This recipe for Juicy Baked Chicken Leg Quarters uses pantry staples and only takes a few minutes to create the juiciest and most flavorful chicken with crispy, seasoned skin.
Chicken leg quarters are a seriously underrated cut of meat. Not only are they inexpensive, but they are also considered the most flavorful parts of the bird.
Comprised of the drumstick and thigh, chicken leg quarters are considered dark meat which is more forgiving and less prone to drying out.
This recipe uses spices and a bit of fat to elevate the flavor of the chicken while it roasts, with very little work on your end. Simply roast the chicken until the meat is tender and the skin is crispy and enjoy.
Serve this alongside Mashed Potatoes and roasted vegetables like Roasted Carrots and Green Beans.
Why You’ll Love this Recipe
- Cheap: Like drumsticks, chicken leg quarters are one of the cheapest cuts of chicken to buy, making them great for all budgets.
- Quick and Easy: No chopping here! It will take you less than 5 minutes of hands on time to prepare this recipe!
- Family-friendly: My sons loved these and were asking for seconds.
Ingredients
- Chicken leg quarters: Skin on, bone in is what you’re going to want to use here. The leg quarters are made up of the thighs and the drumsticks.
- Fat: I love using ghee here! Ghee is clarified butter, and if you have never used it before, I suggest you try it! It gives the deliciously rich flavor of butter, while being able to cook at a higher temperature like oil. If you’d like, you can sub in a different high heat oil here, like avocado oil.
- Spices: A blend of paprika, chili powder, italian seasoning, salt, pepper, onion powder, and garlic powder.
How to Bake Chicken Leg Quarters
Step 1. Preheat oven to 425 F.
In a small bowl, combine paprika, chili powder, italian seasoning, onion powder, garlic powder, salt, and pepper.
Step 2. Pat chicken quarters down with paper towels to remove excess moisture.
Step 3. Use fingers to carefully separate the skin from the meat. Do not fully detach, just enough so you can get the seasonings underneath the skin.
Step 4. Coat chicken fully with melted ghee or oil on all sides.
Step 5. Liberally sprinkle on seasoning blend and rub under and over the skin, making sure the chicken is fully covered.
Place seasoned chicken quarters on a foil lined baking tray and place in the oven.
Step 6. Bake for 35-45 minutes, or until the internal temperature reaches 180 F. A digital thermometer works great to test. Allow meat to rest for 5 minutes before serving.
Recipe Tips
- Chicken generally needs to reach an internal temperature of 165 F to be considered cooked through. However, chicken leg quarters are more forgiving and actually benefit from a slightly higher temperature and longer cook time as it makes the meat more tender.
- This seasoning blend works well for any cut of chicken, use it on chicken thighs, drumsticks, or even baked chicken wings.
- After you enjoy this dish, save the bones for a rich slow cooker bone broth! Nothing goes to waste.
More Flavorful Chicken Recipes
Did you enjoy this Baked Chicken Leg Quarters Recipe? I would love for you to let me know by leaving a comment and star rating. I can't wait to hear from you!
Juicy Baked Chicken Leg Quarters
Ingredients
- 4 chicken leg quarters medium sized
- 2 tbsp. ghee melted in the microwave
- ½ tbsp. paprika
- ½ tbsp. onion powder
- ½ tbsp. garlic powder
- 1 tsp. salt
- ½ tsp. pepper
- 1 tsp. italian seasoning
- ½ tsp. chili powder
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 425 F.
- In a small bowl, combine paprika, chili powder, italian seasoning, onion powder, garlic powder, salt, and pepper.
- Pat chicken quarters down with paper towels to remove excess moisture.
- Use fingers to carefully separate the skin from the meat. Do not fully detach, just enough so you can get the seasonings underneath the skin.
- Coat chicken fully with melted ghee or oil on all sides.
- Liberally sprinkle on seasoning blend and rub under and over the skin, making sure the chicken is fully covered.
- Place seasoned chicken quarters on a foil lined baking tray and place in the oven.
- Bake for 35-45 minutes, or until the internal temperature reaches 180 F. A digital thermometer works great to test. Allow meat to rest for 5 minutes before serving.
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