Name: 10-Minute Vegan Coronation Chicken / Chickpeas
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 10 min
Ingredients: 1 can chickpeas ((400 grams before draining, 240 grams after draining) or sub with cooked vegan chicken, tofu, or tempeh); 4 Tablespoons mayo; 2 Tablespoons mango chutney; 2 teaspoons curry powder; 3 Tablespoons raisins; 1/2 lemon (juiced); 1 Tablespoon almond flakes ((optional)); coriander ((optional but recommended) to taste); freshly cracked black pepper ((optional but recommended) to taste); 1 bunch little gem lettuce (sub with any other lettuce); 8 slices whole wheat bread ((optional, only if you want to make a sandwich))

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No-cook vegan coronation chicken that’s done in 10 minutes! Made with chickpeas (or vegan chicken, tofu, or tempeh), it’s a versatile and delicious recipe!

Two hands grabbing two vegan coronation chicken sandwiches, made using chickpeas.

Why You Will Love This Vegan Coronation Chicken

👩‍🍳 Super easy and only takes 10 minutes, tops!
🥗 Packed with wholesome ingredients, making it a healthy recipe.
🌱 Plant-based goodness on this British classic!
🔄 Versatile – perfect for coronation sandwiches, wraps, baguettes, salads, pasta, or on its own!

What Is Coronation Chicken / Coronation Chickpea?

Coronation chicken is a classic British dish created for the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II in 1953. Developed by Le Cordon Blue chefs, it is a flavorful combination of cooked chicken, creamy mayo, curry powder, and raisins.

In this vegan version, I substitute the chicken with mashed chickpeas. Of course, you can also substitute the chickpeas with vegan chicken to make it closer to the traditional version!

Coronation chickpea salad with lettuce wraps using little gem lettuce.

Ingredients

Chickpeas: A protein-rich, whole food base to substitute our chicken.
- If you want the more traditional coronation chicken, sub with cooked vegan chicken. You can also use tofu or tempeh to substitute.
Mayo: Our creamy base for the coronation chicken sauce.
- I’m using my homemade oil-free vegan mayonnaise (from cashews or silken tofu) to make this an extra healthy coronation ‘chicken’!
Mango chutney: Adds a sweet and slightly spicy note. Do NOT skip this ingredient!
Curry powder: Since this is a British classic that uses Indian spices, opt for mild curry powder (the regular curry powder in Western supermarkets, NOT the Indian ones you find in Asian/Indian grocery stores).
Raisins: Use sultanas for a more authentic version, but raisins or currants also work.
- If you’re interested in learning more about the difference, refer to this Healthline article.
- If you don’t like raisins, you can also use chopped dried apricots or even cranberries.
Lemon juice: Brightens up the flavours with a citrusy kick.

And the optional garnishes:

Almond flakes: Adds a crunchy, nutty garnish.
Coriander: Also known as cilantro, this herb packs a lot of flavor. Definitely skip it if you don’t like coriander though!
Black pepper: Adds a hint of spice. Use freshly cracked for the best flavor!

And for serving:

Little gem lettuce: Crisp and fresh greens that pack a lot of nutrients.
- Feel free to sub with other types of lettuce!
Whole Wheat Bread: For those who want some coronation chickpea sandwich.

Close-up shot of coronation chickpea sandwich to show the beautiful layers.

How to Make Vegan Coronation Chicken

Mash chickpeas to your desired consistency using a fork. If using vegan chicken, tofu, or tempeh, cook by air frying, pan frying, or baking.

Now make the coronation chicken sauce. Mix mayo, mango chutney, curry powder, raisins, and lemon juice in a large mixing bowl.

This coronation chickpea is perfect for meal prep since the flavours meld together better as it sits longer. So feel free to make them a day in advance!

Mayonnaise, raisins, mango chutney, lemon juice, and curry powder in a glass bowl, shot close up. — Add all ingredients for the coronation chicken sauce.

