In this recipe, chicken pieces (thighs and drumsticks) are marinated in soy sauce and lemon and then they are cooked in garlic, onions and tomatoes. Carrots, potatoes and red bell peppers are added and simmered for 20 minutes. The result is a chicken dish with a delicious tomato sauce.
Chicken Afritada (Chicken Braised in Tomato Sauce)
Chicken Afritada is a popular chicken Filipino dish that is cooked in tomato sauce with carrots, potatoes and bell peppers as the main vegetables.
Ingredients
- 2 lbs chicken (mix of thighs and drumsticks)
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice
- 2 tablespoons soy sauce
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 cloves garlic, chopped
- 1 medium onion, chopped
- 1 medium tomato, diced
- 2 tablespoons fish sauce
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- 1 cup tomato sauce
- 1 cup water
- 1 large potatoes, cubed
- 1 carrot, cubed
- 1 red bell pepper, cubed
Instructions
- Marinate chicken pieces in soy sauce and lemon juice for half an hour. Drain chicken from the marinade.
- In a heavy pan, heat oil over medium high heat. Sauté garlic, onions and tomatoes for 2 minutes or until onions are soft.
- Add chicken pieces and saute for a few minutes until meat is nicely browned and no longer pink.
- Add fish sauce and stir. Add tomato sauce and water and stir to combine. Let the mixture boil and then reduce heat. Cover and let simmer, stirring occasionally for 20 minutes.
- Add carrots, red bell pepper and potatoes; cover and cook for 10 minutes or until potatoes are tender.
- Season with salt and pepper, to taste.
- Serve with steamed rice. Enjoy!
Nutrition
Serving: 384gCalories: 350kcalCarbohydrates: 17.7gProtein: 46.8gFat: 9.5gSaturated Fat: 2gCholesterol: 116mgSodium: 1088mgFiber: 3.5gSugar: 5.5g
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!
Nutrition Facts
Chicken Afritada (Chicken Braised in Tomato Sauce)
Amount Per Serving (384 g)
Calories 350 Calories from Fat 86
% Daily Value*
Fat 9.5g15%
Saturated Fat 2g13%
Cholesterol 116mg39%
Sodium 1088mg47%
Carbohydrates 17.7g6%
Fiber 3.5g15%
Sugar 5.5g6%
Protein 46.8g94%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Thank you for all the wonderful recipes. I have your cookbook and use it all the time. We lived in Charleston South Carolina on the Navy Base for 8 years. My son went to school with the Filipino kids. We were invited to many Fiestas where I helped in the kitchen and learned to cook Filipino food. Back then many imported groceries were not available. I will be making your recipe this weekend.
Hi Fanica,
Thanks for sharing. I am pretty sure there are many Filipinas out there that can relate to your story. Take care!
Can this recipe be easily doubled?
Hi Lynne,
To double this recipe,I would use the same amount of ingredients except for chicken (4 lbs),water (1.5 cups), potatoes ( 2 medium),carrots ( 2 small) and bell peppers (2). Season to taste by adding salt and ground pepper (if needed) at the end. Hope these help!
Thank you! I do have another question. Can I make this dish a day or two ahead of time, refrigerate and then warm up to serve?
Yes, definitely you can make this ahead of time, refrigerate and warm it up to serve.
I WILL COOK THIS RECIPE ON THE DAY OF GRADUATION OF MY SISTER AS WE CELEBRATE HER SPECIAL MILESTONE, I HOPE I CAN DO THIS AND THEY WILL LIKE IT
Always use this recipe. Thanks!
You are welcome Nino! Take care 🙂
I tried this and my partner liked it so much. Will save this recipe. Thank you.
You are welcome Mica! Glad that your partner liked this chicken recipe. Take care!
I followed this recipe, and it was perfect. Esp the sauce mmm very tasty! My family loves it. Thank you for sharing your recipe. It’s a keeper ^-^
You’re welcome Miles! Glad that your family loved it. Take care and thanks for writing 0
This was a great recipe! It reminded me of home. I don’t usually cook a lot of Filipino food at our house but I’ve made this one with only sliced chicken thighs and it was delicious. It was so easy to prepare too as long as you’ve already pre-chopped your vegetables. My daughters loved it and ate everything on their plates. Thank you for a wonderful recipe!
