Coronation Chicken Salad

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Sweet, crunchy, and gently spiced with curry, this easy coronation chicken salad is a fresh, flavorful version of the British classic.

Served at Queen Elizabeth II's coronation in 1953, coronation chicken salad combines cooked chicken with a creamy, curry-spiced sauce. Over the years, countless versions have popped up, but they all share the same sweet-and-savory spirit. My version stays true to the dish's flavor-forward roots while swapping out the mayo for tangy yogurt for a lighter finish.

This recipe combines tender chicken with diced bell peppers, dried apricots, chopped almonds, and fresh herbs. The sauce-made from sautéed red onion, tomato paste, curry powder, wine, and broth-is quick to assemble and deeply flavorful.

It's simple enough to throw together with leftover chicken, whether roasted, grilled, or pan-fried. I keep the pieces chunky for a more satisfying texture. Serve it over greens for dinner or pile it onto crusty bread for lunch the next day-after the flavors have had a chance to meld, it's even better. It also makes a nice appetizer when served in small portions on crackers or lettuce cups.

I think what I love most about this recipe is that while it was served at the Queen's coronation, it's simple enough for light weeknight cooking.

😍 Why You'll Love This Recipe

With curry and dried fruit, it's a delicious take on chicken salad.
It makes a great lunch or light dinner, and there are plenty of ways to serve it.
It's a good way to use leftover chicken, and it's a good choice for hot days when you don't feel like cooking.

Salads are more than just a side dish! Just take my Blackened Shrimp Salad, Egg Salad with Dill Pickles, and Bok Choy and Tofu Salad. And for another chicken salad (though of a different variety), try my Arugula and Spinach Salad with Grilled Chicken.

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😍 Why You'll Love This Recipe
🐔 Ingredients
Substitutions & Variations
🔪 Instructions
✨ Top Tip
🥡 Storage
🙋🏻‍♂️ FAQ
🍹 Pairing
📖 Recipe
🥗 Related Recipes
💬 Comments

🐔 Ingredients

Here's everything you need to make coronation chicken salad.

Key Ingredients

Cooked chicken: You need about a pound of cooked chicken. If you have leftovers, this is an excellent way to put them to use. You could also use a rotisserie chicken from the grocery store. Or quickly cook some chicken (I prefer using thighs), however you like. You can save yourself some time by cooking chicken in advance and using it for this salad.
Dried fruit: I often use dried apricots in this recipe, but I also use whatever I have in the pantry, such as dried cherries, cranberries, figs, or raisins.
Bell pepper: Chopped bell pepper adds a nice fresh crunch to the salad. Red or orange peppers pair well with the orange color of the sauce, but the color itself is not particularly important and won't impact the taste.
Almonds: For more crunch and texture.
Curry powder: I use a mild, yet flavorful, curry powder blend from Penzeys curry.
Yogurt: Plain Greek yogurt adds richness and creaminess to the curry sauce. Use whatever yogurt you prefer, just make sure it's not flavored.
Parsley: A small bunch of chopped fresh parsley adds a fresh flavor to the salad. You can use cilantro if you prefer. But don't skip the herbs, they're not a garnish here.

Check out the recipe card below for the complete list of ingredients and quantities.

Substitutions & Variations

Dried fruit: I mention dried apricots, as they're the traditional choice, yet really any dried fruit works.
Omit the wine: It's not essential. Replace it with additional broth.
Turkey salad: Try this with leftover turkey meat instead of chicken. It's a smart and easy recipe for using up leftover Thanksgiving turkey.
Additions: You can't go wrong customizing this salad to your liking. Try it with sliced grapes, chopped celery, scallions, and other nuts aside from almonds. Add or omit these kinds of additions to make it your own.

🔪 Instructions

Here's how to make this curry chicken salad from scratch.

onion and ingredients being chopped on a cutting board

Step 1: Chop the onion, chicken, almonds, dried fruit, bell pepper, and herbs.

Step 2: Cook the onion in butter until soft.

sauteed onions with tomato paste and curry powder

Step 3: Add the bay leaf, tomato paste, and curry powder.

Step 4: Cook for a couple of minutes while stirring.

Step 5: Pour in the wine and let it cook for a couple of minutes.

Step 6: Add the broth and dried fruit. Cook for an additional couple of minutes until the mixture has thickened.

Step 7: Let cool briefly, then stir in the yogurt, cream, and lemon juice.

chicken and parsley added to bowl of curry sauce

Step 8: Finally, add the chicken and herbs.

a large bowl of coronation curry chicken

Step 9: Toss the mixture well to combine all the ingredients.

Step 10: Serve on greens, toast, with crackers, or however else you prefer.

✨ Top Tip

Chop the chicken, peppers, onion, dried fruit, and nuts to a similar size for a more cohesive salad with balanced bites.

🥡 Storage

Chicken salad will keep in the fridge for up to four days, stored in an airtight container. The flavor improves after a day, but for the best texture, enjoy it within the first two or three days. I don't recommend freezing this recipe.

🙋🏻‍♂️ FAQ

How far in advance can you make coronation chicken salad?

If the chicken is cooked the same day, you can make the chicken salad up to four days in advance.

What can you have with coronation chicken?

I would serve this salad with salad greens, in between slices of bread, in a pita, or over crackers. Consider serving is with a refreshing beverage, and other light foods, such as a soup or light appetizers.

What is a coronation salad?

Coronation salad refers to a curry chicken salad recipe that was created for Queen Elizabeth II's coronation lunch.