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    Home » Recipes » Salads

    Curried Chicken Salad

    Published: Jun 13, 2023 · by Renée B. · This post may contain affiliate links.

    Jump to Recipe   Print Recipe
    2-panel collage, each showing a different angle/version of a sandwich. Pin text reads: Curried Chicken Salad with coconut, almonds, apples, and golden raisins.

    A delicious, warmly-spiced Curried Chicken Salad made with rotisserie chicken, coconut, fruits, and nuts in a creamy curried dressing. Perfect piled in lettuce cups for a quick lunch or between slices of sourdough for a sunset picnic, this easy-to-make chicken salad is always sure to please.

    Curried Chicken Salad in a sandwich, on a checked picnic blanket.
    Jump to:
    • Why You Will Love this Recipe
    • Curried Chicken Salad Ingredients
    • How to Make this Recipe
    • Substitutions
    • Variations
    • Storage
    • Top Tip
    • FAQ
    • More Rotisserie Chicken Recipes
    • Pairing
    • Curried Chicken Salad

    Why You Will Love this Recipe

    I've eaten a lot of chicken salad in my time, and this is the best curried chicken salad recipe I've ever made. The fruits and nuts give it an interesting, pleasing mouth-feel, the curried base has just the right amount of creaminess and warm spices, this combo rings that savory-sweet bell we love so well.

    It's Easy

    This easy curried chicken salad takes just a few minutes to toss together, and it can be prepared well ahead of time. Not only is it easy to assemble, but recipe is so adaptable that if you don't have one thing on hand (like slivered almonds), you probably have another (like cashews) that will work.

    It's Healthy

    This curry chicken salad recipe is healthy and rich in protein; chocked full of nuts, veggies, fruits, and tender chicken. The dressing is a tasty combo of Greek yogurt and mayo infused with curry, ginger, and paprika, keeping the carbs low and the flavor high!

    It's Fruity (and Nutty!)

    Our curried chicken salad recipe is packed with apples, golden raisins, and almonds. You can adjust the fruits and nuts to fit your own tastes, too. If almonds aren't your thing, then sub in cashews or pecans. Whatever you add, the curried yogurt-mayo sauce will hold it all together for absolutely outstanding flavor.

    It's Fit for a Queen

    Did you know that curried chicken salad was first created for the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II?

    Originally known as Poulet Reine Elizabeth, the dish of "cold chicken in a curry cream" was first suggested by royal florist Constance Spry in 1953. Cooking school student Angela Wood, then just 19, helped invent the dish and spent days perfecting the recipe.

    Originally served as a salad, the uniquely sweet and savory chicken dish was offered to the foreign guests after the coronation in June 1953, at which time it became known as Coronation Chicken.

    The Coronation Chicken recipe has been adapted and changed over the years, but many of the original elements - creamy curry sauce, fruits, nuts, and sweet chutney (or sultanas) - are still part of the basic recipe.

    Curried Chicken Salad Ingredients

    This curried chicken salad is made with a yogurt-mayonnaise base. Both ingredients bring something important to the table: the vanilla yogurt is creamy and slightly sweet, and the mayo gives the sauce a rich, robust texture and taste. You can make the curry sauce with one or the other, but both together is so much better.

    Photo of individual ingredients that go into this Curried Chicken Salad recipe, measured and prepped.
    • Chicken: We like to use rotisserie chicken for this chicken salad, but any skinless, boneless chicken will work.
    • Coconut: Use sweetened shredded coconut.
    • Almonds: We use slivered almonds, but sliced or chopped almonds also work fine.
    • Celery: The celery gives the salad a nice fresh crunch: don't leave it out.
    • Golden raisins: (i.e., sultanas) Golden raisins are smaller than regular raisins and are sweeter, juicer, and lighter in color.
    • Apple: We prefer to use a Granny Smith for its tart-sweet flavor. You can use any kind of apple you like.
    • Onion: (Oops - forgot it in the ingredient image; onions are optional) Use finely chopped sweet or red onion, or thinly sliced green onions, for a sweet, mild oniony bite.
    • Yogurt: We like to use vanilla Greek yogurt, but plain yogurt also works fine. Avoid using non-fat yogurt, as it may make the sauce runny.
    • Mayonnaise: Use a full-fat mayo for the richest salad.
    • Curry powder: Curry powder is a spice mix that varies wildly from one spice combination to the next. Our current favorite curry powder is from Rani, an all-natural, mild Indian curry blend.
    • Ground ginger
    • Paprika: I prefer using a sweet Spanish paprika for this recipe.
    • Kosher salt: (optional) I find that I don't always need salt in this chicken salad, depending on how salty the chicken we use is.
    • Lemon juice: Use fresh or bottled lemon juice.

