Baked Chicken Leg Quarters are a fantastic, affordable cut of meat that is so easy to make. Baking keeps the chicken juicy on the inside with mouthwatering crispy skin, and you’ve got the convenience of one pan clean up. Serve your baked leg quarters whole or shred the meat for quick meal prep!
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Leg quarters are one of THE MOST affordable cuts of meat that you can buy. And since they are dark meat, they stay really juicy and flavorful. Baking the chicken on a baking rack also allows the skin to get nice and crispy.
Ingredients
Chicken Leg Quarters: You can use fresh or thawed frozen leg quarters. I find that the 10 pound bags of frozen leg quarters are the cheapest option working out to about $.50 per pound in my area! You can also adjust this recipe to bake as much or as little chicken as you like.
Butter (or Oil): Use whatever fat you have on hand. Use any kind of softened butter or neutral oil, such as canola or vegetable oil if you prefer or require dairy-free.
Spices: For this recipe, you’ll need the following spices:
- salt
- pepper
- dried minced garlic (or garlic powder)
- dried minced onion (or onion powder)
- ground chili powder
- ground cayenne (optional)
For salt, I recommend using kosher salt. If you only have table salt, cut the measurement to 1 1/2 teaspoons.
Tip: You can absolutely use bone-in chicken thighs, drumsticks or even breasts. Just make sure to use a meat thermometer to make sure that you cook dark meat (thighs and drumsticks) to 175 degrees Fahrenheit and white meat (breasts) to 165 degrees Fahrenheit. To accurately take the temperature, make sure that the thermometer is inserted into the thickest part of the meat and only to the middle. Take care to make sure the thermometer is not touching the bone.
Equipment
- Rimmed Baking Pan
- Baking Rack
- Aluminum Foil (optional)
- Small Bowl
- Measuring Spoons
How to Serve Baked Leg Quarters
Chicken leg quarters can be served whole or separate the thigh and drumstick for smaller portions. To cut, turn the leg quarter over and cut along the white line that separates the thigh from the drumstick. This is the joint and will cut cleanly.
Serve with your favorite side. I love this roasted Honeynut Squash recipe because it can bake right along side the chicken. Alternatively, if you have a smoker, you’ve got to try this Smoked Chicken!
Another option is to cut all the chicken off the bones and dice or shred the chicken for use in other dishes. The cooked meat is perfect for soups like Chicken and Dumplings, Chicken Pot Pie or this super tasty Curry Chicken Salad with Raisins.
I like to bake the leg quarters in large batches and freeze the chicken for quick meal prep. You can wrap the whole chicken in a double layer of plastic wrap or remove the chicken from the bone. Store either in a freezer bag, with as much air removed as possible, for up to three months.
Frequently Asked Questions
Chicken leg quarters are the bone-in section of the bird consisting of the thigh and drumstick.
The easiest and most accurate way to make sure your chicken is fully cooked is to use a digital thermometer (and cook to an internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit). This instant-read thermometer from ThermoWorks is my absolute favorite for its accuracy and quick reading. If you don’t have a thermometer, cut into the chicken and make sure there is no pink.
It takes 40-45 minutes for chicken quarters to reach an internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit at oven temperature 400 degrees. This cooking temperature is ideal because it crisps the skin and keeps the meat juicy.
More Sheet Pan Dinner Recipes
- Baked Turkey Wings
- Sheet Pan Maple-Mustard Chicken with Roasted Winter Squash
- Baked Meatballs
- Stuffing Meatloaf
- Easy Sheet Pan Dinner Recipes
Baked Chicken Leg Quarters Recipe
Baked Chicken Leg Quarters
Baked chicken leg quarters are a fantastic, budget-friendly protein option. They cook up beautifully and stay nice and moist. Serve with sides or shred the meat for other dishes.
Ingredients
- 4 chicken leg quarters (about 4 pounds)
- 2 Tablespoons Butter or Vegetable oil
- 2 teaspoons Salt
- 1 teaspoon Black pepper
- 2 teaspoons dried minced Garlic (or garlic powder)
- 2 teaspoons dried minced Onion (or onion powder)
- 1 teaspoon Chili powder
- 1/2 teaspoon Cayenne (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit and line a baking sheet with aluminum foil and top with an oven-safe baking rack.
- Place the chicken on the baking rack and rub with butter (or brush with oil).
- Mix together salt, pepper, garlic, onion, chili powder and cayenne in a bowl until well combined.
- Rub spice mixture all over chicken.
- Bake for 40-45 minutes, or until a meat thermometer reads 165 degrees Fahrenheit or the juices run clear.
Notes
You can use drumsticks, thighs or bone-in chicken breasts for this recipe. Check the temperature of the meat at 25 minutes. Cook to an internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit.
Once cooked, you can serve whole or cut along the joint to separate the drumstick from the thigh. You can also remove the meat from the bone, shred and use in other dishes that call for shredded or chopped chicken.
To freeze shredded chicken, remove the meat from the bones and cut or shred into bite-size pieces. Place in a freezer bag and seal removing as much air as possible. This will store in the freezer for up to 3 months.
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Nutrition Information:
Yield:
6Serving Size:
1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 375Total Fat: 22gSaturated Fat: 7gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 13gCholesterol: 229mgSodium: 917mgCarbohydrates: 1gFiber: 0gSugar: 0gProtein: 42g
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Yum! Yum! Yum! This is Sunday dinner perfect!
I usually cook my chicken leg quarters a little bit longer-45minutes to an hour. I place the chicken pieces on a foil lined pan, lightly cover them with olive oil and season them with dry seasonings. I like your recipe and have it saved.
Hi, Susan. Thank you so much for the comment. Yes, cooking times may vary depending on oven so I definitely recommend using a digital thermometer.
Yeah really good budget friendly meal. I have loved this entree for years and I like your recipe. I came here for a reminder on cooking time . Now I Look forward to seeing what else you got.
Thank you, Sean!! Happy to have you!
All well and good, but what TEMPERATURE do you bake them with? Thanks.
Hi, Milan. The temperature is 400 degrees Fahrenheit for 30-35 minutes, or until an internal temperature of 170-175 degrees Fahrenheit. The recipe card at the end of the post contains this information. Thank you for your question and I hope you enjoy!
Thank you. This recipe worked out great. Looking forward to using more of your recipes….Ty……
Can I use frozen chicken leg quarters for this or would I have to thaw them first?
Hi, Sarah. Great question! If baking from frozen, you’ll need to increase the cooking time to 45 minutes or until the internal temperature reaches 165 degrees Fahrenheit.
How is your chicken able to cook so fast? Mine takes an hour at 400 to be cooked through.
This left my chicken at 95 degrees and juices running pink and meat looking raw on the inside. Is it because I didn’t use a rack? I ended up turning up the heat to 425 and cooked it 15 extra minutes to get it done.