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Today, I’m sharing my recreation of my favorite deli salad – Chicken Bombay Salad, aka, Coronation Chicken Pasta Salad. A uniquely Canadian pasta salad inspired by the classic curried chicken salad that is perfect for picnics, lunches and entertaining.

Coronation Chicken Pasta Salad Recipe

When I was newly pregnant with my daughter Ella, I lived less than a 5 minute walk from a deli and this Bombay Chicken Salad was my go-to lunch order for weeks on end.

It was that perfect combination of both savoury and slightly sweet, with just enough carbs and protein to keep me full – despite how little I could eat at the time.

Years later, it remains one of my favorite easy lunch options and luckily, Ella likes it, too – although she prefers when I leave out the honey and raisins. Hmph.

Our homemade version features tender chicken and soft pasta coated in a curry-and-honey-kissed dressing that is savory, sweet, tangy, earthy and rich, with pops of juicy, sweet raisins and a gentle bite from green onions. It hits all of the flavor notes that I loved in the original, but with a lot more chicken than a deli salad tends to have.

I also often make it with Greek yogurt, or half Greek yogurt and mayonnaise, but if you’re looking for the same flavor you get from a deli, use full-fat mayo.

Chicken Bombay Salad is a creamy curry chicken pasta salad made with tender chicken, raisins and a lightly sweet, tangy dressing. Perfect for meal prep, potlucks and easy lunches, this flavorful cold salad is ready in minutes and packed with texture.

Why You’ll Love This Bombay Chicken Salad

• It delivers bold, unique flavor with minimal effort.
• It is highly adaptable with simple ingredient swaps – for example, Greek yogurt in place of some or all of the mayo, adding in extra veggies, etc.
• It works for meal prep, bringing along to potlucks/picnics and quick lunches.

Snackable History Fact: Coronation Chicken was created for the 1953 coronation banquet of Queen Elizabeth II, by food writer Constance Spry and chef Rosemary Hume, who taught at London’s Cordon Bleu Cookery School. The original dish was a whole roasted chicken served with a creamy curry-mayonnaise sauce and sweet apricots, designed to celebrate the new monarch while showcasing culinary optimism during post-war Britain’s rationing era.

After the coronation, everyday home cooks adapted the recipe into a more practical coronation chicken salad format using leftover or rotisserie chicken mixed with the same curry-mayo dressing and dried fruit (check out the authentic recipe here). The pasta version is an adaptation popular in Canadian grocery stores and delis that is often referred to as “Bombay Chicken Salad” to distinguish it from the pasta-free version.

Coronation Pasta Salad Ingredients

• Raisins
• Mayonnaise – can use Greek yogurt or swap it in for half of the mayo
• Curry Powder
• Salt and Pepper, to taste
• Honey, optional
• Lemon Juice, as desired
• Cooked Pasta, cooled
• Cooked Chicken, cooled
• Green Onions, diced

Scroll down to the printable recipe card for full measurements.

Tip: avoid rinsing the pasta, if possible, as the starch on the cooled pasta will help the sauce stick to the pasta.

Kitchen Tools You May Find Helpful

• Measuring Cups and Spoons
• Sharp Kitchen Knife
• Cutting Board
• Mixing Bowl
• Spoon or Spatula

How to Make Bombay Chicken Salad

Fill a small bowl or measuring cup with a cup of hot water and add the raisins to it to plump up. Set aside for 5 minutes as you prepare the rest of the salad.

In a medium-sized bowl, stir together the mayonnaise, curry powder, salt and pepper.

Add the honey and lemon juice, then adjust all seasonings to taste.

Add the cooked pasta and chicken and stir well to coat with the dressing.

Drain the raisins before adding them and the green onions to the bowl. Stir to evenly distribute throughout the salad.

Refrigerate until ready to serve.

Curry Pasta Salad Recipe Variations:

• Swap raisins for chopped dried apricots (or mango) for a brighter, less sweet flavor profile.
• Add toasted cashews or slivered almonds for crunch and a nutty flavor addition.
• Use Greek yogurt for half the mayonnaise to lighten the dressing while keeping it creamy. (We often make completely with Greek yogurt and still really enjoy this recipe.)
• Stir in diced celery or apple for extra freshness and crunchy texture.
• Replace pasta with cooked rice or quinoa for a different base and slightly lighter feel.
• Omit the pasta for a more traditional coronation chicken salad.

More Perfect Pasta Salad Recipes

Pin this Easy Curry Chicken Pasta Salad for Meal Prep:

Printable Recipe Card:

Grab your free printable recipe card for our Coronation Chicken Pasta Salad recipe.

If you tried this recipe and loved it too, please rate it! We’d also love to hear your thoughts in the comments.

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For more ways to enjoy chicken, check out our full chicken recipe collection here:

For more perfect pastas, check out our full pasta recipe collection here:

For more delicious salads, check out our full salad recipe collection here:

For more great lunch ideas, check out our full lunch box recipe collection here: