What To Serve With Coronation Chicken: 8 Best Sides in 2024
If you’re on the hunt for inspired and tasty ideas for what to serve with coronation chicken, I’ve got you covered!
This retro yet still hugely popular dish of cold shredded chicken, herbs and spices, and a middle spiced curry mayonnaise, has regal roots, and was actually created for the Queen’s coronation back in 1953.
Thanks to the Platinum Jubilee celebrations in 2022, it’s once again featuring on lunch menus everywhere from fancy restaurants to in our own homes, so many people are considering the best side dishes and accompaniments to put together.
Try these options for what to serve with coronation chicken. From rice dishes to salads, you’ll love these tasty choices…
1. Fluffy white rice
When considering what to eat with coronation chicken, let’s first take a look at the rather obvious but perfect pairing of a bowl of fluffy white rice.
A forkful of shredded chicken with that fragrant curry sauce, combined with tender rice, is a satisfying little mouthful of heaven.
Best of all, you don’t need any elaborate ingredients or a great deal of time on your hands.
It takes just 10 minutes to boil up a serving of rice, and it makes for a classic and elegant meal.
2. Baked potatoes
I regularly serve up baked potatoes topped with creamy coronation chicken for lunch, whether it’s a quick midweek bite during the working day, or something to be savoured with friends at the weekend.
The humble potato can be a real treat as long as you take the time to prepare it properly.
It’s best baked in the oven, but if you’re a little short on time, you can blast it in the microwave until cooked through, then coat with a little vegetable oil, season, and pop in the oven until it turns golden brown and crispy.
3. Curried rice salad
A rice salad is a wonderful choice for a side dish for coronation chicken if you’re preparing a buffet style lunch.
It can be made in advance, and it’s one of those dishes that you can get creative with to use up any veggies and salad ingredients that you might have in your fridge.
This curried rice salad recipe is my go-to, and the addition of mint and orange really brightens the dish and makes it fresh and zesty on the palate.
4. Cucumber sandwiches
Cucumber sandwiches are quintessentially British, oh so sophisticated, and best of all, they really couldn’t be any easier to make!
Even the most inexperienced home cooks can whip up a batch of sarnies in next to no time, and the added benefit is that you can prepare these in advance and keep them in the fridge until you’re ready to enjoy your lunch.
A plate with a generous helping of coronation chicken, a few sandwiches cut into fingers, and a green side salad is one that will definitely impress your guests.
5. Green salad
This one is my lunchbox favourite! Just chop up your favourite salad ingredients, and top with your coronation chicken.
You could make a batch on a Sunday evening, and have easy working day lunches sorted for the next couple of days.
Alternatively, arrange on a serving platter and invite everyone to dig in and help themselves.
6. Bombay potatoes
Coronation chicken may be an English recipe, but there’s no denying that it has Indian influences.
So why not tap into that by serving with a side of Bombay potatoes?
They can be enjoyed hot or cold, and they’re another choice that can be prepared in advance, making them ideal for a buffet or when you’re entertaining guests.
In fact, they’re often much better the day after you make them, when the flavours have had a chance to develop!
If you’re a spice lover, garnish with some red chilli flakes for more heat.
7. Mini pork pies
Another classic buffet friendly finger food that works so well for what to serve with coronation chicken!
Mini pork pies can be picked up in supermarkets or delis and farm shops, and they can be as simple or as fancy as you like.
Some are filled with chunks of fresh apple or black pudding, and some are topped with chutneys and pickles.
Of course, you can also make your own pork pies.
They do need to be left to set overnight though, so make sure you are organised and factor this time into your plans!
8. Naan bread
A coronation chicken sandwich is so quick and tasty, but you can take things up a notch by serving your filling in a fresh and pillowy naan bread.
Just add finely chopped iceberg lettuce, and wrap up like a tortilla. Secure with a couple of cocktail sticks or some tin foil.
A sandwich fit for a queen!
Finally, let’s think about what drinks to serve with coronation chicken.
If you’re catering a garden party, push the boat out and try this Jubilee gin punch.
Made with Earl Grey teabags, elderflower cordial, and fresh fruit, it’s delightfully British and perfect for a party.
Alternatively, choose a classically fruity non-alcoholic grape or peach fizzy cordial.
Classy but suitable for everyday!
Coronation chicken is so versatile, and you can make it into whatever you want it to be.
Need to use up some cooked chicken, and have something to put in your lunchtime sandwiches for the next few days?
No problem, you can do that with just a handful of extra ingredients.
Want to impress guests with a dish that’ll steal the show as a centrepiece at a buffet lunch on a special occasion?
Just add a couple of carefully planned sides, and you’re good to go!
What’s your favourite way to enjoy coronation chicken?
Leave a comment below and share your ideas!
Want some more mealtime inspiration? Take a look at what to serve with chicken wraps!
