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    Home » Recipes » Chicken Recipes

    Best Baked Chicken Leg Quarters

    Published: Sep 1, 2022 by Chef Dennis Littley

    409 shares
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    • Yummly
    5 from 86 votes
    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe
    Pinterest image for crispy baked chicken leg quarters

    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!

    crispy seasoned chicken leg quarters on a white platter

    Often overlooked the Chicken Leg Quarter is one of the most economical cuts of chicken and also one of the most flavorful.

    4 baked chicken leg quarters on a white platter.

    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!

    Ingredients

    ingredients to make recipe.

    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.

    The ingredient list is short:

    • Chicken Leg Quarters
    • Olive Oil
    • Brown Sugar
    • Garlic Powder
    • Onion Powder
    • Black Pepper
    • Salt
    • Paprika
    • Thyme

    Can I leave out the brown sugar?

    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.

    Can I use whole chicken with this recipe?

    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.

    How to make Seasoning Paste for Baked Chicken

    collage of three steps making the seasoning paste.
    • Add the seasonings to a small bowl
    • Combine all of the spices using a fork, making sure to break up as many of the clumps of brown sugar as you can.
    • Add the olive oil to the seasoning mix to make a paste.

    *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.

    How to make Baked Chicken Leg Quarters

    collage of thee steps preparing and baking chicken.
    • Rinse the chicken leg quarters in cold water. After rinsing pat the chicken dry with paper towels. Make sure to dry the skin as much as possible.
    • Trim off any excess fat or skin from the quarters without breaking the skin. This is usually on the bottom side of the chicken quarters.
    • Rub the chicken quarters on both sides with the seasoning paste, making sure to get the entire quarter covered with the seasonings.
    • Place the seasoned chicken quarters, skin side up in a single layer on an aluminum foil-lined baking sheet.
    • Bake the chicken leg quarters at 400°F for 40- 45 minutes (cooking time can vary), or until the internal temperature of the meat is 165°F. Use a meat thermometer (instant-read thermometer) to check the temp!
    • Remove the sheet pan from the oven and allow the baked chicken to rest for 5 minutes before serving.

    *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.

    crispy seasoned chicken leg quarters on a white platter.

    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!

    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
    • Baked BBQ Chicken Drumsticks

    Did you make this? Please RATE THE RECIPE below!

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    crispy seasoned chicken leg quarters on a white platter
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    5 from 86 votes

    Easy Baked Chicken Leg Quarters

    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
    Author: Chef Dennis Littley

    Ingredients

    • 1 Tbsp sea salt use one teaspoon iff you're cutting back on 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
    US Customary – Metric
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Instructions

    • Preheat the oven to 400°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.

    Nutrition

    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
    Tried this Recipe? Pin it for Later!Mention @askChefDennis or tag #askChefDennis!

    More Chicken Recipes

    • Chicken Milanese
    • Three Bean Chicken Chili
    • Slow Cooker Chicken Merlot
    • Easy Honey Garlic Chicken

    About Chef Dennis

    Picture of 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.

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Tracy

      January 02, 2023 at 9:50 pm

      5 stars
      Made this today and I’m not a great cook, but it turned out wonderful! Very tasty! I didn’t have olive oil but used sunflower oil and it worked fine. Thanks for a recipe easy enough even I can do it.

      Reply
    2. Knowme

      December 28, 2022 at 1:41 pm

      Just one question: you say preheat oven to 425 yet bake at 400. Is that a typo? Do you preheat to 400?
      Thanks.

      Reply
      • Chef Dennis Littley

        December 28, 2022 at 5:29 pm

        thanks for catching that it’s a typo. It should be 400 preheat and bake.

        Reply
    3. stephanie rudd

      December 05, 2022 at 9:54 am

      could this be cooked in the crock pot

      Reply
      • Chef Dennis Littley

        December 05, 2022 at 1:22 pm

        they can but they won’t come out the same, it will be more like stewed chicken

        Reply
    4. Aileen

      November 19, 2022 at 8:45 pm

      5 stars
      I’m so glad I joined your recipe email list! I usually cook with chicken breasts, but I was having a large family gathering and chicken legs and chicken thighs were on sale…So I bought those and used this recipe because I trusted you would not steer me wrong!
      I put the seasonings in a large plastic zip bag and made the paste – and then put the chicken in the bag – one or two at a time and smooshed it all around so it got really covered with the seasoning. I put it in the oven and baked it! Ta-Da!
      This was Really good – we all loved it! and even my husband who doesn’t really like dark meat ate several pieces and said to make it again!
      I also really like that the ingredients were not things that I would only use once and never use again. These are normal things that I have in my pantry. I hope other people try this at least once because I know that they will make it a regular rotation in their meal schedule.
      Thank you Chef Dennis!

