How long to cook chicken leg quarters in oven? It depends on many things such as the desired degree of tenderness and the size of the chicken quarter.
Most people these days prefer eating chicken chest in a bid to eat healthier. However, it is hard to resist eating perfectly cooked and extremely delicious chicken legs. Truth be told, the white part of the chicken (wings and breast) is not much healthier than the dark parts (legs, leg quarters, and thighs). Legs and thighs have more fat compared to wings and breasts but chicken in general is a very healthy food. You must include it in your diet if you are looking to consume a lot of proteins.
Legs are the most flavorful part of a chicken because of their moistness and tenderness. They are also very inexpensive and easily affordable.
What are chicken Leg Quarters?
A whole chicken leg consists of both drumstick and thighs, often called thigh-drumstick as well. It becomes a chicken leg quarter when it also has some portion of the chicken’s back.
Many people consider leg quarters and thigh drumsticks as the same thing. However, cooking times for different types of cuts are different. In any case, you have to cook the piece long enough to reach an internal temperature of at least 165°F. Anything below that and the chicken will not be safe to eat.
How to Back Chicken Legs?
You can use the following recipe to cook all the juicy chicken pieces including legs, thighs, and drumsticks. You can even apply it to any combination of the above pieces.
Here is how you can bake delicious chicken legs.
- Take 2 ½ or 3 pounds of the chicken legs
- Put them in a shallow roasting pan or baking pan measuring 15 x 10 x 1 inch.
- Keep the bones side down
- Pour some vegetable oil and seasoning of your choice
- You can also add some salt and pepper
- You can also sprinkle oregano, thyme, herbes de Provence, and other dried herbs on the chicken
- Preheat your oven to 375°F
- Bake chicken legs for 45 to 55 minutes or until you reach the ideal internal temperature of 165°.
- You can use a meat thermostat to measure the temperature
Some people don’t eat chicken legs because of their relatively high-calorie count. You can skin them to reduce fats and calories.
Chicken Leg Quarters Bake Time?
The best temperature for cooking any chicken piece is between 350°F to 450°F. However, most recipes require you to maintain a temperature of 375°F.
Using the oven to bake chicken allows you to adjust your cooking times. However, you must also adjust temperatures accordingly as well.
The following are the ideal oven temp for chicken leg quarters.
- 350° if you are cooking for 45 to 65 minutes
- 375° if you are cooking for 45 to 55 minutes
- 400° if you are cooking for 35 to 40 minutes
- 425° if you are cooking for 25 to 35 minutes
- 450° if you are cooking for 20 to 30 minutes
How to Bake Chicken Leg Quarters?
Baking chicken leg quarters is a breeze if you have the right ingredients and an oven. You can cook incredibly sumptuous chicken legs by implementing the following tips.
- Put your chicken in a shallow roasting pan. You can also use a shallow baking pan. Always keep the skin side up
- Pour some olive oil into the pan
- Sprinkle with salt and pepper. You can also use your favorite seasonings if you want to
- Similarly, the combination of 3 cloves minced garlic, 1 small lemon, some crushed red pepper, and crushed fennel seed will make a great rub for your chicken.
- Apply the rub between the skin and the meat. You can separate the meat from the skin by carefully sliding your fingertips between them
- Sprinkle some rub on the top of the chicken as well
- Now, preheat the oven to 400°F
- Bake until you get an internal temperature of 175°F or for 35 to 40 minutes whichever is earlier.
- Don’t forget to use a meat thermostat to measure the temperature
Cooking the chicken for longer than 35-40 minutes means you have to decrease the temperature. For example, try to preheat the oven to only 375° if you want to cook for 45 to 50 minutes.
The cooking time and temperature also depend on the size of the piece or the doneness you are looking for.
Also Read: How Long To Bake Cookies In An Air Fryer?
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does it take to make quarter legs in the oven?
It roughly takes 35-40 minutes to bake chicken leg quarters or until they attain the internal temperature of 165-175°F in an oven preheated to 400°F. If you increase the baking time, for example to 45-50 minutes, you can preheat the oven to 375°F.
Is it better to bake chicken legs at 350 or 400?
You can bake chicken legs at 350°F to get juicy and delicious chicken. However, they will be crispier and tenderer if cooked at higher temperatures such as 400°F to 425°F.
Are chicken leg quarters healthy?
Chicken leg quarters have more fat and calories than wings and breasts. However, they are also rich in nutrients like proteins, vitamins A and B12, selenium, choline, potassium, and healthy fats. Therefore, they are quite beneficial for your health as well.
Final Thoughts
Now, you know how long to cook chicken leg quarters in oven. The best temperature and time for cooking chicken leg quarters are 400°F and 35 to 45 minutes respectively. You can reduce time and increase temperature or vice versa. However, it will have different effects on the final dish. For example, cooking at higher temperatures will offer crispier legs compared to low temperatures.