Coronation Chicken Sandwich Recipe

Name: Coronation Chicken Sandwich Recipe
Prep time: 5 min
Total time: 5 min
Ingredients: 500 g Shredded Chicken (See Notes); 6 tbsp Mayonnaise; 1 tbsp Curry Powder; 1 tbsp Coriander; 2 tbsp Mango Chutney; 1 tbsp Sultanas ((Or Raisins)); 8 Slices Of Bread; Butter

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Coronation Chicken Sandwich Filler

Homemade coronation chicken! A sandwich filler that is utterly delicious, this recipe is super quick and easy, and the taste is so darn good. This is an ideal option for packed lunches, afternoon tea, or simply to savour at any moment.

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Coronation chicken sandwich with soft thick white bread

Creamy coronation chicken, a sandwich that is simply unbeatable! It’s easy to make, tasty and perfect for breakfast, lunch and everything in-between.

It’s a popular British classic sold in many supermarkets, but trust me, making your own from scratch couldn’t be any easier and it tastes so much better too!

You only need a handful of very basic ingredients to make a sauce that is creamy, spicy and sweet all at the same time.

Why You’ll Like This Recipe

A great way to use up leftover chicken
Perfect for events like street parties and coronation parties
This recipe uses basic cupboard ingredients
The filling is ultra-creamy with chewiness from the raisins and a slight crunch from the lettuce
It’s a 5-minute no-cook recipe (if you’re using pre-cooked chicken)
It will be devoured in no time!
It’s a delicious classic just like this chicken mayo sandwich recipe!

Watch How To Make It

What Is Coronation Chicken Sandwich Made Of?

Shredded chicken is coated in a creamy filling made from mayonnaise, mango chutney, curry powder, sultanas and coriander. The sultanas and mango chutney add a slightly sweet flavour, whereas a spicy touch comes from the curry powder.

This combo of ingredients makes the ultimate sandwich filler perfect for any jubilee or coronation celebration. Original recipes use poached chicken which keeps the texture juicy and moist. However, if you have leftover chicken then you can use it for this recipe too!

Sandwich filled with coronation chicken filling and lettuce

Where Did The Coronation Chicken Sandwich Come From?

This famous coronation chicken dish was created back in 1953 for Queen Elizabeth II’s big coronation. Constance Spry and Rosemary Hume whipped up a deliciously cold chicken dish with curry powder, mayo, and herbs that was fit for a queen (literally!).

It was initially made to be a salad, but the sandwich version of the dish is a total classic in British sandwich shops and cafes.

Recipe Ingredients

Here are the few ingredients needed for this recipe:

Shredded Chicken: Use freshly poached skinless chicken breast or leftovers from a roast. I personally like using freshly poached chicken, as the texture of the chicken is very soft and moist. You can also buy shredded chicken.
Mayonnaise: The base needed for the coronation sauce. I like to use the original mayonnaise, but you can use their light versions (or even their garlic mayo version for a twist).
Mild Curry Powder: Curry powder adds a delicious curried flavour to the sandwich and also helps turn the colour into the iconic yellow. I used mild curry powder, if you want a bit of heat, you can up for medium or hot curry powder alternatives.
Mango Chutney: Another key ingredient for making coronation chicken sandwiches! This adds a slightly sweet touch. Use whichever brand you like, some mango chutneys come with large pieces of mango, you can cut them smaller pieces to avoid large chunks.
Sultanas: (Or Raisins) Brings a touch of sweetness and chewiness. Only a tablespoon is added to the recipe so there is just enough to taste it but not to overpower the sandwich.
Coriander: Fresh coriander is added for extra flavour, you could also use dried coriander or leave it out if you’re not a big fan.
Bread & Butter: The type of butter and bread you use is up to you. I love using soft, thick white bread and any spreadable butter I have.

How To Poach Chicken Breasts?

If you want to make this sandwich with fresh chicken breasts like the original coronation chicken recipe, here’s how I pouch my chicken to achieve an ultra-juicy texture.

Bring Water To A Boil:

Place chicken in a pan and cover with water. Season with salt, black pepper and bay leaves (optional) then heat the pan on a medium to high heat and bring to a simmer.

Leave the chicken breasts to cook for 12 to 15 minutes or until cooked throughout. If you’re using smaller pieces of chicken the time to cook will reduce, check around the 8-to-10-minute mark.

Make sure the chicken is cooked, the flesh should be white. You can test this with a meat thermometer, it should be no less than 75ºC.

Blanch Chicken In Cold Water

Cooked chicken breast in a bowl of cold water

Remove the chicken from the pan and place it into a bowl full of cold water for at least 10 minutes. This helps to cool the chicken down and lock in moisture preventing it from drying out.

Whilst the chicken is cooling down, you can make a start on the coronation sauce.