      Reply
    5. Jenny

      September 19, 2022 at 4:51 am

      5 stars
      I love your chicken leg recipe. So flavorful and easy to make. We will put this meal in our bi-weekly rotation; it is so good! Thanks for sharing this!

      Reply
    6. Ksenia

      September 18, 2022 at 8:31 pm

      5 stars
      These chicken legs were flavorful and simple, just what I needed for a weeknight. Thanks for this!

      Reply
    7. Amy Casey

      September 18, 2022 at 6:49 pm

      5 stars
      I made these tasty chicken legs last night for dinner. The seasonings were just right and I loved the touch of sweet from the brown sugar.

      Reply
    8. Ashley

      September 17, 2022 at 11:17 pm

      5 stars
      I love the seasonings you add to these chicken legs. They sound absolutely amazing! I definitely want to try this recipe for dinner.

      Reply
      • Robert Rosengrant

        January 12, 2023 at 6:35 pm

        Hi Dennis! Please add me to your list. Thank you
        Robert

        Reply
    9. Helene

      September 17, 2022 at 5:01 pm

      5 stars
      This recipe can’t be easier. It’s perfectly seasoned. It’s perfect for mid-week dinner: short prep-time, and then let the chicken leg quarter cook. The whole family loved it.

      Reply
    10. Marie

      September 16, 2022 at 4:25 pm

      5 stars
      These chicken legs came out super juicy and incredibly flavorful. Loved that all the ingredients you use in the rub are pantry staples. The recipe comes together super quickly, and my family devoured the lot in no time!

      Reply
      • Janell

        December 09, 2022 at 5:20 am

        What would you pair this meal with?

        Reply
        • Chef Dennis Littley

          December 09, 2022 at 7:37 am

          roasted potatoes or mashed potatoes, macaroni and cheese, or rice would be a good starch, and green beans, sauteed greens, or cole slaw would be a good veggie.

    11. Tracy

      September 14, 2022 at 10:37 pm

      5 stars
      These really were the best!! They’re one of our favorite cuts but no one has recipes for them! Loved this, so did my whole family!

      Reply
    12. Kathryn

      September 13, 2022 at 8:49 am

      5 stars
      This chicken was so tasty and we loved all of the different flavors of the spices. It made a delicious and easy dinner so I’ll be adding it to our dinner rotation! Thanks for another delicious recipe Dennis!

      Reply
    13. Gloria

      September 12, 2022 at 10:29 am

      5 stars
      Legs are the best part of the bird, they were juicy, delicious and a big hit with the family.

      Reply
    14. Laila

      September 04, 2022 at 10:25 pm

      5 stars
      This was about the best (and easiest) chicken dinner I’ve ever made. THANK YOU! It was delicious, juicy, flavourful, well cooked – but not actually crisp. The chicken temperature was 205° and I baked it at 400° for 50 minutes. I do a lot of cooking and recipes are usually bang on for time and temperature. But …Suggestions? Maybe broil it for a bit?!?

      Also, I would very much like to make this again shortly for my daughter’s family but can’t use paprika because of dietary requirements. My son-in-law can’t eat nightshade foods (potatoes, tomatoes, eggplant, peppers) therefore no paprika. In their household cumin is in constant use instead but I’m hoping there might be another alternative that might fit the bill and that you might be just the person to ask.

      Thanks again for this recipe. It was enjoyed by my today’s company very much.

      Reply
      • Chef Dennis Littley

        September 05, 2022 at 9:55 am

        you can easily leave out the paprika, it doesn’t add that much flavor, it’s more for color. It’s easy to add additional spices or fresh herbs to the seasoning mix, changing it up to include your favorite spices. Other spices I normally add like chili powder, old bay and cajun seasonings won’t work since they have peppers in them, cumin is nice but if you use it in a lot of dishes already I understand wanting other seasonings.
        Oregano, marjoram and thyme blended with the garlic and onion can add nice flavor, you might try that with some lemon zest, for a change of pace.

        Reply
        • Laila

          September 05, 2022 at 11:14 am

          Thanks so much for your suggestion. I will try that shortly and those spices should work out perfectly. I didn’t realize the paprika doesn’t add that much flavor so that was also good to know for when I would like more color in something.

          I very much appreciate your response!

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    My name is Dennis Littley or "Chef Dennis" as I'm known both at work and across the blogosphere. As a classically trained chef with 40+ years of experience in the kitchen, I share my time-tested recipes, knowledge, and chef tips to help you create easy-to-make restaurant-quality meals in your home kitchen.

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