Our Best Chicken Leg Quarter Recipes

OUR BEST CHICKEN LEG QUARTER RECIPE

Steps:

• Heat your oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.
• Dry the chicken leg quarter pieces thoroughly with paper towels after you rinse them under running water.
• Place the chicken leg quarters in a pan and rub them with olive oil.
• Mix together the seasoning mix in a medium bowl.
• Sprinkle the seasoning evenly on both of the chicken leg quarter sides. Pat gently to make sure the seasoning sticks well to the chicken leg quarters.
• Heat up 1/2 cup of vegetable oil in a large heavy skillet using medium-high heat.
• Cook the chicken leg quarters in two batches. First, sear the chicken leg quarters for two minutes on each side, just until the skin starts to turn a deep golden brown color.
• Line a baking pan with aluminum foil. This will make cleanup a lot easier.
• Place a cooling rack on top of the aluminum foil. Using a cooling rack will ensure that your chicken leg quarters don't sit in grease as they cook.
• After searing your chicken leg quarters, move the chicken quarters to the prepared baking pan.
• Pour the leftover cooking oil onto the chicken leg quarters.
• Bake for 45-50 minutes, just until the skin is golden brown in color and extra crispy. Remember that ovens bake differently, so be sure to know your oven well.
• Use a meat thermometer to ensure that your chicken leg quarters are fully cooked. The meat thermometer should read at least 165 degrees Fahrenheit (internal temperature). However, cooking chicken legs longer will result in a tastier chicken dinner. For this reason, keep cooking the chicken leg quarters until they reach an internal temperature of between 185 and 190 degrees Fahrenheit.
• Remove the chicken leg quarters from the oven. Serve after allowing the chicken leg quarters to rest for three minutes.

BAKED CHICKEN LEG QUARTERS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F (218 degrees C). Line a sheet pan with aluminum foil.
• Stir together smoked paprika, granulated garlic, onion powder, salt, and pepper in a small bowl.
• Pat chicken leg quarters dry with paper towels. Gently lift the skin and sprinkle in 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon of the seasoning blend, using a fingertip to spread the seasoning around under the skin. Brush both sides of each leg quarter with melted butter.
• Evenly sprinkle remaining spice mixture on both sides of each quarter and set cut side up onto the prepared sheet pan.
• Bake in the center of the preheated oven for 20 minutes. Turn the quarters cut side down using tongs and continue baking until chicken is no longer pink at the bone and the juices run clear, about 20 more minutes. An instant-read thermometer inserted near the bone should read 160 degrees F (71 degrees C).
• Turn on the broiler and broil each side of the chicken leg quarters until skin is nicely browned, 3 to 4 minutes per side. Test for a final internal temperature with an instant-read thermometer of 165 degrees F (74 degrees C).
• Transfer chicken leg quarters to a serving plate. Tent with foil and let rest for 5 minutes before serving.

SPICE-RUBBED CHICKEN LEG QUARTERS

Steps:

• Mix water, sugar, salt, and vinegar for brine in a food-grade, nonreactive container.
• Rinse chicken and pat dry. Place it in the brine, cover, and let sit for 2 hours.
• Mix brown sugar, paprika, chile powder, salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, cayenne, cumin, and nutmeg for dry rub together in a small bowl.
• Preheat the oven to 300 degrees F (150 degrees C). Line a baking dish with foil.
• Remove chicken from the brine and pat dry. Place it on a tray and generously sprinkle dry rub all over each piece, rubbing it into the skin and meat. (You will have some dry rub remaining.)
• Place chicken, skin-side down, in the prepared baking dish,. Cover with foil, making sure not to wrap it too tightly.
• Bake in the preheated oven for 1 hour. Remove from the oven. Increase the temperature to 450 degrees F (230 degrees C).
• Remove the foil cover and turn chicken over. Sprinkle more dry rub onto the skin and return to the oven.
• Bake until skin is crispy, chicken is no longer pink in the center, and the juices run clear, about 20 more minutes. An instant-read thermometer inserted into the center should read at least 165 degrees F (74 degrees C).