Chicken Sopas: Creamy Filipino Macaroni Soup
Dan
Filipino comfort soup | Creamy macaroni | Rainy-day dinner
Chicken sopas is creamy, cozy, and full of macaroni, chicken, cabbage, carrots, and little hot dog slices if your family likes them.
Why make it: This version keeps the nostalgic evaporated-milk richness while giving timing cues so the macaroni stays tender instead of bloated.
Fresh From the Kitchen
About This Recipe
Chicken sopas is a Filipino creamy macaroni soup made with chicken, elbow macaroni, vegetables, milk, and often hot dogs. It is a common comfort food for rainy days and sick days.
Why You Will Love It
- Practical for U.S. kitchens: the recipe uses ingredients and substitutions a home cook can realistically shop for.
- Built for the table: the serving notes match how the dish usually lands in Filipino-American homes, from weeknights to merienda to parties.
- Flexible without erasing the dish: swaps are named clearly so the original idea stays visible.
- Easy to cook through: the shopping list, timings, and storage notes make the recipe straightforward to test and adjust.
Ingredient Notes
For the chicken
Bone-in thighs make a better broth, but shredded rotisserie chicken is a useful shortcut on busy nights.
For the macaroni
Cook it just until tender because it keeps absorbing broth as the soup sits.
Chicken Sopas Recipe
This version keeps the nostalgic evaporated-milk richness while giving timing cues so the macaroni stays tender instead of bloated.
Shopping List
- bone-in chicken thighs
- elbow macaroni
- evaporated milk
- hot dogs optional
- cabbage
- carrots
- celery
- onion
- garlic
- chicken broth
- fish sauce
Ingredients
Soup Base
- 2 tablespoons butter or oil
- 1 onion, diced
- 4 garlic cloves, minced
- 2 celery ribs, sliced
- 1 1/2 pounds bone-in chicken thighs
- 8 cups chicken broth or water
- 1 tablespoon fish sauce
Pasta and Vegetables
- 1 1/2 cups elbow macaroni
- 2 carrots, diced
- 2 cups shredded cabbage
- 4 hot dogs, sliced, optional
Creamy Finish
- 1 can evaporated milk
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- Sliced green onions, optional
Instructions
- Cook onion, garlic, and celery in butter or oil until softened.
- Add chicken, broth, and fish sauce, then simmer until the chicken is cooked through.
- Remove chicken, shred the meat, and return it to the pot.
- Add macaroni and carrots and simmer until the pasta is almost tender.
- Stir in cabbage and optional hot dogs.
- Lower the heat and add evaporated milk.
- Simmer gently for a few minutes, then season with salt and pepper.
- Rest 5 minutes before serving so the soup settles.
Nutrition Estimate
Approximate values per serving based on the listed ingredients and yield. Actual nutrition will vary by brand, exact portion size, and cooking changes.
Tips For The Best Chicken Sopas
- Add milk gently: A low simmer keeps the soup creamy instead of scorched.
- Stop pasta early: Macaroni softens more as it sits in hot broth.
- Use cabbage near the end: It only needs a few minutes to turn tender.
- Thin leftovers: Add broth or milk when reheating because sopas thickens in the fridge.
How To Serve And Store
Serve hot with crackers, pandesal, or rice if that is how your table does soup. Refrigerate leftovers for up to 4 days and reheat gently.
Common Questions
Can I skip hot dogs?
Yes. They are nostalgic for many families but optional.
Can I use milk instead of evaporated milk?
Yes, but evaporated milk gives a richer, familiar sopas flavor.
Can I use rotisserie chicken?
Yes. Start with broth and add shredded chicken with the macaroni.
Why did my soup get too thick?
The pasta absorbed broth. Add more liquid when reheating.
Does chicken sopas need hot dogs in your house, or is chicken enough? Share your family version or testing notes in the comments.
Recipe inspiration and technique reference: Filipino home-cooking source research from Panlasang Pinoy, Kawaling Pinoy, and Filipino-American cooking sources in the site roadmap.
