What temp do you bake chicken leg quarters?

I bake my chicken leg quarters at 400 degrees F. It cooks the chicken all the way through AND delivers on that beautiful, crisp, golden skin.

How long does it take to bake chicken leg quarters?

It takes about 40-45 minutes for large leg quarters and 35-40 minutes for medium sized ones.

What does the internal temperature need to be?

The internal temperature of chicken needs to reach 165 degrees F, however with leg quarters I like to let them cook to 180F. The dark meat of the legs can handle the extra cooking time, and by cooking to 180F the connective tissue has time to break down in the meat resulting in more tender chicken.

Should I cover the baking dish with foil while cooking?

No, you don't want to cover the baking dish with foil because then you won't get that beautiful golden brown on the skin.

Do I need to flip the chicken?

No, there's no need to flip the chicken. The oven air circulates around it enough to cook both the bottom and top.

Baked Chicken Leg Quarters

Name: Baked Chicken Leg Quarters
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 40 min
Total time: 50 min
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 2 large chicken leg quarters; 2 tablespoons olive oil; 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt; 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper; 1/4 teaspoon ground paprika; 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder; 1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper

Baked Chicken Leg Quarters

Print Recipe

This simple recipe for Baked Chicken Leg Quarters is bound to become a new favorite. You need just a few ingredients to cook perfectly juicy chicken with crispy skin in 45 minutes. This cut of chicken is hearty, tender, and so delicious when roasted!

Author: Nicole Radcliffe
Prep Time: 10 Minutes
Cook Time: 40 minutes
Total Time: 50 minutes
Yield: 2 Servings 1x
Category: Dinner
Method: Baking
Cuisine: American
Diet: Gluten Free

Ingredients

Scale

2 large chicken leg quarters
2 tablespoons olive oil
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
1/4 teaspoon ground paprika
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper

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Instructions

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F
In a small mixing bowl stir together olive oil with the salt, pepper, paprika, garlic powder, and cayenne pepper.
Place the chicken leg quarters into a 9x13 inch baking dish and pat the skin dry with a paper towel. Use a pastry brush to generously brush the seasoned olive oil over the entire outside of the chicken
Once fully coated in oil, place the chicken into the oven and bake for 40-45 minutes, or until the internal temperature reaches 180 degrees F
Take the baking dish out of the oven and let the chicken rest for 10 minutes before serving

Notes

Pat the chicken dry: Use a paper towel to pat the outside of the leg quarters dry before seasoning. That will ensure you end up with the crispiest skin
Don't skimp on the oil: Using enough oil is what's going to give you that beautiful golden brown, crispy skin
Overbake?: Hear me out, the dark meat can handle the extra heat and by baking the leg quarters until 180 degrees F, the connective tissue breaks down and leaves you with more tender meat.
Meal prep: This cut of meat is packed with protein and stays good for up to 5 days, making it an excellent choice for meal prepping.
Storing: You can keep leftover leg quarters in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days or freeze for up to 3 months.

Keywords: chicken leg quarters in oven, oven baked chicken leg quarters, baked leg quarters

Find it online: https://www.coleinthekitchen.com/baked-chicken-leg-quarters/