These air fryer chicken leg quarters will make your taste buds sing. With juicy, tender meat, crispy skin seasoned in a Mediterranean spice blend, and a 25 minute cook time- this is the best way to get an incredible dinner on the table in under 30 minutes. So go ahead, try this easy air fryer recipe tonight and enjoy an amazing meal.
Jump to:
- WHAT IS A LEG QUARTER?
- WHY YOU'LL LOVE THIS EASY RECIPE
- INGREDIENTS FOR GREEK INSPIRED CHICKEN LEG QUARTERS
- HOW TO MAKE CHICKEN LEG QUARTERS IN THE AIR FRYER
- OTHER SEASONING IDEAS
- EASY SIDE DISHES TO SERVE
- STORING AND REHEATING
- EXPERT TIPS
- FAQs
- SIMILAR RECIPES YOU MIGHT LIKE
- Air Fryer Chicken Leg Quarters- Mediterranean Style
- CHECK OUT LATEST POSTS
Based off of all the air fryer recipes I have on my site, I bet you can probably tell that I am slightly obsessed with air frying. But I mean, what's not to love? It takes less time, is super convenient, cooks everything well, and always yields delicious meals and snacks. (except for my first attempt at chips, but that's a story for another time) I just find that the air fryer gives me the most consistent, delicious results, and this air fryer chicken leg quarters recipe is no different.
There's all sorts of air fryer chicken recipes out there, but I dare you to try this one and tell me it's not one of the best. You've got juicy meat, crispy skin, delicious seasoning- all parts of a great chicken dinner that's ready in under 30 minutes! These are seasoned with a super yummy Mediterranean seasoning that would pair so well with a lemon garlic tahini sauce, a side of roasted broccoli and some crispy potatoes.
Simplicity is key here, and you only need 3 simple ingredients to cook up the most incredible air fryer chicken quarters. So go ahead and give 'em a try! The full recipe and printable recipe card can be found below, but I recommend reading the entire post for the best results.
WHAT IS A LEG QUARTER?
A leg quarter is a cut of chicken that is made up of the drumstick, thigh, and part of the back of the chicken. It's called a quarter because all in all, the cut is about a quarter of a whole chicken. Also, it's all dark meat, so when they're cooked, you end up with super flavorful and juicy chicken.
Be sure to also check out these oven baked chicken leg quarters!
WHY YOU'LL LOVE THIS EASY RECIPE
- Cooks in under 30 minutes
- Crispy skin, juicy chicken
- Hard to overcook
- High protein, low carb
- Leftovers make great lunches
- Healthy and full of nutrients
INGREDIENTS FOR GREEK INSPIRED CHICKEN LEG QUARTERS
- Chicken leg quarters: You can usually find a 4 pack at the grocery store for only a couple dollars, so they're very cost effective
- Olive oil: Substitute with avocado oil or melted butter if you don't have any olive oil
- Mediterranean seasoning blend: I make my own with this recipe, but you can use store bought
HOW TO MAKE CHICKEN LEG QUARTERS IN THE AIR FRYER
- In a small bowl combine olive oil and Mediterranean seasoning
- Use you fingers to spread the seasoning mix all over the outside of the chicken, as well as under the skin
- Place chicken skin side up into your air fryer basket in a single layer. Cook at 380 degrees F for 15 minutes, then flip and cook for another 10-11 minutes
- Use tongs to remove the cooked chicken from the basket onto a plate, cover with aluminum foil, and let rest for 5-10 minutes
OTHER SEASONING IDEAS
Maybe Greek chicken isn't your thing, no worries! Here's some other seasoning blends you can substitute with:
- Taco
- Chili lime
- The one from my air fryer drumsticks (it's delish, made with paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, and a few other spices)
- Italian seasonings, ½ teaspoon salt, ¼ teaspoon black pepper, once cooked, finish with a squeeze of lemon
- Season the chicken with just a little salt and pepper, then brush bbq sauce over the tops the last 5 minutes of the cook time
EASY SIDE DISHES TO SERVE
- Crispy cauliflower bites
- Air fryer broccoli and cauliflower
- Air fryer sweet potatoes and brussels sprouts
- Super easy carrot fries
- Easy cucumber salad
- 5 minute spicy green beans
- Burrata caprese salad
- Crispy air fryer zucchini
- Air fryer frozen sweet potato fries
- Chick Fil A Kale Salad
STORING AND REHEATING
Keep any leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-4 days. Personally, I like to pull the meat off of the bones and repurpose it to make chicken salad, wraps, or even this chicken chipotle pasta to make quick and easy meals. However, the pieces of chicken aren't easy to reheat, so keep them whole if you want to eat them hot again.
