Oven baked chicken quarters are a tender and juicy piece of chicken coated with a sweet and slightly spicy seasoning. This easy dinner recipe is simple to make and packed with flavor!
With just a few simple ingredients, you can make these baked chicken quarters in no time. They go perfectly with a warm and delicious air fryer sweet potato! Or serve them on top of some creamy spaghetti squash!
What are Chicken Quarters?
Chicken quarters are simply one-quarter of a chicken. They consist of a leg and thigh. Chicken quarters usually have bones and skin on them. They are often cheaper in price, as the leg and thigh are not separated, making for easier production.
Ingredients Needed
- Chicken Quarters: This is the thigh and drumstick (still connected together). Chicken quarters usually have the bone and skin on them. You can also use just drumsticks or chicken thighs for this recipe.
- Olive Oil: Adds moisture to the chicken. Helps the spice seasoning adhere to the chicken.
- Brown sugar: Adds a slightly sweet flavor to the chicken. Caramelizes slightly when the chicken is cooked.
- Spices: Pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, chili powder, salt and paprika.
- Chipotle powder (optional): Adds a hint of spice. This is optional!
Step by Step Instructions
Prep the Chicken
Grease a large casserole dish or baking pan with nonstick release spray. Using a pastry brush to brush olive oil evenly over tops and bottom of the chicken quarters. Lay the chicken evenly in the bottom of the pan. Chicken can be touching, but should not be overlapping.
Make the Spice Blend
Mix together the brown sugar, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, chili powder, salt, pepper, paprika and chili powder. If you would like to keep extra on hand, double the recipe and store half of it in a zip-lock bag for later. (Throw away any seasoning that has touched the chicken or utensils that have touched the chicken).
Add the Spices to the Chicken
Sprinkle the spice blend evenly over the chicken quarters. I like to use my hands to pat the spices into the chicken so that it adheres well. I prefer to use a generous amount of seasoning.
Bake
Bake the chicken in the oven until cooked. Cover the pan tightly with foil to prevent it from drying out. The chicken is cooked when the temperature is measured with a meat thermometer and reads 165F.
Cooking Methods
There are multiple methods of cooking that can be used to cook the chicken quarters. You can make chicken leg quarters in the oven, the crock pot or on the bar-b-que grill. The method of cooking used simply depends on your preference and also how much time you have.
Oven: Prepare the chicken as instructed in the recipe. Cover a large casserole dish or pan with foil. Seal tightly to prevent any air from escaping. Cook for 60 minutes or until the chicken reaches 165F.
Crock Pot: Prepare the spice blend and coat the chicken quarters evenly with the spices. Place in the bottom of the crock pot and add ½ cup of water. Cook over low heat for 6-8 hours or until fully cooked.
This will require a large crock pot due to the size of the chicken. It will create chicken that falls off the bone and shreds easily. I recommend removing the skin right after cooking in the crockpot.
BBQ Grill: Preheat grill to 350F. Brush the grill grates with oil. Cook the chicken covered for 40 minutes, flipping halfway through. If chicken appears dry, brush with olive oil when flipping halfway through. Chicken is done when the internal temperature reaches 165F.
Serving Suggestions
These oven-baked chicken quarters make a great entrée! Here are a few of my favorite sides to serve them with:
- Baked Potatoes or Roasted Potato Cubes
- Sweet Potato Fries
- Cowboy Caviar Bean Dip
- Serve with a side of hawaiian roasted veggies
- Steamed Rice and Fresh Fruit
- Garlic Bread Sticks
- Sautéed Zucchini and Rice
- Chop into small pieces and serve on a spinach caprese salad or hawaiian salad
Leftovers
Store the leftovers in an airtight container for up to 4 days in the refrigerator. Separate the chicken into multiple storage containers to help it cool faster. Reheat in the microwave for a couple minutes until steaming hot, prior to serving again.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes! Leave the skin on the chicken quarters when cooking to help hold in the juices and keep the chicken tender. If you choose to remove the skin, let the chicken sit for 10 minutes after cooking prior to removing the skin.
The chicken leg quarters are cooked when the internal temperature of the chicken reaches 165F, as measured with a meat thermometer. When taking the temperature of the chicken, place the thermometer in the thickest part of the chicken. Do not let the thermometer touch the bone, as this will produce a false reading.
Cooked chicken will have clear juices and no longer be pink, however the safest way to check for doneness is by using a meat thermometer.
Yes, cover the pan of chicken with foil, sealing the foil tightly on the edges. This helps trap steam inside the pan which affects the cook time and also keeps the chicken moist.
Chicken Quarters Nutrition Information
Chicken quarters are a dark meat, because they consist of chicken legs and thighs. Dark meat is slightly higher in calories and fat than white meat. Chicken quarters have skin which is higher in fat and calories if it is eaten.
According to Nutritionix, a chicken leg quarter with skin contains 475 calories. Save on calories by removing the skin prior to eating the chicken quarter.
More Chicken Recipes
Oven Baked Chicken Quarters
Ingredients
- 2 pounds chicken quarters (about 3 large chicken quarters)
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
Chicken Seasoning
- 2 tablespoon brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 2 tablespoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon chipotle powder
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375F. Grease a large pan or casserole dish and set aside.
- In a small bowl, combine the brown sugar, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, chili powder, salt, paprika and chipotle powder. Mix until combined.
- Place the chicken quarters in the pan or casserole dish.
- Using a pastry brush or spoon, rub olive oil over tops of the chicken quarters.
- Using your hands, sprinkle the seasoning mixture evenly over the top of the chicken quarters. Pat lightly with your hands so that the seasoning sticks to the chicken. You will have leftover seasoning. The flavor of the seasoning is strong, so sprinkle the amount based on how strong of flavor you prefer.
- Cover tightly with foil so that all sides of the pan or dish are tightly sealed.
- Bake for 60 minutes. Check with a meat thermometer to verify the chicken is fully cooked. The meat thermometer will read 165F or higher when chicken is done.
Maggie
Great combination of spices for chicken. Looks awesome and yummy! Thank you!
Julie
I subbed red pepper for the black, that was the only change. great spice ratio and cook/temp times. Thank you