Juicy and Crispy Baked Chicken Leg Quarters (Cooks Perfectly)

These baked chicken leg quarters are incredibly juicy with crispy skin and a delicious flavor from the perfect blend of seasonings. This is one of my favorite easy chicken recipes, and you can make it in just 3 simple steps and a few minutes of prep time!

The Best Baked Chicken Leg Quarters

If you're looking for a new easy and delicious chicken recipe, you've come to the right place!

These baked chicken leg quarters are coated in a simple yet seriously flavorful seasoning blend, then they're baked until the meat is super juicy and the skin is extra crispy.

How delicious does that sound?!

I mean, this recipe is by far the best way to bake chicken quarters. And along with being delicious, it's really easy to make too! All you have to do is mix the spices and seasonings, coat the chicken in it, and then let the oven take care of the rest.

And while the chicken is baking, you'll have plenty of time to make some sides to go with it. If you're looking for what to serve with baked chicken, my go-to sides are these fried potatoes and onions, these crack green beans, and these grit cakes.

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 tbsp vegetable oil or olive oil
• 1 tbsp sea salt
• 1 tbsp brown sugar
• 1 tbsp paprika powder
• ¾ tbsp onion powder
• 1 tsp dried thyme
• 1 tsp 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!

Ingredient Substitutions and Suggestions

While I recommend making this baked chicken leg quarter recipe with the ingredients listed above, there are some awesome ways to mix things up.

Here are some of my favorite ideas to try out:

Chicken To Use

I love using whole bone-in chicken leg quarters because you get a great mix of dark meat and white meat. But you can also use chicken thighs or drumsticks instead of leg quarters, and this recipe will turn out just as delicious.

Bake The Chicken In Different Oil or Butter

This recipe uses vegetable oil or olive oil, but you can use any oil or butter that you want. For a richer flavor, melted butter makes a great substitute, and if you're looking for a healthier option, try coconut or avocado oil.

Change The Spices

Now, I think the spice mixture the recipe calls for is pretty incredible, but there are a bunch of different seasoning mixes that you can play around with. Try adding kosher salt, chili powder, cumin, smoked paprika, cayenne pepper, and garlic powder. As for the herds, dried thyme can be replaced with dried rosemary or oregano for a different flavor. Really anything works great here!

How To Make Baked Chicken Quarters In Oven

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, you can preheat the oven to 400°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper for later.

Next, you'll want to 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!

So 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. Then you can add the vegetable oil or olive oil and mix until everything fully combines into a paste.

Next, you can take the chicken and rub it on every side with the spice paste, making sure every inch is covered.

Step 3: Bake The Chicken

Once the chicken is good to go, you can arrange the seasoned chicken quarters on the baking sheet and pop it 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.

Finally, serve the chicken warm with freshly baked potatoes or any side that you want.

Enjoy!

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!

And if you have any leftover chicken, you can store it in an airtight container and keep it in the fridge for 3-4 days. Or, if you want to store it for even longer, you can put the chicken in an airtight container or freezer bag and keep it in the freezer for up to 3 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.

With that said, if you want to reheat the chicken, just put it on a baking sheet again and heat it in the oven at 375°F for about 10-15 minutes or until it's fully warmed through.

FAQs About This Baked Chicken Leg Quarters Recipe

How long does it take to bake chicken leg quarters?

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 how big your chicken is, so you'll want to check the internal temperature with a meat thermometer and make sure it's at 165°F.

Is it better to bake chicken legs at 350 or 400?

It is better to bake chicken legs at 400°F because it will cook the chicken all the way through while keeping it super juicy and also crisping up the skin nicely on the chicken.

How long to cook chicken leg quarters at 375?

You will want to cook chicken leg quarters at 375°F for about 55 minutes. Again, the exact time will vary depending on the size of your chicken, so just make sure you check the internal temperature.

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 chicken while baking?

No, you should not cover chicken while baking. If you want extra juicy and crispy baked chicken leg quarters, you'll want to leave the chicken uncovered.

Wrapping It Up

Well, that's how to make baked chicken leg quarters in just a few simple steps!

I really think this is one of the best baked chicken leg quarter recipes ever. 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.