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Home > Chicken + Poultry Recipes

Chicken Afritada

BY :Bebs | Published: 03/23/ 2020 | Updated:03/23/ 2020 | 44 Comments

RECIPE VIDEO PRINT
4.93 from 13 votes
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One of my Mama's specialty dishes and her secret is now out. There is this slogan in Tagalog, "Sarsa pa lang ulam na!".  And this Afritada perfectly fits this phrase. It translates to something like the sauce itself is good enough to be a viand. Does that make sense? Well, it would once you try this recipe.

Chicken stewed in tomato sauce with carrots, potatoes, and bell pepper.

  • What is Afritada?
  • The secret to best-tasting Chicken Afritada
  • Additional Tips for the Best Afritada
  • Chicken Afritada

What is Afritada?

It is a popular Filipino dish that normally uses chicken for the meat. Beef, pork, and seafood are also sometimes used. The meat is stewed in tomato sauce together with carrots, potatoes, and bell pepper.

A delicious dish that fits any special occasion. But because it is very easy to prepare it is also commonly served for everyday meals. Because of its richness, it is usually served with plain steamed rice.

Afritada Vs. Menudo

When I look at other Afritada recipes, I understand why people get it confused with Menudo only cooked with chicken. That is because some cook them almost the same way. Growing up, the difference is very apparent to me as my Mama's Afritada is nothing like Menudo.

Aside from my Mama's (now not so) secret ingredients, below are the main comparisons between the two dishes.

  • Afritada typically uses chicken while Menudo uses pork meat and liver with additions of hotdogs.
  • Both can use tomato sauce or tomato paste for the sauce.
  • Carrots, potatoes, and bell peppers are found on both dishes. Green peas and raisins are sometimes added to Menudo.
  • Afritada is creamier from the added butter.

 

Chicken stewed in tomato sauce with carrots, potatoes, and bell pepper.

The secret to best-tasting Chicken Afritada

My Mama's Chicken Afritada is one of her most-requested dishes and it is definitely my Afritada goal. The problem is she does not use exact measurements and just go with her guts and follow what her taste buds say.

She did tell me her secret ingredients though. Margarine or butter, potted meat, and cheese. She adds these at the end and it makes the dish richer and creamier.

 You may use either butter or margarine. But my Mama's recipe requires the use of margarine, like Dari Creme. As for the cheese, I am pretty sure she uses the processed cheese we have in the Philippines like Kraft cheese (Eden). The difference with processed cheese, when used in cooking, is that it melts or more like dissolves into the sauce. Unlike the (real) cheeses I used to use when I was in Germany, it melts but does not fully integrate into the sauce.  

Patience makes perfect

Another thing that makes this recipe great is patience. The longer you cook this dish the better it gets. 

Notice the sauce? I promise I didn't use a lot of oil nor added a tub of margarine. That is from the chicken and the tomato sauce after long simmering and that is the goal. No, not to have a greasy dish but that the oil would separate from the thickened tomato sauce. Then you know you can turn off the heat.

If you find it too greasy for your liking, just skim off some of the oil with a spoon. But what is a little fat from time to time? It's what makes the dishes tasty.  

Apritadang Manok

Additional Tips for the Best Afritada

  • Cut your potatoes and carrots in uniform sizes so they cook evenly and at the same time.
  • The best parts or cuts for this kind of dish are the legs and thighs or wings. Never use breast parts because they lack the collagen for long and slow stew and they will become dry and chewy.
  • Do not skip the searing of the meat part. This adds a depth of flavor to the dish.

Other Filipino Stew Dishes to try

  • Kare Kare -Oxtail and tripe in savory peanut sauce  or  try the Crispy Kare Kare version
  • Chicken Curry with coconut milk
  • Cadereta - spicy beef stew cooked in tomato sauce
  • Bicol Express - spicy pork cooked in coconut milk with shrimp paste
  • Menudo - pork tomato-based stew
  • Pochero - pork stew with tomato sauce and bananas

Chicken Afritada served on a plate

Chicken Afritada
Print Review

Chicken Afritada

4.93 from 13 votes
Afritada is a Filipino favorite with tender chicken cooked in a rich savory tomato-based sauce. Cooked low and slow until the oil separates from the sauce and the meat becomes fork-tender. 
Prep Time: 10 mins
Cook Time: 50 mins
Total Time: 50 mins
Course :Main Course
Servings =4
Print Recipe Rate this Recipe

Ingredients
 

  • 2 tablespoons oil
  • 1 big carrot - cubed
  • 1 big potato - cubed
  • 3 tablespoons butter
  • 1 medium onion - chopped
  • 2 cloves garlic - minced
  • 1 medium red/green bell pepper
  • 1 ½ cup tomato sauce
  • 1 ½ cup water
  • 2 pounds chicken - drumstick or wings
  • salt
  • ¼ cup potted meat (optional)
  • ¼ cup Kraft cheese (grated processed cheese) or Velveeta (optional)

Instructions
 

  • Heat oil in a skillet over medium heat.
  • Fry carrots and potatoes until edges are lightly browned. Set aside.
  • Sear chicken for 2-3 minutes each side. Remove from oil and set aside.
  • In the same skillet with oil. Saute garlic and onion until aromatic and limp.
  • Pour in the tomato sauce and 1 cup water. Turn heat to low and let it simmer for 5-10 minutes until the tomato sauce loses some of its sourness.
  • Add the chicken and ¼ - ½ cup water or as needed. Season with salt. Cover and simmer for another 30-40 minutes or until the chicken are cooked through and the sauce is reduced with the oil floating on the surface.
  • Add the potatoes, carrots and bell pepper, butter, potted meat and grated cheese. Cook for another 5 minutes.
  • Transfer to a serving dish and serve with hot rice.