    See recipe card for quantities.

    How to Make this Recipe

    In small bowl, toss diced apples in 1 tablespoon of lemon juice and ¼ cup water. Set aside. Do not skip this step: the lemon juice adds an important acid to the salad.

    In a medium mixing bowl, use a fork to whisk together mayonnaise, yogurt, curry, ginger, paprika, and salt.

    2-panel collage showing how to mix the curry sauce for the chicken salad.

    Drain the excess liquid from the diced apples and add them to the mayonnaise mixture, along with the chicken, coconut, almonds, raisins, celery, and onions.

    Coconut, apples, celery, raisins, and diced chicken added to curry sauce in a mixing bowl.

    Toss to coat evenly.

    Chicken salad ingredients mixed together in a bowl.

    Substitutions

    This curried chicken salad is delicious as is; however, you can add your favorite fruits, nuts, and vegetables, and omit any you don't like.

    • Chicken: Curried chicken salad is a perfect way to using leftover roast chicken, rotisserie chicken, or turkey from the holidays.
    • Almonds: You can use chopped cashews, pecans, macadamia nuts, or walnuts, alone or in any combination.
    • Golden raisins: Substitution regular raisins, or use ¼ cup of mango or apricot chutney in place the raisins. You can also substitute in halved table grapes.
    • Yogurt: You can use all yogurt and no mayo, or vis versa.
    • Mayonnaise: See Yogurt.
    • Curry powder: You can substitute a teaspoon of garam masala for the curry powder, or you can also make your own curry powder if you prefer.
    • Ground ginger: You can use a ½ -1 teaspoon of grated fresh ginger in place of the powdered ginger.

    Variations

    There are so many delicious chicken salad options! Here are a few of our favorites:

    Hawaiian Chicken Salad: Chicken is marinated in a combo of pineapple juice, coconut juice, and other bright flavorings, and served pineapple and vegetables in a light vinaigrette.

    Vietnamese Chicken Salad: Light, crunchy, and tangy, this salad is made with shredded chicken, cabbage, fresh herbs, and zesty pickled vegetables.

    Cranberry Chicken Salad: This cranberry chicken salad made with shredded chicken, dried cranberries, toasted pecans, and crunchy celery, all wrapped up in a creamy dressing.

    Grilled Chicken Salad: This hearty grilled chicken salad is tender grilled marinated chicken and served over lettuce with bacon, avocado, corn, blue cheese and tomatoes.

    Storage

    Chicken curry salad can be refrigerated in an airtight container for up to 4 days.

    Top Tip

    Curried chicken salad is an excellent meal prep recipe. You can eat it for lunch every day of the week and never have the same meal twice! Enjoy it as a sandwich filling, in a wrap, stuffed in endive spears or lettuce cups, as a cracker dip, and on celery boats.

    FAQ

    Can you freeze curried chicken salad?

    You can freeze it; however, when defrosted, the salad will be less creamy and more oily than it was when fresh. This is because freezing breaks the emulsion of the mayonnaise. The yogurt in the sauce holds it together a bit, but there is definitely a decline in the salad's overall appearance.

    Curried Chicken Salad on a plate; slice of watermelon in the background.

    More Rotisserie Chicken Recipes

    Looking for more rotisserie chicken recipes? Try one of these!

    • Bowl of chicken chili garnished with avocado, pico de gallo, sliced jalapeños, and cotija. Toppings out of focus in the background, including pico de gallo, cotijas, avocado, limes, etc.
      Slow Cooker White Chicken Chili
    • Overhead shot of chicken tart. Two colorful potholders.
      Savory Chicken Mushroom Tart
    • quart of chicken stock
      Hearty Homemade Chicken Stock
    • chicken pot pie
      Classic Homemade Chicken Pot Pie

    Pairing

    Curried chicken salad pairs well with crusty breads, rice dishes, potato sides, crudeté, roast vegetables, and creamy soups.

    If you have a picnicking cooler, it also makes an excellent picnic dish, either as a salad or in a sandwich.

    • OVerhead shot of a crockery bowl filled with butternut soup, garnished with pumpkin seeds.
      Curried Butternut Squash Soup
    • Overhead shot of a plate of prepared butternut squash with leeks, bacon, and blue cheese. Slices of sourdough bread to the side of the plate, and a serving spoon in the mix.
      Roasted Butternut Squash with Bacon & Leeks
    • Kaylen's Bread (Easy Sourdough Bread Recipe)
    • Overhead shot of Sweet Saffron Rice, cooked in a crockery casserole dish, garnished with edible gold leaf.
      Sweet Saffron Rice

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    Curried chicken salad sandwich on a plate, on a picnic blanket.
    5 from 5 votes