Since leg quarters are all dark meat, they're really hard to overcook so they reheat very well. To reheat, place in the air fryer basket and cook at 350 degrees F for 6-7 minutes, or you can put it on a plate covered with a damp paper towel in the microwave for 1:30-2 minutes.
EXPERT TIPS
- Be sure to read the whole recipe
- Season under the skin as well for the best flavor
- Always wash your hands after handling raw chicken
- Use tongs to flip them halfway through the cooking time
- To check internal temperature (165 F) stick a meat thermometer into the thickest part of the thigh
- Let each leg quarter rest for 5-10 minutes after cooking so the juices get reabsorbed
- Finish with a squeeze of lemon juice and serve with a side of garlic tahini sauce
- Use leftovers to make chicken salad, sandwiches, or wraps for lunch or dinner the next day
FAQs
This cut of meat is usually cheaper because you're getting less meat per pound and they're easier and faster to package.
Since these are bone-in, there's actually less meat on this cut than say, chicken breasts. Another reason, is because the bones are left in, it's a lot faster for the butcher to package since there's minimal work.
I cook mine at 380 degrees F for about 25-27 minutes, and they come out perfectly juicy.
You want the internal temperature of any chicken to reach 165 degrees F. You can use a meat thermometer to check if you're concerned it's not cooked.
Yes, this cut is very healthy! While it's not as lean as chicken breast, it still contains many essential nutrients.
SIMILAR RECIPES YOU MIGHT LIKE
Did you make these best ever air fryer chicken leg quarters? If so, I would greatly appreciate you leaving a comment and star rating down below. Additionally, you can follow me on Instagram and tag me if you make this or any other of my easy air fryer recipes.
PrintAir Fryer Chicken Leg Quarters- Mediterranean Style
Air fryer chicken leg quarters are an amazing 30 minute meal. Crispy skin, juicy meat, and amazing Mediterranean flavor. Make this healthy dinner tonight!
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 Minutes
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 2 Servings 1x
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Air Fryer
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Gluten Free
Ingredients
- 2 chicken leg quarters
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 tablespoon Mediterranean seasoning
- ¼ teaspoon salt
Instructions
- Mix Mediterranean seasoning, salt, and olive oil in a small bowl
- Use your fingers to spread the seasoning mix over the outside of both leg quarters, as well as underneath the skin
- Place leg quarters in a single layer in your air fryer basket and cook at 380 degrees F for 25-26 minutes, flipping halfway through
- Once the internal temperature reaches 165 degrees F, take the cooked leg quarters out of the basket, put on a plate, and cover with aluminum foil to rest for 5-10 minutes
- After the leg quarters have rested, serve and enjoy!
Notes
- Season under the skin as well for the best flavor
- Always wash your hands after handling raw chicken
- Use tongs to flip them halfway through the cooking time
- To check internal temperature (165 F) stick a meat thermometer into the thickest part of the thigh
- Let each leg quarter rest for 5-10 minutes after cooking so the juices get reabsorbed
- Finish with a squeeze of lemon juice and serve with a side of garlic tahini sauce
- Store leftovers in an airtight container for 3-4 days
Keywords: chicken leg quarters in the air fryer, how to cook leg quarters in the air fryer, Mediterranean chicken thighs
Lauren says
I tried with chili lime seasoning and it was so juicy and flavorful! Cook time was spot on!
★★★★★
Nicole Radcliffe says
Ooh, chili-lime is a favorite seasoning of mine! Glad to hear you enjoyed them so much 🙂