Nutrition

Calories: 516kcalCarbohydrates: 9gProtein: 41gFat: 34gSaturated Fat: 9gCholesterol: 223mgSodium: 623mgPotassium: 860mgFiber: 2gSugar: 5gVitamin A: 4025IUVitamin C: 45.7mgCalcium: 45mgIron: 2.3mg
Have you tried this recipe?Mention @foxyfolksy or tag #FoxyFolksyRecipes!

The recipe was originally published in February 2018. Updated on March 2020to include new photos and a recipe video. The recipe remains the same.

Try this Chicken Afritada recipe. A Filipino chicken stew in tomato sauce with carrots, potatoes and bell peppers. Simply delicious! | www.foxyfolksy.com

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  1. Daizy Andres says

    March 05, 2022 at 10:46 am

    5 stars
    Thank you for sharing. Your recipes are always a success. All masarap and super easy.

    Reply
    • Bebs says

      July 12, 2022 at 12:44 pm

      Aaaw...that is so nice of you to say, Daizy.

      Reply
  2. D’Alice says

    March 02, 2022 at 7:45 am

    5 stars
    Just made this Afritata recipe for dinner and I have to say, I’ll be making it again! Very delicious, creamy and tender. The only thing I omitted was the potted meat. I deboned my chicken thighs and left the skin intact. Thanks for the recipe, this one’s definitely going in my recipe box! YUM!

    Reply
    • Bebs says

      July 12, 2022 at 12:46 pm

      Great to know that you enjoyed it, Alice.

      Reply
  3. ML says

    November 14, 2021 at 1:26 am

    4 stars
    Thank you for this recipe!
    This is the first time I've ever cooked Chicken Afritada from scratch, instead of using the mix. This recipe is a little milder than with the mix, so I added a bit of paprika and cajun seasoning as it simmered. I also used Cheez Whiz but I didn't have any potted meat.

    Reply
  4. Grace says

    September 28, 2021 at 4:05 pm

    I dont gave tomato sauce but have canbed tomato,tomato paste,abd ketchup,which one i should use pls?Thanks

    Reply
    • Bebs says

      September 28, 2021 at 4:07 pm

      You can use the tomato paste and add some water.

      Reply
  5. Marivic says

    September 28, 2021 at 8:13 am

    5 stars
    My husband loved it!

    Reply
  6. France Orani says

    June 08, 2021 at 2:11 pm

    5 stars
    I can't wait to try this! Which tomato sauce did you use on this dish? I want to cook it for my hubby ☺️

    Reply
    • Bebs says

      June 09, 2021 at 7:32 pm

      Hi France, you can use any plain tomato sauce that you like. Hope hubby likes it.

      Reply
  7. MLB says

    April 20, 2021 at 3:17 pm

    Is the tomato sauce just tomato ketchup?

    Reply
    • Bebs says

      April 30, 2021 at 7:41 pm

      No, they are different. Tomato ketchup normally are sweeter.

      Reply
  8. Allan says

    March 26, 2021 at 10:31 pm

    5 stars
    Tried this recipe many many times and I keep coming back to it! Very delicious. Thanks for sharing
    😀

    Reply
    • Bebs says

      March 29, 2021 at 7:50 pm

      So glad to hear it, Allan.

      Reply
  9. Eva says

    February 18, 2021 at 7:43 pm

    Can I use Spam instead of potted meat? This is the first time I heard of potted meat and had to google it. Hahah.

    Eva

    Reply
    • Bebs says

      May 21, 2021 at 2:41 pm

      But if you can get Pâté then that should be closer to it.

      Reply
  10. Chichi says

    February 08, 2021 at 11:02 pm

    Thanks for the recipe. What's the effect if i skip the butter? i feel like it makes it fatty and i prefer a "healthier" version

    Reply
    • Bebs says

      February 10, 2021 at 12:57 am

      Sure you can.

      Reply
  11. colai says

    November 13, 2020 at 11:34 am

    will definitely try this tonight..wala na akong idea what to cook for dinner! 🙂

    thank you.

    Reply
  12. CVCR says

    September 15, 2020 at 10:44 am

    Hello.

    May I ask what software did you use for calculating the nutri facts?

    Thank you

    Reply
    • Bebs says

      November 18, 2020 at 11:54 pm

      It is included on my recipe plugin, WP Recipe Maker.

      Reply
  13. Jewel says

    July 23, 2020 at 5:01 pm

    This looks delicious! I love these kinds of pinoy ulam especially if it's chicken.

