Learn how to make the best roasted chicken quarters in your oven using just a simple baking pan and some parchment paper. Bone-in and skin-on chicken quarters are coated with a flavorful homemade spice mix, and a bit of oil, and roasted at 400°F until the meat is tender and the skin is irresistibly crispy.
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About roasted chicken quarters
Similar to our easy roasted turkey legs, these roasted chicken quarters are baked in the oven with the minimum prep time, and minimum clean up and without the need of flipping them during the cooking process.
Chicken quarters refer to the quarter of the whole bird, which can be chicken leg quarters and chicken breast quarters.
Today, I am using the chicken leg quarters because we enjoy dark meat with crispy skin the most.
They also makes great leftovers for soups, sandwiches, quesadillas, casseroles etc.
Roasted chicken leg quarters are great for an easy weeknight dinner and festive enough to serve on a special occasion.
Although the safe internal temperature for chicken is 165°F, I always let chicken quarters bake until they reach at least 175--185°, which results in more tender and flavorful meat.
This amazing article from America's Test Kitchen exactly explains why it is better to cook dark chicken meat longer.
If your family enjoys both dark and white meat, try our easy roasted whole chicken in an oven bag or roasted butterflied chicken. This way, everyone can pick and choose their favorite portions.
My best roasted chicken legs quarters recipe hits all important points - juicy meat, crispiness, flavor, easy preparation, cooking process (there is no searing or flipping required, and easy cleanup.
Roasting chicken quarters on a large baking pan lined with parchment paper has a lot of cons:
- you can cook up to 5 whole legs at a time without overcrowding the pan. And if you need to cook only 1 or 2 legs, try our air fryer chicken leg quarters recipe.
- The fat rendered from the chicken skin helps to cook the chicken evenly, preventing it from burning or sticking to the pan.
- Easy clean up, because you will not have to worry about scrubbing the pan afterwards, because the mess will stay on parchment paper.
Ingredients
Please, scroll down to the recipe card at the end of this post for the recipe ingredients quantities.
- Chicken leg quarters: These include thighs, drumsticks, and part of the back. They are usually bone-in and skin-on.
- Flavorful seasoning mix: salt, chili powder, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, ground cumin, dried oregano, and black pepper.
- Olive oil: you can also use avocado oil or even butter.
Recipe directions
Below are the recipe directions with the step-by-step photos for your convenience.
Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Line the bottom of the pan with parchment paper. Pat dry chicken leg quarters with paper towels to get rid of the access moisture.
In a small bowl, add all the seasoning mix ingredients. You can also add about ¼ teaspoon of cayenne pepper to make the chicken spicier. You can use any other seasonings and dry rubs such as Cajun, Italian, lemon pepper, etc.
Rub chicken pieces with some olive oil, followed by the spice mixture. Make sure it sticks well, by pressing it gently onto the meat.
Place seasoned chicken with a skin side up on a prepared baking pan. Bake the chicken quarters at 400 degrees F for about 50-60 minutes or until the internal temperature reaches 175-185 degrees F.
Always let the chicken rest for about 10 minutes, so the juices redistribute and you have the most tender meat.
Recipe tips
- The cooking time might be longer or shorter, depending on the size of the chicken quarters ( approximate cooking times: large - 55-65 minutes, medium 45-55, small - 35-45 minutes).
- It is hard to overcook chicken leg quarters (they have a good amount of fat and connective tissue), so it is better to cook them 5-10 minutes longer to ensure that the meat is well-cooked near the bones. Cooking it to a higher temperature also ensures the meat is tender, flavorful, and easily pulls away from the bone.
- I recommend taking the chicken out when the instant-read thermometer registers 175°F and it will continue to rise to about 185°F due to carryover cooking.
- Store leftover chicken in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3-4 days, or you can also shred it and freeze it for up to 3 months.
Serving ideas
- Roasted carrots and green beans - for a light but quite filling plate.
- Air fryer baked sweet potatoes - ideal for weeknight easy meal, that is also kid friendly.
- Buckwheat groats - for a hearty and balanced Eastern European dinner idea.
- Air fryer baked russet potatoes- for a quick and satisfying meal. Baked potatoes offer a comforting side dish, you can load them with sour cream, cheese, and chives.
- Sheet pan potatoes and green beans - for a well-rounded meal, that can be served on a holiday table.
- Oven-roasted golden beets - if you are in the mood for something unique and flavorful to try with your chicken.
Frequently asked questions
Chicken quarters are one-fourth sections of the chicken, which can be either leg quarters or breast quarters. Chicken leg quarters are the most common ones you can find at the grocery store.
400°F is the best temperature for baking chicken leg quarters, as it makes the skin crispy and cooks the meat evenly without burning or over-drying it.
Insert a meat thermometer into the thickest part of the chicken quarter to ensure the internal temperature has reached at least 175°F, as larger bone-in pieces can cook unevenly.
Yes, you can add vegetables to the pan, but only if you do not mind giving up the crispy skin. Vegetables will add moisture to the pan, and while the dish will still be delicious, the chicken will not be as crispy.
No, this recipe does not require marinating because our favorite seasonings mix and olive oil work great. If you prefer marinating, simply place seasoned chicken quarters in a Ziploc or airtight container and keep them in the fridge for a few hours, but no longer than 24 hours.
Other favorite chicken recipes
- Baked chicken wings
- Oven-roasted spatchcock chicken
- Air fryer chicken drumsticks
- Thin sliced baked chicken breasts
- Air fryer skinless chicken thighs
- Air fryer lemon pepper chicken drumsticks
- Boiled whole chicken
- Air fryer buffalo chicken wings
- Instant pot BBQ pulled chicken
- BBQ baked chicken breasts
📖 Recipe
Easy Roasted Chicken Quarters
Equipment
- 1 Baking pan
Ingredients
- 4 chicken leg quarters chicken breast quarters also work
- 2 tablespoons olive oil or vegetable oil EVOO works well too
- 1 teaspoon salt (table fine salt) add more to taste
- 1 tablespoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- ½ teaspoon ground cumin
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400°F. Line baking pan with parchment paper.
- Remove the chicken quarters from packaging and pat them dry with paper towels.
- In a small bowl, combine 1 teaspoon salt (table fine salt), 1 tablespoon paprika, 1 teaspoon chili powder, 1 teaspoon garlic powder, 1 teaspoon onion powder, 1 teaspoon dried oregano, ½ teaspoon ground cumin, ½ teaspoon black pepper,
- Rub chicken quarters with olive oil and then with the seasonings, ensuring the seasoning sticks well on both sides.
- Arrange seasoned chicken with the skin side up in a prepared pan. Bake at 400°F for about 50-60 minutes, or until the internal temperature reaches 175-185°F. *see notes
Notes
- Chili powder usually contains about 70 grams of sodium per teaspoon.
- Chicken leg quarters are hard to overcook, so roast them longer for best results.
- The internal temperature should reach 175-185°F to ensure the meat is tender and pulls away from the bone.
- Cooking it to 175-185°F also adds safety margin for larger pieces of meat that can have uneven cooking.
- If you like spicy chicken, add about ¼ teaspoons of cayenne pepper to the seasoning mix.
- 1 teaspoon of table salt (fine) is about 1.5 to 2 teaspoons of kosher salt (coarse), depending on the size of salt crystals.
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