Vegan coronation chicken sauce after mixing in a clear glass bowl. — Add all ingredients for the coronation chicken sauce.

Serve in any of the three ways:

Coronation Chicken Lettuce Wraps: Spoon mixture onto gem lettuce, garnish, and enjoy your coronation chicken wrap!
Coronation Chickpea Salad: To make a salad platter, spread gem lettuce on a plate, top with the mixture, and garnish.
- You can also cut the gem lettuce into strips so it’s easier to eat the coronation salad!
Coronation Chickpea Sandwich: Place gem lettuce on bread slices, add mixture, garnish, and top with another bread slice.
- Or just serve them open-faced!
- Feel free to use other types of wraps to make tortilla coronation chicken wrap or coronation chicken baguette!

Coronation chickpea salad served with five little gem lettuce, with one lettuce wrap in the center.

Vegan coronation chicken salad platter taken from above, with the left side cut off.

Top Tips

Choose your protein base.
- Opt for vegan chicken for a version that’s closer to the regular coronation chicken.
- If you want a healthier alternative, use chickpeas, tempeh, or tofu chunks! Or cooked jackfruit if that’s what you have at hand!
Taste as you go and adjust curry powder, chutney, and lemon juice to suit your palate.
Get creative with how you use this coronation chickpeas!
- You can easily turn them into coronation chicken salad, sandwiches (using either regular bread or baguette), wraps, or even pasta salad!
  - You can also serve it as is as a side dish!

Vegan coronation chickpea sandwich served on a white plate, with more sandwiches and salt and pepper shakers in the back.

Serving Suggestions / How to Eat Coronation Chicken

There are 3 main ways to serve these: lettuce wraps, coronation salad (either as a salad platter or salad bowl), or coronation chickpea sandwich. Refer to the post and pictures above for more information.

Coronation chickpeas are also great as fillings for vegan/vegetarian tea sandwiches. You can serve them with chips (such as my crispy adobo fries, omitting or subbing the adobo seasoning if you’d like!) or baked potatoes. Or with this 3-ingredient mac and cheese!

Close-up of vegetarian coronation chickpea sandwich with the right side of the sandwich cut off.

Storage and Meal Prep Instructions

Storage: Store the vegan coronation chicken in an airtight container in the refrigerator. It will keep well for up to 5 days.

Meal Prep: This vegan coronation chickpea is perfect for meal prep! Make it in advance and refrigerate in an airtight container for up to 5 days.

You can pre-wash and dry your little gem lettuce, storing them in containers lined with kitchen towels. Assemble your wraps, salads, or sandwiches just before eating for the freshest taste.

Freezing: Freezing is not recommended for this vegetarian coronation chicken as the mayo changes texture when thawed.

FAQ

You can substitute mango chutney with other similar chutneys like peach, plum, apple, or tomato chutney. Please only do this if you’ve tried mango chutney so you know whether your brand of chutney can be a good substitute in this recipe!

Two of my favorite sandwich fillings are hummus with veggies (like hummus + tomatoes, olives, or red onions), similar to my hummus bagel recipe. The second one is avocado like in my avocado bagel sandwich!

Some other yummy ideas are tofu, tempeh, sweet potatoes, grilled veggies, and sprouts!

Yes you can. Just be sure to drain and rinse the chickpeas first so you get rid of the excess salt.

Tea time sandwiches are also often referred as “finger sandwiches” or “tea sandwiches”. Check out my vegan finger sandwiches recipe for all the delicious fillings options!

Vegan coronation salad served on top of a bed of lettuce on a white plate.

Want More Similar Recipes?

If you’re a fan of hummus (the creamy spread made up of chickpeas), you would also like my hummus bagel with veggies. And make homemade hummus in just 5 minutes with this hummus in a blender recipe.

For more British recipes, check out this marmite toast for a classic breakfast recipe. I also recommend my Weetabix cheesecake and my Weetabix cake loaf for creative uses of Weetabix!