You are welcome Lea! I am glad your daughters enjoyed this dish. Take care and thanks for writing!
Can you substitute pork shoulder instead of chicken? If so, do any other modifications need to be made with the other ingredients?
Thanks!
Hi Jaclyn,
Yes, you can use pork shoulder to make afritada. Follow the same instructions except in step 4, cook the meat longer (45 minutes). Check every 15 minutes, adding 1/4 cup of water if running out of sauce. Hope these help!
Hi Liza-
Can you use calamansi juice instead of lemon juice.
Thanks for the recipe cant wait to try it.
Hi Tess,
Yes, you can use calamansi juice instead of lemon juice. Actually, the original recipe calls for calamansi juice but here in Vancouver, calamansi is not always accessible.
Very tasty easy weeknight meal.
Just a tip if you have a good quality fish sauce follow the recipe and use water. No need for chicken broth.
Cheers from Winnipeg!
Hi I don’t have fish sauce but what can I use?
Hi Mary ann,
You can replace the fish sauce with salt. Start with 1/2 teaspoon table salt and then adjust the seasoning at the end (step 6). Hope this helps!
Thank you Liza. Your recipe has become “one for the books” in my household. I have made this recipe twice now and it never fails, no leftovers. My family loves the flavors.
You’re welcome Mary Ann! Glad that your family loves this recipe. Take care and stay safe!
I love your chicken afritada. I make it once a week. It’s very tasty.😋😋❤️❤️
Best Afritada Recipe. Love how there’s lemon juice. Gives a bit of zest too it!!!! I added sausages to it as well. Will for sure keep using this recipe. It’s definitely a keeper!!!
It’s my first time to cook chicken afritada and your recipe was very helpful! My partner loved it. Thank you! 🙂
You are welcome Kaydin!
The whole family enjoyed it! Thank you!
You’re welcome Rozafelle! Glad your family enjoyed it 🙂
Made this for mother’s day today! My mom absolutely loved it. I didn’t add any salt, as the fish sauce was more than enough.
Thank you for this recipe!
You’re welcome Shami! Your mom must be happy and proud of you. Take care and happy mother’s day to your mom :0
Looks great & already feels like home. Trying this tomorrow, will update once complete! Thank you sharing! Salamat!
You’re welcome Char!
Am making this right now. Did not marinate the chicken but put some lemon juice with the tomato sauce. It smells so good. Will let you know the outcome. Am sure it is yummy
I tried this today and I must say wow! Ito yung pinaka masarap na afritadang nagawa ko so far! 😁 Thanks for sharing your recipe! 😁
You’re welcome Kev! Glad you were able to try my recipe. Take care and thanks for writing 🙂
I’m a saucy kind of guy. I really want more sauce on the dishes that I cook. What could do to achieve that without sacrificing the taste of the dish? Thanks
Hi Kev,
I know how you feel. My family love more sauce on their afritadas and adobos too. If you like more sauce on your afritada, I would recommend in step 5, adding water ( start with 1/2 cup and add more as needed) when you add your veggies. Don’t forget to season with salt and pepper (final step). Hope these help!
Could you swap chicken broth instead of water?
Hi Amanda,
Yes, you can use chicken broth instead of water for this recipe. The broth will make the dish tastier.
Hello!
I’m so glad I picked your recipe when I was looking. I happen to have all of the ingredients. I had leftover chicken thighs when I made chicken adobo last. This turned out delicious and looked really appetizing, good enough to serve for special occasions.
Thank you for sharing this recipe which I will follow from now on.
Will browse more of your recipes…
Paula
Hi Paula,
Thanks for the feedback! Take care and enjoy browsing through the recipes 🙂
Liza, I have followed this recipe since probably I started missing home food.
I’ve always liked chicken afritada but never got to actually cooked them when I was still living in the Philippines.
Thanks for a great and easy to follow recipe and all I can say is … taste like home.
You’re welcome Jaja! So glad that you were able to try and had success with this recipe. Take care and thanks for writing 🙂
I am old lady and had been cooking for as long as I remember. I always use whatever ingredients are available to me. I had totally forgotten the original recipe from the country of my birth until I came across your recipes. Great, they bring back the Filipino flavor I grew up with..
