes stories, and Groovy Eats extras ⁠@artfulgourmet

🎶 Follow Groovy Eats, Kristen Hess and The Artful Gourmet on social media @artfulgourmet and on TikTok ⁠@foodiegirl87

🍽️ View Kristen’s Food Styling + Photography Portfolio + book your next food shoot at https://www.kristen-hess.com

🎤 Watch the original music video of Player performing‘Baby Come Back’ on YouTube

🎶 Listen to the song ‘Baby Come Back’ on Spotify

If this episode sparked a memory for you, I’d love to hear it. Leave a comment and tell me: What song or dish instantly takes you back to childhood?

The Artful Gourmet Podcast

🎥 And please don’t forget to share, like and subscribe so you never miss a post, cooking video or podcast episode of Groovy Eats and The Artful Gourmet. 🎤

Until then, peace out, and keep grooving, one bite at a time. 😀🌟🙌


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