Filipino

Serving

Filipino Kid-friendly

Chicken Sopas

Name: Chicken Sopas
Total time: 60 min
Yield: 3 servings
Cuisine: Filipino
Ingredients: 1 lb bone-in chicken thighs; 2 cups elbow macaroni; 8 cups chicken broth; 1 cup evaporated milk; 1 medium onion, diced; 4 cloves garlic, minced; 1 large carrot, diced; 1 cup cabbage, shredded; 1/2 cup celery, sliced; 2 tbsp fish sauce; 2 tbsp butter; 1/2 tsp ground black pepper

A creamy, comforting Filipino macaroni soup with shredded chicken, vegetables, and milk, perfect for rainy days.

60 minutes

Serves 3

Lunch

21 min prep

33 min cook

Contains common allergens

celery Fish Dairy Seafood Wheat

In the app, Listahan checks these against your household automatically.

Good to know

One-pot

Matched from this dish's own ingredients and timing. Browse more: one-pot dinners

Instructions

6 steps

1
Simmer the chicken thighs in the chicken broth for 25 minutes until cooked through, then remove the chicken, shred the meat, and reserve the broth.
2
Melt the butter in a large pot over medium heat and sauté the garlic, onion, and celery for 3-4 minutes until softened and fragrant.
3
Return the reserved broth to the pot, bring to a boil, then add the carrots and cook for 5 minutes.
4
Stir in the elbow macaroni and cook for 8-10 minutes until tender, stirring occasionally so it does not stick.
5
Add the shredded chicken, cabbage, and fish sauce, then simmer for 3 minutes until the cabbage wilts.
6
Lower the heat, pour in the evaporated milk and black pepper, warm through without boiling for 2 minutes, then serve hot in bowls.

Chicken Sopas — plated and served — Serving moment. How Chicken Sopas looks plated and ready to eat — a representative photo, not a step in the recipe.

Listahan Family Score™

68/100

Works for many families

Allergen-friendly 50

Kid-friendly 85

Weeknight-easy 64

Budget-friendly 82

Great leftovers 93

Pantry-friendly 42

Score reflects how well this recipe fits a typical busy household. In the app, your Family Score is personalized to your household's allergens, kids, and pantry.

Nutrition

per serving

860

Calories

66 g

Protein

74 g

Carbs

34 g

Fat

Estimated per serving. Actual values depend on the brands and portions you use.

Listahan cooking guide

Chef notes & practical guide

Technique notes, ingredient swaps, serve-alongside ideas, storage guidance, and equipment for this recipe.

Cultural context

Chicken Sopas is a creamy Filipino macaroni soup, comfort in a bowl on rainy days and sick days alike. Elbow macaroni, shredded chicken, and vegetables simmer in a milk-enriched broth. It is a homey adaptation of pasta soup, gentle and warming, beloved by children.

Listahan note

This version simmers a savory chicken broth, cooks the macaroni until just tender, and finishes with evaporated milk for the signature creamy, soothing bowl.

Technique cues

Cook the macaroni just until tender; it softens further in the hot broth.
Add the milk near the end so it does not curdle.
Shred the chicken so it spreads through every spoonful.

Kitchen flow

Parallel prep: Simmer and shred the chicken while you prep vegetables.
Make-ahead: Make the broth ahead; add pasta and milk when reheating, as pasta swells.
Leftover move: Loosen leftover sopas with broth or milk, since the pasta drinks up the liquid.
Cleanup rhythm: One pot; rinse promptly before the milky broth dries on.

Ingredient brief

Role, handling, and swap guidance for each key ingredient.

Bone-in chicken

Main protein and broth

Purpose: Flavors the broth and provides tender shredded meat.

Handling: Simmer, then shred and return to the pot.

Adaptation: Use leftover rotisserie chicken with store broth for speed.

Elbow macaroni

Starch

Purpose: Gives the soup its hearty, child-friendly body.

Handling: Add partway and cook just until tender.

Adaptation: Any small pasta works.

Evaporated milk

Creamy finish

Purpose: Gives sopas its signature creamy character.

Handling: Stir in near the end over low heat.

Adaptation: Whole milk works but is less rich.

Carrot, cabbage, and celery

Vegetables

Purpose: Add sweetness, body, and freshness.

Handling: Dice carrots and celery; add cabbage near the end.

Adaptation: Use what you have on hand.

Technique notes

Do not overcook the macaroni; it keeps softening in the broth.
Add the milk over low heat to keep it from curdling.
Expect to add liquid when reheating, as the pasta absorbs it.

Ingredient swaps

Dairy-free direction: Use coconut milk or a plant milk for a dairy-free bowl.
Gluten-free direction: Use gluten-free pasta.
Lighter direction: Use skinless chicken and less milk.

Serve alongside

Pandesal
Crusty bread
Calamansi wedges
Saltine crackers
Hot tea
Calamansi juice
Cold water

Serving suggestions only — check pairings for your household's allergens.

Storage & reheating

Refrigerate up to 3 days; the pasta absorbs liquid as it sits.
Reheat with added broth or milk to loosen.
Freezing is not recommended, as the pasta turns mushy.

Equipment

Large soup pot
Ladle
Cutting board
Wooden spoon

Make this household-aware

Listahan Pro checks this recipe against your household's allergens, finds pantry-aware swaps, builds the shopping list, and helps you plan the week around it.

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