My baked chicken leg quarters recipe is one of the tastiest chicken recipes you’ll ever make. It’s also one of the easiest! Juicy, tender, and flavorful dark meat with that crispy skin we all love. My chicken quarter recipe is the perfect choice for an easy weeknight dinner your whole family will enjoy! Often overlooked the Chicken Leg Quarter is one of the most economical cuts of chicken and also one of the most flavorful. There are no extra steps involved in making my Baked Chicken Leg Quarters recipe. No pan searing and no frying. Just rub the chicken quarters down with the seasoning mixture and place them in the preheated oven. It’s really
that easy! Made with simple pantry ingredients, it’s one of my favorite chicken recipes! Let’s start by gathering the ingredients we need to make Baked Chicken Leg Quarters. In Chef Speak this is called the “Mise en Place” which translates to “Everything in its Place”. Not only does setting your ingredients up ahead of time speed up the cooking process, it also helps ensure you have everything you need to
make the dish. You sure can. And actually, the sugar is what causes a good deal of the caramelization of the chicken so that the end product will be lighter in color. You can also use your favorite blend of seasonings
with this recipe. Tailor the seasoning mix to your tastes and your family’s. It can be a different seasoning blend every time you make Chicken Leg Quarters. You sure can. You can cut the chicken up in quarters, creating two chicken leg quarters and two chicken breast quarters. You can also just roast the whole chicken using the seasoning paste, but I would reduce the heat to 350 after 25 minutes and continue cooking the whole chicken for an
additional 60-90 minutes depending upon the size of the chicken. You can also use this recipe with chicken breasts, chicken thighs, wings, legs or a mixture of chicken pieces. My baked chicken leg recipe is another favorite. *The seasoning mix can be made up in larger batches or ahead of time. Just keep it in an airtight container until it is used. *I like to let the chicken get closer to
180 degrees, the dark meat can take the extra heat and it makes it even more tender while remaining moist and juicy. Wouldn’t your family love to sit down to these OMG delicious Baked Chicken Leg Quarters? I know they would! Just make sure to make
extra, they’re going to be coming back for seconds!Ingredients
The ingredient list is short:
Can I leave out the brown sugar?
Can I use whole chicken with this recipe?
How to make Seasoning Paste for Baked Chicken
How to make Baked Chicken Leg Quarters
Recipe FAQ’s
How long does it take to cook chicken leg quarters?
At 400 degrees F. it takes between 35 -40 minutes to reach an internal temperature of 165 degrees. For a more tender chicken leg quarter, I like to cook the quarters for up 45 minutes. Because it’s dark meat the leg quarters can take extra time in the oven, which not only makes it more tender but crisps up the skin nicely.
Should I cover chicken with foil when baking?
I prefer cooking chicken without foil. It makes for crisper skin and adds color to the chicken. If the chicken begins getting too dark, it’s okay to cover it with foil at that point to prevent it from getting darker
Do I flip the chicken leg quarters when baking?
No, you don’t. In the oven, it’s not necessary to turn the chicken over, during the process.
More Chicken Recipes You’ll Love!
Best Baked Chicken Legs {Drumsticks}
Oven Roasted Blackened Chicken Recipe
Chai Marinated Chicken with Roasted Vegetables
Crispy Fried Chicken Tenders
My chicken leg quarters recipe is one of the tastiest chicken recipes you'll ever make. It's also one of the easiest! Juicy, tender, and flavorful dark meat with that crispy skin we all love. My chicken quarter recipe is the perfect choice for an easy weeknight dinner your whole family will enjoy!
Prep Time10 mins
Cook Time40 mins
Total Time50 mins
Course: Entree
Cuisine: American
Servings: 4
Calories: 440kcal
- 1 Tbsp sea salt
- 1 Tbsp brown sugar
- 1 Tbsp garlic powder
- 1 Tbsp onion powder
- 1 Tbsp paprika
- 1 tsp black pepper
- 1 tsp thyme
- 3 Tbsp olive oil
- 4 chicken leg quarters
Preheat the oven to 425°F.
Rinse the chicken leg quarters in cold water and pat dry with paper towels. Make sure to dry the skin as much as possible.
Trim off any excess fat from the quarters without breaking the skin.
Combine all of the spices in a small bowl.
Add the oil to the seasonings making a paste.
Rub the chicken quarters with the paste, making sure to get the entire quarter covered with the seasonings.
Place the chicken on a foiled lined sheet pan.
Bake at 400°F for 45 minutes, or until the internal temperature of the chicken is 165°F.
Calories: 440kcal | Carbohydrates: 8g | Protein: 24g | Fat: 35g | Saturated Fat: 8g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 6g | Monounsaturated Fat: 18g | Trans Fat: 0.1g | Cholesterol: 142mg | Sodium: 1860mg | Potassium: 391mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 1001IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 32mg | Iron: 2mg
About Chef Dennis
Chef Dennis is a semi-retired Chef, writer/blogger, photographer, recipe developer and creator of A Culinary Journey with Chef Dennis aka Ask Chef Dennis®. Chef Dennis worked professionally in White Table Cloth Restaurants for 40 years and has been developing easy to make, restaurant-style recipes since 2009. The second phase of his reinvention from chef to blogger has earned him a place at the Worlds Dinner Table. Join him on his Culinary Journey enjoying his easy to make Restaurant Style recipes and travel adventures. For more details, check out his About page.