Classic Coronation Chicken Salad

You’ll be eating like a British royal with this Coronation Chicken Salad Recipe. Created for the Queen of England, this delicious salad features tender, shredded chicken in a creamy curry dressing with sweet apricots and raisins.

Coronation Chicken Recipe

Though most everyone has a standard go-to chicken salad recipe, this curry chicken salad is literally fit for a queen! Greek yogurt gives the curry dressing a tangy twist while apricots, raisins and mango chutney add a delightful balance of sweetness. Finally, almonds are added for a little extra texture and crunch.

This classic recipe is most famous for being served at the coronation luncheon of the Queen of England. Though it was originally served as a filling in tea sandwiches, you can serve the chicken mixture over a bed of lettuce as a salad, in pita pockets, as an appetizer with your favorite crackers or as a filling for a full-sized sandwich.

Serve it with a bowl of soup, like this French Onion or Easy Potato Soup for a main course meal that’s always a crowd favorite!

Want more easy chicken recipes? You’ll want to try this delicious Chinese Chicken On A Stick, Chicken Piccata or this easy Air Fryer Chicken Curry.

Ingredients 

• Cooked chicken breasts, shredded
• Mayonnaise
• Greek yogurt
• Mangi chutney
• Curry powder
• Cinnamon powder
• Freshly cracked black pepper
• Salt
• Apricots, chopped
• Black raisins
• Toasted almond flakes
• Chopped parsley

👩‍🍳How To Make Easy Coronation Chicken Salad

Step 1. In a large mixing bowl, mix together mayonnaise and Greek yogurt.

Step 2. Chop the apricots and add them to the raisins.

Step 3. Stir in the mango chutney.

Step 4. Add cinnamon, curry powder, black pepper, and salt.

Step 5. Stir until smooth and creamy.

Step 6. Mix in chopped parsley and toasted almonds.

Step 7. Stir in the shredded chicken meat and mix well until the chicken is coated.

Serve and enjoy!

Who Created Coronation Chicken?

The original recipe for this cold chicken salad was created by Constance Spry and Rosemary Hume from the Le Cordon Bleu London. Named Poulet Reine Elizabeth, or Chicken Queen Elizabeth, it was first served at the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II, all the way back in 1953.

It may seem odd that a simple chicken salad was served at such an important event but the ingredients, like curry powder, were not very common at the time because of post-war rations. That’s what made this such a dish a specialty in its day.

How do I Make Mango Chutney?

You can buy store-bought chutney or make your own. Here’s a super simple recipe that you can whip up in minutes.

• 3 cups diced fresh mango
• 1/4 cup finely diced red onion
• 1/3 cup golden raisins
• 1/4-1/3 cups brown sugar
• 3 tablespoons finely minced garlic
• 3 tablespoons finely minced ginger root
• 3 tablespoons red wine vinegar
• Pinch of salt
• Pinch red pepper flakes

Combine ingredients in a medium saucepan. Bring to a boil over medium heat, turn off and allow it to cool. Transfer it to a jar with a tight-fitting lid and store in the fridge.

📖 Queen’s Coronation Chicken Salad Recipe Variations:

• Raisins: If you’re not a fan of raisins you can omit them or use dried cranberries instead.

• Chicken: This recipe called for shredded chicken, but you can also cut it into cubes if you prefer your salad to have a chunkier texture.

• Chutney: Instead of chutney, you can use apricot jam or peach jam. It won’t have the exact flavor, but it’ll give the sauce added sweetness similar to chutney.

• Yogurt: If you’d like to use something other than yogurt, sour cream or creme fraiche are good options.

• Other add-ins: Green onions or spring onions, a finely diced celery stalk, lemon zest, or just a little lemon or lime juice are all great ways to add fresh notes of flavor to the salad.

How Do I Cook Chicken for Coronation Chicken Curry Salad?

The original version calls for poached chicken breasts. You can add flavor to the poaching liquid with wine, bay leaf, lemon juice or other herbs and seasonings. We also love using rotisserie chicken or leftover roast chicken as a shortcut.

Coronation Chicken Storage Tips

Leftover chicken salad can sit out for a couple of hours. After that, it should be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2-3 days. We don’t recommend freezing it because the creamy dressing tends to separate.

More Easy Chicken Recipes

• Buffalo Chicken Meatballs
• Chicken Pasta Casserole
• Parmesan Crusted Chicken
• Grilled Chicken Kabobs
• Sheet Pan Chicken Veggies
• Homemade Chicken and Dumplings