Coronation Chicken
Coronation Chicken is one of the classic dishes in the chicken dish tradition of the United Kingdom. Β· United Kingdom
Coronation Chicken is one of the classic dishes in the chicken dish tradition of the United Kingdom.
About Coronation Chicken
Coronation Chicken is one of the classic dishes in the chicken dish tradition of the United Kingdom. Traditionally it features yogurt, onions, tomato and lemon.
ποΈ History & Culture
Coronation Chicken was created in 1953 for the luncheon following the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II. Cookery writer Constance Spry and chef Rosemary Hume developed the dish, which was designed to be served cold to a large number of guests. Its origins are clearly documented, making it one of the few modern British classics with a well-established creation story.
The original recipe features cold chicken in a curry-flavored mayonnaise dressing, often enriched with apricot purΓ©e. Over time, variations have emerged across the UK, with some home cooks substituting yogurt for mayonnaise or adding raisins, almonds, or extra spices. It quickly became a staple of British buffet tables and picnic spreads, and it remains a nostalgic, quintessentially British dish associated with celebration and mid-century entertaining.
π³ How to make Coronation Chicken
AI-assisted, not kitchen-testedCoronation Chicken
A cold, creamy poached chicken salad invented in 1953 to celebrate Queen Elizabeth II's coronation. Mildly spiced with curry powder and gently sharpened with lemon, it is the classic British buffet centrepiece.
- Prep
- 20 min
- Cook
- 30 min
- Total
- 50 min
- Serves
- 6
- Difficulty
- Easy
Recipe ingredients
- 900 g (2 lb) skinless chicken breasts (bone-in), poaching keeps the meat moist
- 1 whole (1 medium) onion, halved, for the poaching liquid
- 1 whole bay leaf
- 10 whole black peppercorns
- 180 g (6Β½ oz / ΒΎ cup) Greek-style natural yogurt, full-fat is traditional
- 120 ml (Β½ cup) mayonnaise, adds richness alongside the yogurt
- 2 tbsp mild curry powder, use a British-style blend such as Mild Madras
- 1 tsp tomato purΓ©e
- 2 tbsp lemon juice, from about Β½ lemon
- 1 small (1 small (about 100 g)) onion, finely chopped
- 1 medium (1 medium (about 100 g)) tomato, peeled, deseeded, finely diced
- 1 tbsp finely chopped fresh apricot or mango chutney, optional but traditional; sweetens the sauce
- 20 g (ΒΌ cup) flaked almonds, toasted, for garnish
- salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
Steps
- 1 Place the chicken breasts in a single layer in a deep pan. Add the halved onion, bay leaf, peppercorns and just enough cold water to cover (about 750 ml / 3 cups). Season lightly with salt.
- 2 Bring slowly to a gentle simmer over medium heat, then reduce the heat so the liquid barely moves. Poach for 18β22 minutes, until the chicken is just cooked through; the internal temperature should read 74 Β°C (165 Β°F) on an instant-read thermometer at the thickest part.
- 3 Lift the chicken out, cover and leave to cool completely, then chill for at least 1 hour. Strain the poaching liquid, reduce it to about 60 ml (ΒΌ cup) by simmering, and reserve.
- 4 While the chicken cools, make the sauce: warm 1 tablespoon of the mayonnaise in a small pan, stir in the curry powder and cook gently for 1 minute until fragrant β this blooms the spices without browning them.
- 5 Off the heat, stir in the tomato purΓ©e, the reserved reduced cooking liquid, and the chutney. Leave to cool, then whisk in the yogurt, the remaining mayonnaise and the lemon juice. Season with salt, pepper and extra lemon to taste.
- 6 Dice the chilled chicken into bite-sized pieces and fold it through the sauce together with the finely chopped raw onion and diced tomato.
- 7 Cover and chill for at least 1 hour so the flavours mingle (overnight is better).
- 8 To serve, pile onto a platter, scatter with the toasted flaked almonds, and serve with cold rice, dressed lettuce, or sandwiched in soft white bread.
Report an issue with this recipe
Recipes from travellers
No one has shared their own Coronation Chicken recipe yet. Yours would be the first.
Share how you make Coronation Chicken
You'll need to be signed in with Google or Facebook so your name can appear on it. Recipes go through an automatic food-safety check before they publish.
Sign in to share your recipe
Coronation Chicken β frequently asked questions
What is Coronation Chicken?