Shred The Chicken

Cut the chicken into strips then use a fork or your hands to shred the chicken apart. Pull the meat in the direction of the grain (the lines of muscle fibre) to get long thin shreds.

The size of the chicken doesn’t matter, if you want, you can slice the chicken into cubes or rough chunks. Once your chicken is shredded, you’re ready to make a delish coronation chicken!

How To Make Coronation Chicken Sandwich

Below is a step-by-step guide on how to make this easy coronation chicken sandwiches. Full recipe instructions are on the recipe card:

Step One:

In a large mixing bowl mix together mayonnaise, sultanas, chopped coriander, curry powder and mango chutney together until evenly distributed.

Step Two:

Shredded chicken coated in coronation sauce mixture

Add the shredded chicken to the mixing bowl and mix the chicken into the sauce until evenly distributed.

Step Three:

Butter slices of bread then spread the coronation chicken filling on top. Layer with a piece of lettuce before closing the sandwich with another slice of bread.

What To Serve With Coronation Chicken

You can make so much more than sandwiches with this coronation chicken filler, like the original recipe, you can serve it alongside a fresh and vibrant salad! I’ve also listed more tasty dishes you can serve it with:

Of course, you can simply serve this sandwich with a pack of cheese and onion crisps!

Recipe Substitutions & Variations

Change How The Chicken Is Cooked: If you don’t want to poach the chicken, you can make this recipe with roast chicken. To do this, season the chicken with salt and black pepper, drizzle with oil and bake it in the oven for 20 minutes in a preheated oven at 180ºC.

Add Some Spice: Typical coronation chicken sandwiches are usually mild in heat. To spice up this recipe, you can add hot chilli powder or finely dice red chillies into the coronation sauce mixture.

Make a Crunchy Coronation Chicken With Nuts: To add extra crunch to this dish, add chopped nuts like peanuts, walnuts or flaked almonds.

Make A Classic Coronation Chicken Salad: To make a more traditional version swap the mango chutney with apricot jam and serve on a bed of salad.

Change The Bread: Use crusty white bread, brown bread, tiger bread, crustless bread or even pitta bread!

How To Store Leftovers

To store, keep the coronation chicken in the fridge for up to 3 days. Keep in an airtight container or wrapped in cling film or foil.

If you have any leftovers, you can serve it with jacket potatoes, rice or even in wraps.

Can Coronation Chicken Be Frozen?

You can freeze coronation chicken, but I do not recommend it as the texture can change as it thaws. If you want to freeze it, keep it in an airtight container and freeze for up to 2 months. To defrost, leave the filler to thaw in the fridge before using it.

Why Is My Coronation Chicken Not Yellow?

If your coronation chicken is not yellow, then it could be because the curry powder you are using is low in turmeric. To make the filling more yellow in colour, you can add turmeric to the sauce or more curry powder.

Another reason could be the type or brand of mayonnaise you use. Different brands and light mayonnaise alternatives can vary in colour with some being whiter in colour. Adding extra curry powder or turmeric can easily increase the yellow colour.

My Top Tips

Make sure the chicken has cooled down completely before mixing it into the coronation sauce mixture, otherwise the mixture can separate.

To make the coronation filling even more saucy, you can double the sauce ingredients in the recipe card.

To make fancy sandwiches fit for an afternoon tea party, cut the crust from the slices of bread and cut the sandwiches into 4 triangles.

Taste the coronation chicken filling before filling it between layers of bread. You might want to add salt, more curry powder, a spoonful of lemon juice or even fresh herbs to get it just right for you.

FAQs

Can I make coronation chicken ahead of time?

Yes, you can make coronation chicken ahead of time! I recommend making the filling ahead and making the sandwich when you’re ready to eat it. Otherwise, the moisture from the sauce can cause the bread to turn soggy.

If you are making the sandwich ahead, layering a good amount of butter acts as a barrier between the filling and the bread which helps prevent the bread going soggy. Make sure to wrap the sandwich to avoid the bread drying out.

How is coronation chicken served

Coronation chicken is served cold, traditionally served as a salad. Nowadays, it’s a popular sandwich filler people have for lunch or breakfast.

Can you make coronation chicken with yoghurt?

Yes, you can make coronation chicken with Greek yoghurt, it makes the filling more saucy, lighter and adds a slightly tangy taste. You can use it as an alternative to mayonnaise or use it 50:50 for a combination of both flavours. Make sure to use unsweetened plain Greek style yoghurt.

Was coronation chicken invented for the queen?

Yes, coronation chicken was invented for Queen Elizabeth II’s coronation banquet in 1953. Hume and her team put in weeks of hard work and experimentation before coming up with the perfect recipe, which quickly became a crowd favourite, earning its place as a classic dish enjoyed at picnics, buffets, and events across the country.

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