Baked Chicken Leg Quarters (Crispy and Juicy)

This baked chicken leg quarters recipe is one of the easiest ways to get juicy, flavorful chicken with perfectly crispy skin every single time. With just a handful of pantry spices and an easy prep, you’ll have tender roasted chicken quarters that taste like they came from a restaurant. The high-heat oven method locks in moisture while crisping the skin, giving you the best of both worlds—crispy on the outside, juicy on the inside. Serve it with roasted potatoes or mashed potatoes, and you’ve got a foolproof dinner that's hearty and comforting.

Why I Love These Baked Chicken Leg Quarters

When I want an easy chicken dinner that delivers big flavor with minimal effort, this baked chicken leg quarters recipe is always at the top of my list. The chicken is coated in a simple but bold seasoning blend, then baked until the skin turns perfectly crispy while the meat stays tender and juicy. Every bite is packed with flavor!

What I think makes this recipe shine is its simplicity. You just mix the spices, rub them on the chicken, and let the oven do the rest. No complicated steps, no fuss—just juicy, golden-brown oven baked chicken quarters that can rival any restaurant.

While the chicken bakes, I always have plenty of time to prepare my favorite sides. Some of my go-to pairings include fried potatoes and onions, these crack green beans, and these grit cakes. Feel free to serve the chicken quarters with any sides you want to create a hearty and satisfying dinner that’s just as perfect for weeknights as it is for hosting a dinner party.

Ingredients

This baked chicken leg quarters recipe is made with only a few ingredients, and you might have everything you need at home already!

Check out what you'll need to make this baked chicken leg quarters recipe:

• 4 chicken leg quarters
• 3 tablespoon vegetable oil or olive oil
• 1 tablespoon sea salt
• 1 tablespoon brown sugar
• 1 tablespoon paprika powder
• ¾ tablespoon onion powder
• 1 teaspoon dried thyme
• 1 teaspoon black pepper

Pretty great, right?!

By the way, if you're picking up chicken leg quarters from the store, make sure to grab some extras to make this fricase de pollo next!

How To Make Baked Chicken Quarters

As I mentioned before, this recipe is about as easy as it gets to make. I mean, you barely have to do a thing, and the chicken will cook perfectly every single time! So let's not waste another second and get cooking!

Step 1: Prep Work

First, preheat the oven to 400°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper for later. Next, dry the chicken leg quarters with paper towels or a kitchen towel to get them as dry as possible.

Step 2: Season The Chicken

Now, it's time to give the chicken all of that flavor! Take out a small bowl and add the sea salt, black pepper, brown sugar, paprika, onion powder, and dried thyme to it and give it a mix. Add the vegetable oil or olive oil and mix until everything fully combines into a paste.

Rub the spice mixture on every side of the chicken, making sure every inch is covered.

Step 3: Bake The Chicken

Once the chicken is coated, arrange the seasoned chicken quarters on the baking sheet and pop them in the oven to bake for about 45 minutes or until the internal temperature at the thickest part of the chicken reaches 165° on a meat thermometer.

Serve the chicken warm with freshly baked potatoes or any side that you want. Enjoy!

Recipe Variations To Try

One of my favorite things about this baked chicken leg quarters recipe is how versatile it is. You can easily swap ingredients or seasonings to match your taste or what you have on hand. Here are some of my favorite variations:

• Different cuts of chicken. I love using whole bone-in leg quarters because you get the best of both worlds—juicy dark meat and tender white meat. But this recipe works just as well with chicken thighs or drumsticks. Just adjust the cooking time slightly since smaller cuts may bake faster.
• Change up the fat. The recipe calls for olive oil or vegetable oil, but you can substitute with almost any fat. Melted butter adds a richer, more indulgent flavor, while coconut oil or avocado oil offer lighter, healthier alternatives that still crisp the skin.
• Play with seasonings. The spice blend in this recipe is simple but flavorful, and you can make it your own with different combinations. Try smoky paprika and cumin for a Tex-Mex twist, cayenne and chili powder for extra heat, or swap the thyme for dried rosemary or oregano for a more herb-forward flavor. A sprinkle of garlic powder or onion powder also enhances the savory depth.

No matter how you mix it up, the key is roasting at a high heat so the chicken stays juicy and the skin crisps to perfection.

How To Store Baked Chicken Leg Quarters

This recipe for baked chicken leg quarters will make about 4 servings, so it's really the perfect busy weeknight meal for the whole family! If you have any leftover chicken, you can store it in an airtight container and keep it in the refrigerator for 3-4 days. Alternatively, if you want to store it for even longer, you can place the chicken in an airtight container or freezer bag and keep it in the freezer for up to three months.

How To Reheat Baked Legs

Whenever you're ready to enjoy the chicken legs again, you can either eat them cold or reheat them. To reheat the chicken, simply place it on a baking sheet and heat it in the oven at 375°F for 10-15 minutes, or until it's fully warmed through.

Baked Chicken Leg Quarters Recipe FAQS

What are chicken quarters?

Chicken leg quarters are a cut that includes both the drumstick and the thigh, along with a portion of the back. This makes them larger and meatier than just thighs or drumsticks alone, and because they have more dark meat, they stay juicy and flavorful when baked.

Can I use bone-in chicken thighs instead of chicken quarters?

Yes! Bone-in chicken thighs work great in this recipe. They’re smaller than leg quarters, so they’ll cook a little faster—usually around 35–40 minutes at 400°F. Use a meat thermometer to ensure they reach an internal temperature of 165°F for safe eating. Try brushing the thighs with BBQ sauce before baking, it's delicious!

How long does it take for chicken leg quarters to bake in the oven?

It will take about 45 minutes to bake the chicken leg quarters if you are baking them at 400°F. With that said, the time will vary depending on the size of your chicken, so you'll want to check the internal temperature with a meat thermometer and ensure it reaches 165°F.

Do I flip chicken leg quarters when baking?

No, you do not flip chicken leg quarters when baking. It is not necessary to flip the chicken over when baking since it will cook evenly on both sides and make the chicken skin crispy.

Should I cover the chicken while baking?

No. For crispy, golden skin, bake the chicken uncovered. Covering it traps steam, which makes the skin soft instead of crisp. If you’re worried about the chicken browning too quickly, you can loosely tent it with foil near the end of cooking.

Can this recipe be made ahead of time?

Yes. You can season and refrigerate the chicken in an airtight container up to 24 hours ahead of time before baking. The chicken is more flavorful if you rub it with the spices and then let it chill in the fridge. Cooked chicken leg quarters also reheat well—store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days and reheat in a 350°F oven until warmed through.

Wrapping It Up

Well, that's how to make baked chicken leg quarters in just a few simple steps! From the juicy chicken meat to the crispy skin and amazing blend of spices, this oven baked chicken leg recipe is really something special. So whether you're serving this recipe for a family dinner or a special occasion, everyone is sure to love the juicy, perfectly spiced chicken.

Anyway, I hope you love these baked chicken legs as much as I do. As always, if you give the recipe a try, let me know how it goes in the comments below.

More Easy Chicken Recipes

If this recipe has you in the mood for more easy chicken recipes, we have a ton on the blog you can make next!

Check out all of these recipes:

• Pan fried chicken breasts
• Fried chicken without buttermilk
• Lemon Chicken
• Ranch Chicken
• Panko breaded chicken
• Shake and bake chicken
• Baked chicken with cream of chicken soup

Oh, and as always, make sure to check us out on TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube! We post new recipes on them every day.