Coronation Chicken is one of the classic dishes in the chicken dish tradition of the United Kingdom. Traditionally it features yogurt, onions, tomato and lemon.
What is Coronation Chicken made of?
Coronation Chicken is made with yogurt, onions, tomato and lemon.
Where does Coronation Chicken come from?
Coronation Chicken comes from United Kingdom. Coronation Chicken was created in 1953 for the luncheon following the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II.
Where can I eat Coronation Chicken?
Locals often enjoy Coronation Chicken as a chilled sandwich filling at summer garden parties and wedding buffets, spooned onto fresh bread with a crisp salad.
How do you make Coronation Chicken?
Making Coronation Chicken at home takes about 20 minutes of prep and 30 minutes of cooking. The recipe on this page serves 6 and is rated easy. Full ingredient list and step-by-step method are in the recipe section above.
Taste Coronation Chicken in London
Independent picks. We earn a small commission if you book through these β at no extra cost to you. How this works.
β Before you go to United Kingdom
Round out your trip β most travellers book these alongside their trip.
More dishes like Coronation Chicken
Sticky Toffee Pudding
Moist date sponge drenched in warm toffee sauce.
Vimto
Rooted in the United Kingdom, Vimto is a drink enjoyed for generations.
Bangers and Mash
Sausages and mashed potato under onion gravy.
Shepherd's Pie
Minced lamb under a golden mashed-potato crust.
Scotch Egg
Soft-boiled egg wrapped in sausage and breadcrumbs.
Welsh Rarebit
Savoury melted-cheese sauce grilled onto toast.
Basashi
Basashi is thinly sliced raw horse meat served as sashimi, a mountain-region delicacy tied to Kumamoto, Tottori and other parts of Japan.
Cabrito de Barroso
Hailing from Portugal, Cabrito de Barroso is a much-loved fresh meat.
Pieds Paquets
Rooted in France, Pieds Paquets is an offal dish enjoyed for generations.
Gai Yang
Marinated grilled chicken from the northeast.
Jokbal
Soy-braised pig trotters, glossy and tender.
Bresse Bleu
A creamy mild blue-veined cow's-milk cheese developed in the Bresse region of eastern France in the early 1950s.
Oberlausitzer Biokarpfen
Oberlausitzer Biokarpfen is a PGI organic carp from Upper Lusatia, Saxony, raised in medieval monastic pond systems without artificial feed.
Cataplana
Algarve seafood stew steamed in a copper clam-shell pot.
Pavin
Pavin is a raw cow's-milk cheese from the Auvergne with a washed rind and a soft, creamy interior that ripens over about a month.
Gomboce
Hailing from Serbia, Gomboce is a much-loved dumpling.
- π¬π§ Sticky Toffee Pudding · United Kingdom
- π¬π§ Vimto · United Kingdom
- π¬π§ Bangers and Mash · United Kingdom
- π¬π§ Shepherd's Pie · United Kingdom
- π¬π§ Scotch Egg · United Kingdom
- π¬π§ Welsh Rarebit · United Kingdom
- π―π΅ Basashi · Japan
- π΅πΉ Cabrito de Barroso · Portugal
- π«π· Pieds Paquets · France
- πΉπ Gai Yang · Thailand
- π°π· Jokbal · South Korea
- π«π· Bresse Bleu · France
- π©πͺ Oberlausitzer Biokarpfen · Germany
- π΅πΉ Cataplana · Portugal
- π«π· Pavin · France
- π·πΈ Gomboce · Serbia
Travel guides for United Kingdom
All travel guides →Planning a trip where Coronation Chicken is on the menu? These guides cover United Kingdom and beyond.
Budget Travel Europe on a Budget: How to Travel Comfortably for β¬70 a Day (2026 Guide)
Aug 23, 2026 · 8 min read
Adventure Travel Walking the Camino de Santiago: A First-Timer's Guide to Choosing Your Route (2026)
Jun 08, 2026 · 6 min read
City Breaks 3 Days in Porto: The Perfect Long-Weekend Itinerary (2026)
Jun 07, 2026 · 5 min read
Destination Guides Slovenia Travel Guide 2026: Lake Bled, Ljubljana, and Beyond
Apr 27, 2026 · 9 min read
Reviews
No reviews yet. Be the first to share your experience with Coronation Chicken.
Write a review
Sign in to verify you're a real person, then share your thoughts on Coronation Chicken.
Comments
No comments yet. Be the first to say something about Coronation Chicken.