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Chicken afritada with rice

Chicken afritada with rice is a Filipino braise of chicken thighs, potatoes, carrots and bell peppers in a tomato sauce, served with rice. For 4 people, it takes 1 hour, is rated easy, and costs €2.50 per serving. The key is browning the chicken before braising it and adding the peppers only at the end so they stay crisp.

Tonight, an everyday Filipino dish, chicken braised in tomato sauce with tender vegetables, nice and gentle for the kids.

Chicken afritada with rice
Total time
1 h
Difficulty
Easy
Cost per person
€2.50
Calories per person
650 kcalcalculated by Kiloach, your weight coach
Season
Winter, Fall, Spring
The kids
They generally like it

Afritada feels like a tomato-based pot roast, only quicker and milder. The chicken simmers alongside potatoes and carrots that soak up the sauce, while the bell peppers, stirred in at the very end, keep their crunch and bright color. Soy sauce slips quietly into the tomato base, giving it a savory backbone that no one quite notices, not even the kids.

It's an everyday dish in the Philippines, the kind you throw together on a weeknight without much thought, though it also holds up well for a Sunday table if you double the amounts. Mon Chou built this one for the weeks when you want a full meal, meat, vegetables and rice, without pulling out three different pots.

The ingredients

4 people

Butcher

  • Chicken thighs 8

Fruits and vegetables

  • Potatoes 3
  • Carrots 3
  • Red bell pepper 1
  • Green bell pepper 1
  • Onion 1
  • Garlic 4 cloves

Pantry

  • Tomato sauceoften in the pantry 400 g
  • Soy sauceoften in the pantry 2 tbsp
  • Riceoften in the pantry 300 g
  • Oiloften in the pantry 3 tbsp
  • Pepperoften in the pantry 1 pinch

The step by step recipe

  1. Brown the chicken thighs in the oil on both sides, then set them aside. 10 min

    Turn them only once, the skin should release on its own.

  2. In the same pot, sauté the onion and garlic, then add the tomato sauce and soy sauce.

    The soy sauce brings the salt and a touch of umami, taste before adding more salt.

  3. Return the chicken to the pot, add half a glass of water and let it simmer covered. 20 min

    Keep the heat medium low, the sauce should just gently bubble.

  4. Add the potatoes and carrots cut into large chunks and keep cooking, then add the bell peppers in strips for the last 5 minutes. 20 min

    Adding the peppers at the end keeps them a bit firm and colorful.

  5. Cook the rice and serve everything in shallow bowls with the sauce.

    A simple plain rice is the perfect base for this generous sauce.

Our tips to get it right

  • Pick chicken thighs with the skin on, it browns better in the pan and flavors the whole sauce as it simmers.
  • Cut the potatoes and carrots roughly the same size so they cook evenly and stay whole on the plate.
  • If the sauce looks too thin at the end, uncover the pot for the last 5 minutes so it reduces a bit.

The variations

  • Swap the chicken thighs for boneless thigh fillets, they'll cook a touch faster.
  • For a vegetarian version, replace the chicken with chickpeas or firm tofu browned in the pan, and cut the simmering time to 15 minutes.
  • For rushed kids, blend part of the sauce with the vegetables before serving, it turns softer and easier to eat.

What to serve it with

  • Plain steamed white rice
  • A fresh cucumber salad
  • Bread for dipping

Storage

Afritada keeps 2 to 3 days in the fridge in a sealed container, ideally with the rice stored separately. It freezes well for 2 months without the rice. Reheat gently on the stove, adding a splash of water if the sauce has thickened too much.

Questions about this dish

Can you make chicken afritada ahead of time?

Yes, it's even better reheated the next day, once the vegetables have soaked up more sauce. Just cook the rice fresh so it stays fluffy.

Can you substitute the soy sauce?

You can use an extra pinch of salt instead, though you'll lose that subtle savory note. A small amount of fish sauce works well too.

What rice works best with afritada?

Plain white rice, long grain or jasmine, is ideal for soaking up the tomato sauce. Avoid very sticky rice, which can make the dish feel heavy.

Can you add other vegetables to afritada?

Green peas or button mushrooms work well stirred in near the end of cooking, they pair nicely with the tomato sauce. Keep the potatoes and carrots though, they give the dish its soft, hearty texture.

How long does it take to make a chicken afritada with rice?

Count 1 h in total, prep and cooking included. The recipe is rated “easy”.

How many calories are in a chicken afritada with rice?

About 650 kcal per serving, for a recipe meant for 4 people. Calories are calculated by Kiloach, your weight coach, the app that partners with Mon Chou.

How much does a chicken afritada with rice cost?

About €2.50 per serving, or €10.00 for 4 people, based on average supermarket prices.

What allergens does this recipe contain?

This recipe contains none of the major allergens tracked by Mon Chou. Always check the labels of the products you buy.

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