Is Filipino chicken the best comfort food or is Filipino chicken the best comfort food? The answer is yes.
If you are looking for meals that are oozing with thick, flavorful sauces and incredible depth of flavor, you have come to the right place.
There is a reason a Filipino meal is never complete without rice. It’s because you need a vehicle for all that delicious broth and savory goodness.
From simple weeknight dinners to weekend feasts, these 23 recipes are going to change your life. I’m just saying.
1. Chicken Inasal
Hello to this wildly delectable dish hailing from the province of Iloilo!
This incredibly juicy grilled chicken gets its flavor from a marinade of lemongrass, ginger, brown sugar, vinegar, and lemon.
Serve this up with a side of rice and atsara (pickled grated papaya) and you are looking at the complete experience.
2. Chicken Pastel
Think of this as the Philippine version of chicken pot pie.
Inspired by the Spanish pastel de pollo, this is a creamy chicken stew cooked right underneath a flaky pie crust.
The filling features cubes of chicken and veggies like potatoes, carrots, and mushrooms to really bulk it up.
Plus, there is a mix of chorizo and canned Vienna sausage in there to add even more flavor and texture.
3. Arroz Caldo
This is comfort food that is just perfect for cold weather.
We are talking about a soup complete with rice and chicken wings in a broth that is flavored with lots of ginger and garlic.
It gets garnished with a slice of hard-boiled egg for good measure and it is just delightful.
4. Chicken Empanadas
These chicken empanadas are a snack with a Spanish influence that you need in your life.
They are hand pies featuring a flaky crust and a savory filling.
This recipe uses a mix of shredded chicken, potatoes, carrots, and peas, and honestly? It’s perfection.
5. Chicken Afritada
This tomato-based stew is filled with chicken, potatoes, carrots, bell peppers, and peas.
The base is tomato sauce, but it gets that special Filipino touch with the addition of soy sauce.
Some versions call for pork or beef, but using chicken makes this dish a little more affordable and totally delicious.
6. Pininyahang Manok
Filipinos really love that sweet-salty flavor combination.
You will see it in plenty of dishes, including this pininyahang manok (pineapple chicken).
This is a chicken stew filled with pineapple chunks, carrots, and bell peppers swimming in a very creamy and savory broth thanks to milk and fish sauce.
7. Chicken Caldereta
Chicken caldereta is a hearty stew featuring chicken, potatoes, carrots, and bell peppers.
It has a thick tomato-based broth that is made even more special with liver spread and grated cheese.
These two ingredients make caldereta superior to other tomato-based dishes and we are here for it.
8. Filipino Crispy Fried Chicken
While nothing beats classic American fried chicken, I urge you to give this Filipino version a try.
You are going to be impressed by just how crispy and flavorful it is.
Seasoned with fish sauce, garlic powder, and paprika, this fried chicken is uniquely and wonderfully Filipino.
9. Lechon Manok
In the Philippines, you can find small shops selling lechon manok on almost every corner.
Similar to rotisserie chicken, it is a go-to when there is no time or energy to cook.
It is flavored with a rub of onions, garlic, sugar, soy sauce, fish sauce, and calamansi juice, and it smells heavenly.
10. Filipino Chicken Adobo
Let’s talk about what many consider the country’s national dish.
Chicken adobo is an unbelievably rich dish of succulent meat braised in a sauce of soy sauce, vinegar, peppercorns, and bay leaf.
Recipes vary by region, but they all use those same ingredients to flavor the stew and it is just so good.
11. Chicken Potato Salad
Just like the creamy potato salad we know and love, this Filipino version is loaded with chunks of potatoes, shredded chicken, and carrots.
But Filipinos add sweeteners to dishes to make them more appealing to kids, and this one is no exception.
Instead of just mayo, the dressing has a bit of sweetened condensed milk, plus sweet ham and crushed pineapples for a little extra sweetness.
12. Pancit Bihon
Just like lumpiang shanghai, pancit bihon is a staple at Filipino parties.
This is a Chinese-inspired dish of glass noodles tossed in a savory sauce with shredded chicken and vegetables.
13. Sizzling Chicken Sisig
Go to a Filipino pub and you will surely see sisig on the menu.
It is one of the most popular Filipino dishes on the planet and is best eaten with a cold beer.
This chicken version skips the traditional pork cuts but keeps the crispy texture and flavors of calamansi, onions, and chili peppers, making it a great alternative.
14. Chicken Binakol
Chicken binakol is an extremely tasty and refreshing stew flavored with coconut juice, ginger, and lemongrass.
The soup brims with chicken, spinach leaves, papaya, and young coconut meat, giving it a beautiful medley of colors and textures.
15. Chicken Lumpiang Shanghai
Go to a Filipino party and I assure you there will be piles of these brown egg rolls on the table.
A gathering is never complete without lumpiang shanghai!
These crunchy rolls are typically filled with ground pork, but ground chicken and minced carrots work beautifully well too.
16. Ginataang Manok
Coconut is abundant in the country, so expect it to be present in many dishes, including this one.
Ginataang manok is a chicken stew that uses a combination of coconut milk and ginger to flavor the broth.
There are no other components aside from the chicken and broth, allowing those flavors to really shine through.
17. Sweet and Sour Chicken
Sweet and sour chicken is a Chinese dish that is given a wonderfully Filipino flair here.
Breaded chicken cutlets are deep-fried to crispy perfection and coated in a sauce made of ketchup, soy sauce, pineapple juice, and brown sugar.
It also features onions, bell peppers, carrots, and pineapple chunks for a total flavor win.
18. Chicken Barbecue Filipino Style
This Filipino-style chicken barbecue features a sweet marinade of banana ketchup, sweet chili sauce, soy sauce, brown sugar, and lime soda.
Thread the chicken onto skewers and grill it to perfection.
19. Tinolang Manok
While it looks a little plain, do not be fooled by the unassuming appearance.
Tinolang manok is one of the most flavorful soups out there.
It is very simple—bone-in chicken cutlets, green papaya slices, and spinach swimming in a wonderfully salty broth.
Try it once, and trust me, you will yearn for it again.
20. Chicken a la King
Chicken a la King is an insanely creamy dish bursting with chicken, mushrooms, and bell peppers.
It has a super thick sauce made primarily of heavy cream flavored with wine and peppercorns.
It is so creamy you can serve it as a pasta sauce, but for an authentic meal, serve it over a bed of rice.
21. Nilagang Manok
Nilagang manok is another hearty stew with a thin, savory broth that delivers big flavors.
It is loaded with chicken and vegetables, making it very filling.
The broth gets its flavor from soy sauce and peppercorns, creating a classic combination that is addictive and slurp-worthy.
22. Pinoy Chicken Curry
I am happy to announce that this Filipino-style curry does not disappoint.
Made from coconut milk, evaporated milk, fish sauce, and just a touch of curry powder, this dish is far from the original but absolutely wonderful.
Milk and coconut are the primary flavors you will taste in the stew.
23. Filipino Chicken Macaroni Sopas
Chicken macaroni soup is a comfort food often served in rainy weather.
Filled with macaroni, shredded chicken, cabbage, and chunks of carrots, this soup is a complete meal on its own.
One spoonful has enough magical properties to cure what ails you!
