baked chicken leg quarters recipes
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Chicken
The chicken (Gallus domesticus) is a domesticated junglefowl species, with attributes of wild species such as the grey and the Ceylon junglefowl that are originally from Southeastern Asia. Rooster or cock is a term for an adult male bird, and a younger male may be called a cockerel. A male that has been castrated is a capon. An adult female bird is called a hen and a sexually immature female is called a pullet.
Originally raised for cockfighting or for special ceremonies, chickens were not kept for food until the Hellenistic period (4th–2nd centuries BC). Humans now keep chickens primarily as a source of food (consuming both their meat and eggs) and as pets.
What Are Chicken Leg Quarters?
A whole chicken leg is a thigh and a drumstick in one piece. Pictured above, an entire chicken leg is also known as a thigh-drumstick piece. When a thigh-drumstick part has a portion of the back attached, these cuts are chicken leg quarters.
Thigh-drumstick pieces and chicken leg quarters may be used interchangeably; however, because chicken pieces vary in size, be sure to cook whichever cut you use long enough to reach a safe internal temperature of 175°F. (Technically, chicken is safe to eat at 165°F, but our Test Kitchen found these dark meats have better texture and flavor cooked to 175°F.) Often, thigh-drumstick pieces are separated into two portions: the drumstick and the thigh. Sometimes, the separate drumstick portion is also referred to as a chicken leg.
Recipe Ingredients
- Garlic– While I really love fresh minced garlic, powdered will work if that’s what you have. It adds an incredible pungent flavor to anything it goes in.
- Onion Powder– Fresh onion will work, too. However, onions are quite juicy and may thin the marinade once it’s in the oven. Not a problem; just be aware that fresh onion doesn’t stick quite as well as dried, and basting it once or twice while baing will fix that.
- Thyme– Fresh thyme is one of my favorite herbs to season chicken with. But don’t sweat it if all you have is dried. I love having a thyme plant on my window sill for a truly fresh herb.
- Parsley– This is another herb that works fresh or dried. The delicious herby flavor it adds isn’t just delicious. It’s healthy, too.
- Paprika– Red pepper without the heat and all the flavor. Yum! However, if you want to add extra heat, a dash of cayenne will spice it up for you.
- Black Pepper– Spicy with just the right amount of heat for even the most delicate of palates.
- Butter or oil– Fat is not just a flavor-enhancer that is satisfying to the tastebuds. It actually helps people feel fuller and more satisfied. Butter is the best!
- Chicken Leg Quarters– The main attraction of this awesome recipe is economical and delicious.
- Salt– The pantry-staple flavor-enhancer that we wouldn’t know how to live without. Adjustable to personal tastes.
- Potatoes and Carrots– These soul-satisfying veggies are the perfect way to multipurpose the oven’s heat. And the drippings from the chicken make them extra tasty.
Ingredients
- 4 cloves garlic, finely minced
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
- 4 chicken leg quarters
- 1/2 cup chicken broth(or 1/4 cup chicken broth and 1/4 cup white wine)
Steps to Make It
- Gather the ingredients.
Preheat the oven to 425 F. Lightly oil a 9 x 13 x 2-inch baking dish or line it with foil. Combine the garlic, oregano, salt, chili powder, cumin, and black pepper in a small bowl. Add the olive oil and mix well. Use a mortar and pestle to form a paste or mash it with a fork.
Snip off any excess skin and fat deposits from the chicken. Arrange the leg quarters in the prepared baking dish and rub the garlic-spice mixture over each piece.
Pour 1/2 cup of chicken broth into the bottom of the baking dish. If desired, use 1/4 cup of chicken broth with 1/4 cup of dry white wine instead.
Bake the chicken, uncovered, in the preheated oven for 40 to 50 minutes, or until the chicken registers at least 165 F on a meat thermometer.
NOTES
- When it comes to seasoning, you can go as simple as salt and pepper, you can use your favorite seasoning blend (like Everything But the Bagel seasoning from Trader Joe’s, Montreal Chicken Seasoning, Lemon Garlic, or anything else), or you can make your own magic season salt by combining ¼ cup kosher salt, 4 teaspoons garlic powder, 1 tablespoon ground black pepper, 2 teaspoons onion powder, and ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper, optional. I just toss everything in a little mason jar, add the lid, and shake to combine. This is a great basic season salt recipe. It’s great on french fries and all kinds of meat.
