Chicken Sopas is creamy, delicious, and the best way to warm up on rainy days or in cold winter. This Filipino noodle soup is loaded with chicken, macaroni, vegetables, hot dogs, and flavorful broth for the ultimate comfort food.
This chicken sopas was originally not on my countdown list, but I came across a post in a Facebook recipe group from a member asking what would go well with sopas for Christmas. I can't believe I didn't think of this Filipino soup when planning my holiday posts!
I mean, seriously, what can be more comforting and satisfying than a piping hot bowl of chicken soup on a chilly Christmas day? Well, maybe a piping hot bowl of sopas AND cheese puto.
What is Sopas
Sopas, which literally means soup, is a staple in Filipino cuisine. But although there are many dishes we can classify as sopas, such as pancit lomi and chicken sotanghon, it is most commonly associated with a soup made of elbow macaroni, vegetables, and milk-infused broth.
While flaked chicken is the most popular protein ingredient, other meats such as ground beef, diced pork, or even corned beef are also used to make the soup.
Ingredient notes
- As in any good soup, broth is the heart of this recipe. Boneless chicken might be more convenient, but for a full-bodied taste, I recommend using bone-in.
- For my sopas, I usually saute a mirepoix as the base. The combination of onions, celery, and carrots, along with napa cabbage, serves as the added vegetables in the soup and brings tons of flavor.
- Hot dogs are a classic addition to sopas, but you can also use cubed ham, Vienna sausages, or liver.
Cooking tips
- I like to gently simmer the chicken in aromatics until cooked through and flake the meat. I then return the bones to the pot and simmer for at least 30 minutes to an hour to draw out their flavor. Although this step takes a bit more time, I promise the extra effort will be rewarded with a more robust flavor.
- The macaroni is cooked directly in the soup and the extra starch will thicken the broth nicely. If you prefer a thinner consistency or the soup begins to thicken over time, just dilute with additional water and adjust seasonings as needed.
Serving suggestions
Since the question "what to serve with this soup" is why I updated and reposted this chicken sopas recipe, let me share with you how I set it up for a large crowd.
- When the soup is ready, I transfer it to a crockpot or a chafing dish to keep it hot throughout the party. As I love to round off the soup with extra trimmings, I place individual mugs to serve it in and small containers of chopped green onions, hard-boiled eggs, and fried shallots or fried garlic bits by the crockpot so guests can garnish their bowls to their liking.
- The sopas is filling on its own, but I like to complete my set up with sides of puto, warm pandesal, saltine crackers, and tasty bread for a heartier meal.
- As pasta tends to absorb a lot of liquid, drying out the soup over time, I keep a pot of the creamy broth simmering on the stove to replenish the soup as needed quickly. I also like to undercook the noodles a little so they don't turn too mushy.
How to store
- If you're serving the chicken soup much later, you can cook the macaroni separately and add it to the sopas when ready to serve.
- Cool leftovers completely and store them in a tight-fitting lid container. Refrigerate for up to 3 days. I don't recommend freezing this soup as the pasta doesn't hold up and turns mushy from the freezing and thawing.
- Reheat in a saucepan over medium-low heat until completely warmed through. Add more broth, water, or milk to loosen the consistency as needed.
More noodle soup recipes
Ingredients
- 2 pounds bone-in chicken parts
- 1 onion, peeled and quartered
- 1 teaspoon peppercorns
- 4 cloves garlic, peeled and crushed
- 2 bay leaves
- salt and pepper to taste
- 10 cups water
- 1 tablespoon canola oil
- 4 hot dogs, sliced diagonally into ½-inch thick
- 1 onion, peeled and chopped
- 2 stalks celery, cubed
- 2 large carrots, peeled and cubed
- 2 cups uncooked elbow macaroni pasta
- 1 can (12 ounces) evaporated milk
- salt and pepper to taste
- ½ small napa cabbage, chopped
- 4 hard-boiled eggs, peeled and halved
- green onions, chopped
Instructions
- In a large pot, combine chicken, quartered onions, peppercorns, garlic, bay leaves, 1 tablespoon of salt, and 10 cups water.
- Over medium heat, bring to a boil, skimming scum that may float on top. Once the broth clears, lower heat and cover. Continue to cook for about 20 to 30 minutes or until chicken is cooked through and fork-tender. With a slotted spoon, remove chicken from the broth.
- Allow chicken to cool to touch, pull meat from the bones, shred and set aside.
- Return the bones to the pot and bring to a boil. Lower heat, cover, and simmer for at least 30 minutes to 1 hour. Using a fine-mesh sieve, strain Using a fine mesh sieve, strain broth to remove sediments and reserve about 8 cups.
- In another pot over medium heat, heat oil. Add hot dogs and cook, stirring regularly, for about 1 to 2 minutes or until lightly browned. With a slotted spoon, remove from pan and drain on paper towels. Keep warm.
- Add the chopped onions, celery, and carrots to the pan. Cook, stirring regularly, for about 3 to 5 minutes or until softened
- Add macaroni and cook, stirring regularly, for about 1 to 2 minutes.
- Add the reserved broth and bring to a boil.
- Lower heat and simmer, stirring occasionally, for about 8 to 10 minutes or until pasta is tender.
- Add evaporated milk, shredded chicken, and hot dogs. Continue to cook simmer until heated through. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
- Add napa cabbage and cook for about 1 minute or until tender-crisp.
- To serve, ladle soup in individual bowls and garnish with eggs and green onions, if desired. Serve hot.
Notes
Video
Nutrition Information
“This website provides approximate nutrition information for convenience and as a courtesy only. Nutrition data is gathered primarily from the USDA Food Composition Database, whenever available, or otherwise other online calculators.”
CECILIA says
Cooking this on a rainy New England day! Sarap! Salamat, Lalaine.
Lalaine Manalo says
Keep warm!
Richel says
Authentic pinoy taste. It was a my childhood in a bowl.
I didnt have ham so I used hotdog instead. It was like what my mum used yo make me when I wasnt well.
Thank you for this recipe.
Lalaine Manalo says
You're welcome. Food memories are the best 🙂
Ryan says
As always the recipes are great ! Over the years I have followed the blogs and seen the recipes, I wish Lalaine would put together a Filipino recipe book as I would definitely buy it. Why well it would be great to pass Filipino recipes down to our children so they never forget the passed own foods that are so accustomed to their heritage. I hope Lalaine you consider this?
Melissa says
Made this delicious soup on a cold day. It was great! My family loved it, even the most critic person, until the next serving, which was the next day. I refrigerated the leftovers after cooling it down, and found out that it had a bit of sour smell and taste. I had the conclusion that it is was due to the napa cabbage. It might be best to top the napa cabbage only to the amount that will be consumed for that serving. Any thoughts?
Ron says
Da best recipes as always. Your lumpia recipe is my fav especially the tips on how to keep it crispy and freezing it. Thanks as always!
Stephen says
Use quail eggs. You can thank me later haha
L says
It was my first time to cook sopas. It was delicious and so good!!!
I love it!
margaret says
Super Sarap my apo love it
Maricel says
The best chicken sopas I’ve made!!
Very flavourful!
Coline says
First time to cook chicken sopas and it turned out great! Your recipes are the best from the internet!
Ellen says
Love love it!!!