    Curried Chicken Salad

    A delicious, warmly-spiced Curried Chicken Salad made with rotisserie chicken, coconut, fruits, and nuts in a creamy curried dressing. Easy, healthy, and adaptable; 10 minute prep.
    Print Pin Add to Shopping List Go to Shopping List
    Course: Appetizer, Lunch, Salad
    Cuisine: American
    Diet: Gluten Free
    Prep Time:10 minutes minutes
    Total Time:10 minutes minutes
    Servings: 8 servings
    Calories: 310kcal
    Author: Renee
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Equipment

    • 1 Mixing Bowl
    • 1 Rubber Spatula

    Ingredients

    US Customary - Metric
    • 1 pound cooked chicken diced
    • ½ cup coconut
    • ½ cup slivered almonds
    • ½ cup chopped celery
    • ½ cup golden raisins
    • 3 tablespoons finely diced red onion (optional) or sweet onion
    • 1 large granny smith apple skinned, cored, and diced
    • ¾ cup Vanilla Greek yogurt or plain yogurt
    • ½ cup mayonnaise
    • 2½ teaspoons curry powder or more, to taste
    • 1 teaspoon ground ginger
    • ¼ teaspoon salt (optional) to taste
    • ¼ teaspoon paprika
    • 1 tablespoon lemon juice

    Instructions

    • In small bowl, toss diced apples in 1 tablespoon of lemon juice and ¼ cup water. Set aside.
      Do not skip this step: the lemon juice adds an important acid to the salad.
    • In a medium mixing bowl, use a fork to whisk together mayonnaise, yogurt, curry, ginger, paprika, and salt.
    • Add apples to the mayonnaise mixture, along with the chicken, coconut, almonds, raisins, celery, and onion (optional).
      Toss to coat evenly.

    Notes

    The onion is optional: if you want your salad decidedly on the sweet side, leave it out. 

    Substitutions

    • Chicken: Curried chicken salad is a perfect way to using leftover roast chicken, rotisserie chicken, or turkey from the holidays.
    • Almonds: You can use cashew, pecans, or walnuts, alone or in any combination.
    • Golden raisins: Substitution regular raisins, or use ¼ cup of mango or apricot chutney in place the raisins. You can also substitute in halved table grapes.
    • Yogurt: You can use all yogurt and no mayo, or vis versa.
    • Mayonnaise: See Yogurt.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1serving | Calories: 310kcal | Carbohydrates: 17g | Protein: 18g | Fat: 20g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 8g | Monounsaturated Fat: 6g | Trans Fat: 0.03g | Cholesterol: 50mg | Sodium: 146mg | Potassium: 328mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 11g | Vitamin A: 126IU | Vitamin C: 3mg | Calcium: 60mg | Iron: 2mg
    This website provides approximate nutrition information for convenience and as a courtesy only. You are solely responsible for ensuring that any nutritional information provided is accurate, complete, and useful.
    Have you tried this recipe?Mention @TheGoodHeartedWoman or tag #thegoodheartedwoman!

    Thank you for visiting the Good Hearted Woman. Remember to bookmark this site, and come back soon!

    Curried chicken salad sandwich on a plate. Picnic blanket and picnic in the background.

    More Salad Recipes

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    About Renée B.

    Renée is self-taught home chef with a penchant for creating healthy(ish) comfort food recipes, and adapting vintage recipes for the 21st century cook. In her spare time, she writes unfinished novels and songs about cowboys.

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

      5 from 5 votes

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    1. Beth says

      August 21, 2023 at 4:24 pm

      5 stars
      This recipe is a delicious twist on the classic chicken salad! Fast and flavorful - Perfect!

      Reply
      • Renée B. says

        August 21, 2023 at 8:22 pm

        Thank you - so glad you enjoyed it!

        Reply
    2. Kristen says

      August 21, 2023 at 4:05 pm

      5 stars
      This chicken salad was the perfect lunch. Loved the flavors!

      Reply
    3. Jess says

      August 21, 2023 at 3:52 pm

      5 stars
      This is a great light lunch for my work week. Thanks for sharing!

      Reply
      • Renée B. says

        August 21, 2023 at 8:22 pm

        It's one of my favorite lunches, too!

        Reply
    4. Sophie says

      August 21, 2023 at 3:42 pm

      5 stars
      Curried Chicken Salad is my go-to for a flavor-packed, satisfying meal. The mix of tender chicken and that delightful curry kick is pure perfection!

      Reply
    5. Chelsea says

      August 21, 2023 at 3:31 pm

      5 stars
      The addition of fruit and nuts truly takes this chicken salad sandwich to the next level of deliciousness! It's SO good!

      Reply
      • Renée B. says

        August 21, 2023 at 3:33 pm

        Agreed! I love the additional texture and crunch they bring.

        Reply

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