Curry Chicken Salad
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This Curry Chicken Salad is super easy to make and totally delicious! Also called Coronation Chicken Salad, it’s a combination of curry, lemon, almonds and mayo mixed with shredded chicken and carrots. It’s a really fun version of classic chicken salad. Mix up your meal prep and give this easy Chicken Salad recipe a try for lunch this week! Bonus: It’s low carb and fit for Whole30, too!
Repeat after me: Meal Prep. Meal Prep. Meal Prep. It’s SO important anytime, whether you’re just trying to eat healthy, save money, be more efficient, whatever… You definitely don’t want to be caught unprepared when life happens!
That’s why we love meal prep recipes like this Curry Chicken Salad! Also called Coronation Chicken Salad (because it was served at Queen Elizabeth’s coronation in 1953!), it’s your classic chicken salad, but with a sweet curry flavor and the crunch of carrots and almonds. You can customize it however you like, too!
Download the Cooking Time Chart and say goodbye to rubbery chicken forever!
Curry Chicken Salad Recipe
Like regular chicken salad, this one has shredded chicken, mayonniase, nuts and lemon. The traditional recipe for Coronation Chicken also includes carrots, chutney, dried apricots or raisins, ketchup and coriander leaves (AKA cilantro).
This is a healthier version of the original Coronation Salad. We kept the carrots and cilantro, but skipped the sweet, fruity additions. (You can add those if you like! Some people add sliced grapes, too.)
You may also like: Egg Roll in a Bowl Skillet, Classic Pot Roast, Beef and Broccoli Stir Fry, Collard Wraps with Easy Chicken Salad.
Ingredients
You can easily make this chicken salad recipe with a really fun spin! Just add a few simple ingredients. You’ll need:
- Cooked Chicken
- Curry powder
- Carrots
- Chopped almonds
- Mayo (see my list of Whole30 mayo brands)
- A squeeze of lemon juice
- Salt & Pepper
Substitutions & Variations
You can easily switch up this recipe!
- Fresh fruits like grapes or apples (try this Apple Chicken Salad too!) for extra zing.
- Dried fruits like apricots, raisins or cranberries for a juicy, sweet note.
- Other nuts like chopped pecans or walnuts — or even sunflower seeds if you have a nut allergy.
- Vegetables such as chopped celery or a little diced bell pepper.
How to Make Curry Chicken Salad
Making this salad is super simple! Trust me, when you mix it all up, it gives regular old chicken salad new life. Seriously, don’t knock it till you try it! Here’s what you’ll need to do:
In a large bowl, stir all ingredients together until well combined. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Cover and refrigerate up to four days. Serve over mixed greens and fresh veggies with a few lemon slices on the side.
Tips for Success
This incredible chicken salad is such a delicious twist on the original. To make it extra successful, here are a few solid tips:
- Use freshly cooked or rotisserie chicken. Freshly shredded or diced rotisserie chicken adds great texture and flavor.
- Let it chill before serving. For the best flavor, refrigerate chicken salad for at least 30 minutes before serving. This allows the spices to meld and the dressing to fully coat the ingredients.
- Add texture. Mix in chopped celery, dried fruits, toasted almonds or cashews for a satisfying crunch. This balances the creamy dressing and adds extra flavor.
Meal Prep Instructions
Meal prepping is a must! Get a few things ready, portioned in containers, so I can whip up a meal for myself or for the family on the fly. You can also cook a double batch of something you love and freeze half of it for another day. (My Whole30 Spaghetti Squash and Meatballs is a great one for that!)
To meal prep this salad: Start by cooking a pound of chicken breasts in the instant pot (I love it so much!) or air fry a whole chicken. You can make a big batch of this curry chicken salad, or use the chicken in other recipes.
Once the chicken is cooked, shred it and let it cool. Then it’s ready to make chicken salad with! You can also cut the carrot (or buy pre-shredded) ahead of time. Then make the salad! Once it’s all mixed up, cover and refrigerate up to four days.
Meal-prepping tips
When I meal prep, I always batch-cook a few proteins, maybe marinating and freezing chicken, then I wash and prep some vegetables, hard boil eggs and cook some sweet potatoes. I also wash and cut a bunch of greens, onions, broccoli and bell peppers. It takes about an hour in total. With all of this, I'm able to make omelets, wraps, salads and stir fry dishes in about 10 minutes flat all week long. In a pinch, I can even grab-and-go. All of this sets me up for success!
What to Serve with Curry Chicken Salad
Wash some mixed greens to enjoy later, or cook fresh veggies like Air Fryer Roasted Green Beans to eat on the side. I also like to cut up a few lemon slices to serve with this salad!
You can also eat it on a brioche bun, spread it on toast for an open-faced sandwich or spoon it into a wrap for an easy lunch. It's a great dish to serve for a luncheon with things like Deviled Eggs and Broccoli Bacon Salad.
FAQ
Coronation chicken salad is a mayonnaise-based chicken salad with curry powder mixed in. It also sometimes has mix-ins like almonds, carrots and dried fruits like apricots.
You can eat chicken salad over a bed of greens, on a sandwich bun or inside of a wrap. It's a great meal-prep lunch or big-batch cold salad to serve at a lunch-time gathering.
More Salad Recipes
Curry Chicken Salad
Ingredients
- 2 cups cooked chicken shredded or cubed
- ¼ to ⅓ cup mayonnaise
- 1 small carrot
- ½ teaspoons curry powder
- ¼ teaspoons salt
- ⅛ teaspoons black pepper
- 2 tablespoons almonds chopped or slivered
- 1 teaspoons fresh cilantro
- ½ medium lemon cut into wedges
- 2 cups mixed greens for serving
Instructions
- In a large bowl, stir all ingredients together until well combined. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
- Cover and refrigerate for 30 minutes before serving. Serve over mixed greens and fresh veggies with a few lemon slices on the side.
