Baked Chicken Leg Quarters Truly Crispy

Love baking chicken? Try my crispy baked chicken thighs, baked chicken breast, baked chicken legs, and baked chicken wings next. When I want a simple chicken dinner, I often reach for these baked chicken leg quarters. Chicken quarters are perfect for a healthy and delicious dish that’s ready and on the table in under 40 minutes, with hardly any prep needed! My recipe is versatile and customizable, can be paired with just about any side, and is always a winner- just ask my whole family.

Why I love this recipe

Simple but satisfying. Baking chicken might seem a little boring, but the combination of light and dark meat means naturally juicy meat every single time. Bursting with flavor! I coated the chicken in a delicious blend of oil, herbs, and spices, yielding epic crispy skins and mouthwatering flavors. A versatile dish. Feel free to change up the seasonings to customize the flavor here. As for sides, it’s up to you! Baked chicken quarters go well with pretty much anything, from scalloped potatoes to fresh green salads to green bean casserole.

Ingredients needed

Chicken leg quarters. This hearty cut of bone-in dark meat is made up of the chicken drumstick and thigh. It’s a pretty substantial cut of meat but very affordable, so it’s great as a dinnertime protein. Olive oil. Good ‘ol olive oil is my trusty companion when I want gorgeous and golden baked chicken. You can use unsalted butter or another mild flavored oil. Seasonings. I seasoned the chicken with a blend of brown sugar, paprika, salt, black pepper, thyme, garlic powder, and onion powder. Feel free to switch things up and use what you have on hand or any of the ideas in the Variations section below.

How to bake chicken leg quarters

I’ve included step-by-step photos below to make this recipe easy to follow at home. For the full printable recipe instructions and ingredient quantities, scroll to the recipe card at the bottom of this post.

Arman’s recipe tips

Always dry your chicken. Use paper towels to soak up the excess moisture on the outside of the chicken quarters before seasoning and baking. It’s the key to crispy skin! For extra crispy chicken legs. Consider baking the chicken on a wire rack placed on top of a baking sheet. This gives the dry heat of the oven a chance to touch every piece of skin, yielding crisper results. You’ll know when the chicken is fully cooked and safe to eat once it reaches an internal temperature of 165ºF. To check for doneness, insert an instant-read thermometer into the thickest part of the chicken when they’re almost done cooking to ensure they’ve reached a safe temperature. Make it extra juicy. I found that covering the baking sheet with aluminum foil traps some of the moisture and prevents the chicken from drying out.

Storage instructions

To store: Allow the oven-baked chicken leg quarters to cool, then transfer them to an airtight container. Store in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. When I’m craving a classic meal, I’ll serve this chicken with roasted potatoes and carrots, air fryer brussels sprouts, or cauliflower mashed potatoes. I love a side of hot honey sauce, spicy mayo, or Big Mac sauce for dipping, too!

Consider marinating. Soaking the chicken quarters in my 4-ingredient chicken marinade or chicken drumstick marinade for at least 30 minutes (or up to 2 hours for maximum flavor) will add lots of delicious flavors. Use a different cut of chicken. This oil and poultry seasoning blend can be used to flavor just about any cut of chicken, from breasts to tenders to thighs! Just be aware that different cuts of chicken will cook at different rates. Experiment with other seasonings. Add some heat with red chili flakes or cayenne pepper, stick to a store-bought poultry seasoning, use an Italian seasoning blend, or borrow from other cuisines and season with ingredients like cumin, garam masala, or gochugaru.

To freeze: You can freeze the leftover chicken for 2 to 3 months. Let them thaw in the fridge overnight before reheating. Reheating: Place the quarters on a baking sheet and cover with foil, then bake at 350ºF until heated through. You could also microwave leftover chicken quarters in a pinch.