How to Bake The Best Roasted Chicken Leg Quarters
If your in search of a simple, yet incredibly delicious chicken recipe, you have to try this chicken quarters recipe tonight!I will show you how to bake the best roasted chicken leg quarters you have ever had!
Equipment
- Rimmed Baking Sheet or Jelly roll Pan
- Foil
- Paper Towels
- small bowl
- Cooking Spray or Pastry Brush for Oil
Ingredients
- 4 chicken leg quarters
- 1/4 cup avocado oil
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp onion powder
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 1.5 tsp kosher salt
- 1.5 Tbsp Italian seasoning
- 1/2 tsp paprika
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 400F and get out your sheet pan and cover the bottom of the pan with aluminum foil. Set aside while you make your seasoning mix.
- In a small bowl mix together all of your spices. Stir with a spoon until well combined and set aside.
- Now put your chicken quarters out on a plate flat, not overlapping and use a paper towel to pat all of the pieces until they are dried and there is no visible excess moisture. Making sure the skin is dry gives you the best results during roasting as it helps the oil and dry rub spices stay on the chicken. I leave on the excess fat as it helps crisp up the skin as well. You can remove it if you want to.
- Place them on the prepared baking sheet skin side up in a single layer with enough space inbetween so they do not touch.
- Now brush the chicken pieces with the vegetable oil or avocado oil on with a pastry brush, or if you have cooking spray that will work.
- Sprinkle on the seasoning as evenly as possible so all of the pieces are infused with delicious flavors.
- Bake your chicken quarters in the 400 degree F oven for 40-45 minutes or until the chicken reaches a safe internal temperature of 165°F (74°C). You can use an instant-read thermometer to check the internal temperature of the chicken.
- For that extra crispy skin, broil the chicken leg quarters for an additional 2-3 minutes. Keep a close eye on them to prevent burning.
- Allow your baked chicken leg quarters to rest for a few minutes before serving. This helps the juices redistribute throughout the meat, ensuring every bite is tender and flavorful.
- Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days. For longer storage, consider freezing them in a freezer bag for up to 3 months.
Notes
- Can I use an air fryer for this recipe?
Yes, you can!
Preheat your air fryer to 400°F (200°C) and follow the same seasoning and cooking instructions, but be mindful of the smaller cooking space.
You may need to do it in batches depending on how large your airfryer is.
Cook for approximately 25-30 minutes, checking the internal temperature for doneness.
-Can I use different seasonings for variety?
Yes! I encourage you to experiment with different seasonings to suit your taste.
Try some lemon pepper seasoning, cayenne pepper, smoked paprika, chili powder or red pepper flakes in addition to the spices listed in the spice mixture.
Poultry seasoning can stand in for the Italian seasoning asked for.
Once they are baked, try slathering the chicken quarters with soy sauce, or BBQ sauce right before broiling.
-Why is it important to let the chicken rest before serving?
Allowing the chicken to rest after cooking helps the juices redistribute throughout the meat.
If you cut it right away, all of the juices will run out leaving you with dry meat.
-Can I still make this recipe even if I do not have any foil or parchment paper?
Yes you can.
Use a wire rack greased with oil set on top of the baking sheet that the chicken will sit on while baking.
This ensures that it does not stick to the baking pan.
Using the foil or parchment paper helps to reduce a greasy clean up after dinner, but it is not a must.
-Are there different temperatures and cooking times that I can cook the chicken quarters at?
Technically you can use a different temperature and cooking time, but baking at 400F for 45 minutes has the best results.
| Nutrition Facts | |
|---|---|
| Serving size: servings | |
| Servings: 6 | |
| Amount per serving | |
| Calories | 206 |
| % Daily Value* | |
| Total Fat 15.9g | 20% |
| Saturated Fat 0.3g | 1% |
| Cholesterol 70mg | 23% |
| Sodium 64mg | 3% |
| Total Carbohydrate 0.5g | 0% |
| Dietary Fiber 0.4g | 1% |
| Total Sugars 0g | |
| Protein 14.8g | |
| Vitamin D 0mcg | 0% |
| Calcium 1mg | 0% |
| Iron 1mg | 6% |
| Potassium 29mg | 1% |
Nutrition
Calories: 206kcal
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!