Nutrition Facts
Serving Size 1 Slice
Serves 6
| Amount Per Serving | ||
| Calories | 340 | |
| % Daily Value* | ||
| Total Fat 17.2g | 22% | |
| Cholesterol 226.6mg | 76% | |
| Sodium 218.6mg | 10% | |
| Total Carbohydrate 0g | 0% | |
| Sugars 0g | ||
| Protein 43.5g | 87% | |
| · Vitamin A10%
· Vitamin C0% |
||
Why You’ll Love this Recipe
Here’s why you’ll absolutely love this Oven Baked Chicken Quarters recipe.
Delicious – This recipe is so delicious. Each bite is packed with flavor that your family will truly love!
Approachable – This recipe is approachable and is easy to make. You only need a sheet pan to make this recipe. How easy is that?
Versatile – You can make this baked chicken leg recipe with rice and roasted vegetables for an easy weeknight meal! Or, shred the chicken and add to tacos or chicken noodle soup.
Ingredients
Here are the simple ingredients you will need for this recipe:
- Baked Chicken Leg Quarters – You’ll need 4 chicken legs for this recipe.
- Olive Oil – Regular Olive Oil, not extra virgin olive oil. You can also use canola oil or vegetable oil.
- Garlic Powder
- Onion Powder
- Paprika
- Chili Powder
- Kosher Salt
- Black Pepper
Tip:
Chicken quarters have a lot of connective tissue that needs to cook to between 170°F to 175°F in order to break down and make the meat tender. Use an instant-read thermometer for the best results. Should I remove chicken skin before cooking?
No. The chicken skin will help ‘lock’ in the juices. If you don’t want to eat the skin, remove it after baking the chicken quarters.
Should I bake chicken covered or uncovered?
You can bake chicken both ways. We keep the chicken quarters uncovered to get a flavorful caramelization on them. If they start to get too dark, you can cover them, so the skin does not burn.
What temperature do you cook chicken quarters?
Our recipe cooks the chicken leg quarters at 400°F, but you can adjust the oven temperature if you want. If you reduce the oven temperature to 375°F or 350°F, you will need to bake the chicken a little longer. Just make sure you cook them to an internal temperature of 175°F.
What are chicken quarters?
Chicken quarters are a cut of chicken that includes the thigh, drumstick, and part of the back of the chicken. It’s called a chicken quarter because it accounts for roughly a quarter of the whole bird.
These chicken leg quarters recipes require only 5 minutes of prep, rub them with a delicious chicken seasoning, and let them bake at a high temperature until super crispy and golden.
Along with baked chicken breast, air fryer chicken thighs, air fryer whole chicken, and baked chicken legs, this is probably among the best chicken recipes. I’ve shared tons of chicken recipes on the blog, including baked chicken wings, cream cheese stuffed chicken, air fryer chicken tenders, or lemon garlic chicken.
This quick chicken recipe can’t get any easier, and it’s probably of the most delicious ways to cook chicken leg quarters in the oven. This blog post contains all the tips and tricks for baking chicken legs.
So below, we share with you how to make the best-baked chicken legs for a delicious family meal.
Why Are You Going To Love This Crispy Chicken Leg Quarters Recipe
- It’s an easy, simple, and delicious chicken recipe.
- Crispy and flavorful skin
- The chicken is super juicy and packed with flavor.
- Takes only 5 minutes to prep the chicken
- Packed with protein and perfect for dinner
Tips for Baking Chicken Quarters
- Bring the meat to room temperature. Remove them from the refrigerator about 30 minutes before cooking.
- Baking time may vary depending on the size of the chicken quarters, so I recommend getting an instant-read thermometer to get the best results. Usually, it takes 35 to 45 minutes for the chicken to cook.
- Use the pan drippings to drizzle over the chicken for more flavor.
- Don’t be afraid to get creative and use your favorite spices.
- You can add some shredded parmesan cheese over the chicken legs 3 minutes before they are ready for a boost of flavor.
Thank you for staying with this post “baked chicken leg quarters recipes” until the end.