    Reply
  14. Shaley says

    July 17, 2020 at 12:39 pm

    I just found this recipe and because I want my 82 year old grandfather(No teeth) to fully appreciate it, I’m finishing it off in a pressure/multi-cooker. The potted meat totally elevates this chicken Afritada

    Reply
  15. scarlet says

    July 15, 2020 at 1:22 am

    5 stars
    I googled "easy ulam". This was the first result that popped up. This was indeed easy but not quick with all the initial veggie and meat pan frying that has to be done. I subbed liverwurst for potted meat then added 4 slices of American cheese. The optional ingredients added so much richness to the sauce. When the chicken was all gone, I poured the veggies and sauce over rice and chopped salami 🙂

    Reply
    • Bebs says

      August 11, 2020 at 6:51 pm

      Yes, optional ingredients normally are what bring the dish to another level. I like your idea for the leftover sauce, but it rarely happens that there is anything left, Armin would lick it from the pot, if you let him, lol!

      Reply
  16. Rodney Milanos says

    July 07, 2020 at 11:01 am

    5 stars
    this is the best afritada recipe for me! i tried this with my 2 kids and definitely loved it! keep creating this wonderful content! thanks a lot!

    Reply
  17. Karen says

    April 28, 2020 at 12:16 am

    Hi,
    What's the purpose of adding cheese?

    Reply
    • Bebs says

      April 28, 2020 at 12:38 am

      Hi Karen, it adds a rich creamy flavor, You have to try it and you will see the difference.

      Reply
  18. Kyle says

    January 27, 2020 at 10:47 pm

    This is a staple in our house (my mother in law is from the Philippines) A fun twist my wife learned from a coworker (also Filipino) is to use sweet potatoes instead of regular white and a generous amount of madras curry powder. It won’t make it spicy or even taste like curry, but it brings out some of the richness of the dish.

    Reply
    • Bebs says

      January 28, 2020 at 6:05 pm

      Sounds lovely Kyle! Would try it sometime. Thanks for the tip!

      Reply
  19. Fergy says

    November 09, 2019 at 1:21 am

    Can you use tomato purée instead of tomato and sauce and do you still add the same amount of water?

    Reply
    • Bebs says

      November 09, 2019 at 11:38 am

      Yes, you can Fergy. Tomato puree and tomato sauce are very similar, only the first is thicker. The water in the recipe is actually added for boiling the chicken to cook and tenderize. So just adjust the water as needed.

      Reply
  20. Joselle says

    August 12, 2019 at 11:15 pm

    5 stars
    this is so yummy.

    Reply
    • Bebs says

      August 13, 2019 at 3:22 pm

      Thank you, Joselle. happy you liked it!

      Reply
  21. Ellen says

    July 26, 2019 at 4:37 am

    What exactly is potted meat? I am not Phillipino but my husband is so some of the things I don"t know Thank you

    Reply
    • Bebs says

      July 26, 2019 at 2:34 pm

      This is similar to liver spread only it is with meat and the texture is finer.

      Reply
  22. Catherine dela Cruz says

    December 26, 2018 at 8:29 pm

    Hi Ms. Bebs, ano pong pwedeng ipalit sa potted meat? Pwede po bang liver spread? Thanks..

    Reply
    • Bebs says

      December 27, 2018 at 9:45 am

      Hi Catherine, liver spread tastes different from potted meat so it will also give a different result. But if you would use it as an alternative then just add half of the amount stated in the ingredients. Or just skip the potted meat and liver spread altogether.

      Reply
  23. Liza M says

    November 26, 2017 at 11:34 pm

    5 stars
    Hi Bebs, Thank you for posting this recipe. I made it tonight for our supper and it was so delicious. The only thing I changed up was adding Rufina Patis instead of the salt. Other than that, I followed the recipe as is. The taste is very close to how my Mom used to make this. This is a keeper recipe for sure.

    Reply
    • Bebs says

      November 27, 2017 at 2:39 pm

      Hi Liza, I also usually use Patis or fish sauce in cooking and also in marinating instead of salt. It adds Umami flavor and it makes food taste better. But most of my readers (abroad) do not have fish sauce or does not even know about it so I try to adapt the recipes to what most people have. But I will add a note from now on about using it if possible ????! Thanks for the comment!

      Reply
  24. Eden Parreno says

    November 23, 2017 at 9:17 pm

    Can i have a free cookbook

    Reply
    • Bebs says

      November 27, 2017 at 2:01 pm

      Hi Eden, you should have gotten a welcome Email with the links to download the free eRecipe book when you signed up for our newsletter. Check your emails (all forlders). Tell us if you haven't received it and I will send the links to you.

      Reply
  25. Lyn says

    July 24, 2017 at 3:02 am

    5 stars
    Thanks for the recipe! I'm planning to make this for dinner tomorrow. How do I get the sauce to thicken a little bit?

    Reply
    • Bebs says

      July 28, 2017 at 12:50 pm

      Sorry for the late reply Lyn...currently in vacation. You may want to just cook it longer until the sauce thickens which is what I usually so...or add about a tablespoon of cornstarch dissolved in some water some minutes before you turn off the heat.

      Reply

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