Hi Aida,
I am glad you were able to find my blog:) I hope you will be able to find some recipes to try. Take care and thanks for writing your story!
Thank you for this recipe! My husband is Filipino and when we first met this was the first Filipino dish he introduced me to. Unfortunately my mother-in-law passed away before I could learn from her how to make this great dish the way my husband enjoys it. I’ve looked at many recipes but none of them were like how my mother-in-law made it until this one. it reminds him of his childhood and he loves the dish and so do I and our children. Thank you!
Hi April,
Thanks for writing your heartwarming story. It made my day!
Hi there! I stumbled into your afritada recipe while browsing. Most of the recipes I’ve encountered uses sugar, soy sauce, tomato sauce and tomato paste for the sauce. Your recipe is almost similar to the afritada of my childhood. Both my mom and grandmother use vinegar (instead of lemon), fish sauce, soy sauce and chopped tomatoes. And in Pampanga where I hail from, we use pork in lieu of chicken. I’ve tried those popular recipes but nothing comes close to the flavor of the afritada of my youth until I came upon your recipe. In my opinion, it should be as it is. Simple meat with just vegetables and sauce. On special occasions, my they would add green peas just to make it look more festive. Thanks for sharing your recipe!
You’re welcome Genevieve!
just curious how it would come out in crockpot?
Hi Stephanie,
To make chicken afritada in a crockpot, I would follow the same procedures in steps 1, 2 and 3. Then I would transfer the browned chicken pieces in the crockpot. Next is to stir in the fish sauce, tomato sauce, 1/2 cup water, carrots, bell pepper and potatoes. Cover and cook on low for 4-6 hours or until the chicken is cooked though. Uncover and season with salt and pepper to taste. Hope these help!
I followed the recipe to a T but I’m not sure why my sauce didn’t thicken and there just too much of it. Though the taste is okay, it would have taste better with thick sauce.
Hi Erika,
You can stir in breadcrumbs to the sauce if you want it thicker. Hope this helps!
Great recipe! The house smells really good right now. 😊 I forgot the peas and used green beans from my garden. Thank you for this tasty dish from my childhood .😁
Awesome!
Hello can cook this with my crop pot thank you so much
I have not made this dish using a crock pot but I am pretty sure it can be done. Follow steps 1,2 and 3. After the chicken has been browned in step 3, place the mixture in the crockpot. Add the fish sauce and tomato sauce, and stir. Cover and cook on low for 4 hours. then add the vegetables and cook until the potato is tender, about 1- 2 hours. The times are estimate, adjust accordingly, if needed.
Have you tried this with boneless skinless chicken thighs?
Hi Cyn,
No, I have not tried boneless, skinless chicken thighs in making afritada but I am pretty sure it will work. Just adjust the cooking time, if needed to.
Hello,
Just wondering if there is a typo in the marinade ratios. Is it really just 2 tablespoons soy sauce and 2 tablespoons lemon juice? Or do you add the 1 cup water to make it a marinade? Hope you can clarify, thank you!
Hi,
There’s no typo, the chicken is marinated in a mixture of 1 tablespoon soy sauce and 1 tablespoon lemon juice. A cup of water is later added after the chicken has been browned. Hope this helps.
I made this today. It tastes exactly as it did in my childhood. Thank you for sharing your recipes. This is the first recipe I’ve tried from your site and it was a complete success in my books!
Hi Ro,
So happy you were able to try and had success with the recipe 🙂
Make it vegan by using oyster mushrooms and/or firm tofu instead of chicken or pork. Omit fish sauce.
Salamat ate its simple and tasty thank you for the recipes
You’re welcome Claude!
What kind of tomato sauce is best with this?
I used the regular or plain tomato sauce.
Thanks for sharing your tasty recipe. I will definitely try this one coz its one of my fav 🙂
You are welcome 🙂
sarap!! thanks for the recipe. already knew how to make it, but nice to know other people can learn. i like to add peas.
You’re welcome! I had it for lunch today, ate it with lemon and fish sauce on the side 🙂