Simple Oven Baked Leg Quarters (+Grill)
Oven-baked leg quarters are a budget-friendly and easy dinner meal for the whole family.
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Why you'll love baked leg quarters
Leg quarters are one of the cheapest packs of chicken you can still get at the grocery store.
You can buy four leg quarters in a pack for a few dollars. You can cook them whole, or to make the servings stretch further, you can break them down into thighs and drumsticks.
Roasted Potatoes
Pair these tender oven-baked leg quarters with some pan-roasted potatoes.
Ingredients
Here is a quick listing of the ingredients you'll need. Scroll down to the recipe card, where you'll find exact measurements.
Ingredient notes
- Chicken leg quarters - purchase whole leg quarters. Leg quarters are the whole leg of the chicken, the thigh, and the drumstick. Trim the excess skin from the chicken.
- Poultry seasoning - use your favorite poultry seasoning, salt and pepper, or dry rub.
How to bake chicken quarters in the oven
- Trim the leg quarters of excess skin.
- Season both sides of the chicken with the poultry seasoning, and lay skin side up in a metal baking dish.
- Preheat the oven to 450 degrees. Place the chicken on the middle rack in the center of the oven and cook for 10 minutes.
- After 10 minutes, reduce the oven temperature to 375 degrees for an additional hour or until the chicken reaches 165 degrees. For extra tender meat, cook the chicken pieces until the internal temperature is 175 degrees.
- Once the chicken is done, remove it from the oven and cover with foil to rest for 5-10 minutes before serving.
Note
If you would like to make a pan gravy add ½ cup of chicken broth to the bottom of the pan with some sliced onion, carrot, and celery. After words strain the broth and drippings. Make a pan gravy by melting two tablespoons of butter in a medium saucepan on medium heat then adding two tablespoons of flour to make a roux. Cook two minutes then add the drippings with additional broth to make two cups of liquid. Cook until thickened into a gravy.
How to grill chicken leg quarters
- Trim the leg quarters of excess skin.
- Season both sides of the chicken leg quarters, then set aside on a plate or tray.
- Preheat the grill with all burners on high.
- Once the grill reaches an ambient temperature of 400 to 450 degrees, place the chicken on one side of the grill. Turn off the burners directly under the chicken.
- Cook the chicken on indirect heat. This means the burner furthest away will be on high, and the next burner will be on at half heat.
- Cook until the chicken reaches an internal temperature of at least 165 degrees. Turn the chicken and rotate between the top and bottom grates every 30 minutes.
- For extra tender meat, cook the chicken pieces until the internal temperature is 175 degrees. Once the chicken is done remove from the grill to a tray, and cover with foil to rest for 5-10 minutes.
Top tips
- Use a rack if you have one baking in a pan, but it's not necessary.
- Line the pan with aluminum foil for easier clean-up.
- For extra crispy skin, broil the chicken for the last few minutes of baking.
- For extra tender chicken, cook until the internal temperature reaches 175 degrees.
- No thermometer, no problem. Simply cook until the juices run clear and are not tinged with pink or red. When done, the skin should also pull away slightly from the end of the bones.
Serving suggestions
Serve these chicken leg quarters with mushroom risotto, creamy mashed potatoes, or green beans. You can also use the leftover chicken in a pot pie or pasta dish.
Frequently asked questions
Leq quarters is the entire leg of the chicken containing the thigh and drumstick. The drumstick is the lower part of the leg quarter.
When you cut into the chicken, the juices must be clear, not red or pink. If the juices are not clear, you will need to cook the chicken a little longer.
Storage & Reheating
Store in an airtight container or bag for up to one week.
Reheat the chicken in the oven at 350 degrees for 15 minutes.
Freeze cooked leg quarters for up to three months. Thaw in the refrigerator before reheating.
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Recipe
Oven Baked Leg Quarters (+Grill)
Equipment
- 1 Tongs
Ingredients
- 4 chicken leq quarters whole, may substitute other chicken parts
- 2 teaspoon seasoning poultry seasoning or favorite rub, adjust to taste
Instructions
Oven Instructions
- Trim the excess skin from the chicken.
- Season chicken on both sides, and place in baking pan with rack. A rack is not necessary if you do not have one. Line the baking sheet with aluminum foil to reduce clean-up.
- Preheat the oven to 450 degrees. Place the chicken on center rack in oven. Cook at this temperature for 10 minutes.
- Reduce heat to 375 degrees and cook for an hour or hour and 15 minutes or until the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165 degrees. For extra tender chicken, cook until the internal temperature reaches 175 degrees.
- Once the chicken is done remove from the oven, and cover with foil to rest for 5-10 minutes prior to serving.
Grilling Instructions
- Trim excess skin from chicken. Season with poultry seasoning, and set aside on a plate or tray.
- Preheat grill with all burners on high.
- Once the grill reaches an ambient temperature of 400 to 450 degrees, place the chicken on one side of the grill. Turn off the burners directly under the chicken.
- Cook the chicken on indirect heat. This means the burner furthest away will be on high, and the next burner will be on at half heat.
- Cook until the chicken reaches an internal temperature of at least 165 degrees. Turn the chicken and rotate between the top and bottom grates every 30 minutes. For extra tender chicken, cook until the internal temperature reaches 175 degrees.
- Once cooked let the meat rest covered with foil for 5 to 10 minutes.
- Serve immediately, or store in an airtight container for up to one week. This can be made ahead and reheated for a weeknight dinner. The meat can also be used in other dishes to make this go farther.
Notes
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