By using a mix of everyday herbs and spices, these oven-baked chicken quarters transform into a mouthwatering meal that’s perfect for any night of the week. Preparing this sheet-pan recipe is a breeze. Just stir together the spice rub and massage it onto the chicken quarters. After roughly 45 minutes, you’ll be rewarded with incredibly juicy and tender chicken that everyone will love!.
Chicken leg quarters are an underutilized cut of chicken that offers great value and flavor. Often referred to as chicken hindquarters or leg quarters, they consist of the thigh and drumstick still attached. Chicken leg quarters contain dark meat, which is juicier and more flavorful than white breast meat. The skin gets deliciously crispy when cooked properly too. If you’re looking for budget-friendly ways to feed your family tasty chicken dinners, consider picking up a pack of leg quarters. This versatile cut of chicken works great in a variety of dishes. Keep reading for 7 delicious ideas for using chicken leg quarters.
Oven Baked Chicken Leg Quarters
An easy and tasty way to cook chicken leg quarters is to bake them in the oven. First, dry the quarters with a paper towel and rub olive oil all over them. Next, sprinkle them liberally with your favorite chicken seasoning blend. Smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, oregano, thyme, rosemary, salt, and pepper are all good spice mixes to try. Place the leg quarters, skin-side up, on a baking sheet lined with foil. Bake at 400°F for 35 to 45 minutes, or until golden brown and fully cooked. The skin will become crispy and full of flavor.
Chicken Leg Quarter Meal Prep Bowls
Transform leftover baked chicken leg quarters into easy, hearty meal prep bowls for the week ahead. Shred or chop the chicken meat off the bones and divide it among meal prep containers. Then build tasty grain bowls by adding pre-cooked whole grains like quinoa, brown rice, or farro. Mix in roasted vegetables like carrots, broccoli, cauliflower, or Brussels sprouts. Top with a sauce or dressing like pesto, salsa, teriyaki, or ranch. Meal prep bowls make an easy grab-and-go weekday lunch or dinner.
Chicken Leg Quarter Soup
Simmer chicken leg quarters in broth with vegetables to make a hearty soup that’s great for cold nights. As the soup cooks, add chopped potatoes, carrots, celery, onion, garlic, and herbs and spices like thyme, rosemary, and bay leaves. Take the chicken out of the pot once it’s done cooking and let it cool. Chop some kale, spinach, or cabbage and add it to the soup. Keep cooking until the vegetables are soft. Cut or shred the chicken and add it back to the broth. Season the soup with salt and pepper to taste. Ladle into bowls and garnish with fresh parsley.
Chicken Leg Quarter Tacos
Chicken leg quarters make incredibly flavorful tacos. Season them with smoked paprika, chili powder, cumin, and oregano. Bake until cooked through and crispy. Allow to rest, then shred the meat off the bones using two forks. Serve the shredded chicken in warm corn tortillas topped with pico de gallo, avocado, Cotija cheese, cilantro, and a squeeze of lime. These tasty tacos are sure to become a family favorite.
Crispy Chicken Leg Quarter Salad
Turn leftover baked chicken leg quarters into a main-dish salad Chop the chicken into bite-sized pieces, removing any bones Toss the crispy chicken with mixed greens, tomatoes, cucumbers, shredded carrots, diced avocado, and crumbled feta or blue cheese. Make a simple dressing with olive oil, lemon juice, Dijon, and herbs. Top the salad with the dressed crispy chicken for a satisfying meal that feels special enough for company.
Chicken Leg Quarter Stir Fry
Stir fries are a great way to use up leftover chicken. Slice the cooked chicken leg meat into strips. Heat oil in a large skillet or wok over high heat. Cook and stir crisp, colorful veggies like bell peppers, broccoli, snap peas, carrots, mushrooms, and onions. Add the chicken and your favorite stir fry sauce. Toss everything together until heated through. Serve over steamed rice or lo mein noodles. Customize your stir fry with other favorite vegetables, proteins like shrimp or tofu, and various international sauces.
Chicken Leg Quarter Casserole
You can make a hearty casserole with chopped chicken, pasta or rice, vegetables, and cheese that you have left over from baking chicken leg quarters. Add chicken to cooked macaroni, broccoli, peas, cream of chicken soup, and shredded cheddar cheese. Add cracker crumbs or breadcrumbs on top and bake until bubbly and browned. Tacos, beans, corn, enchilada sauce, and Mexican cheese blend can also be used to make a chicken leg quarter enchilada casserole. There are a lot of creative ways to use chicken leg quarters in casseroles.
Chicken leg quarters are a great deal because they have a lot of tasty dark meat. Use these tasty recipes to get the most out of this underrated chicken cut. Chicken leg quarters can be used to make a wide range of hearty meals that the whole family will love, from weeknight dinners and meal prep lunches to tasty soups and salads.
What are Chicken Quarters?
Chicken quarters, commonly called chicken leg quarters, are the combined pieces of drumstick and thigh. They are considered dark meat and highly regarded as being the most flavorful parts of a chicken. They are very forgiving when it comes to cooking and are perfect for cooks of all skill levels. Chicken leg quarters are also usually very affordable so they’re ideal for budget-friendly meals.
This recipe is one of my favorites because it’s easy and uses a mix of herbs and spices that you probably already have in your pantry and spice rack. This mix of spices is perfect for seasoning poultry and makes the tender, juicy meat of the chicken quarters even more savory. Let’s take a look and the spice rub mix….
- Salt and pepper
- Italian Seasoning
- Ground mustard
- Onion and garlic powder
- Paprika
The Italian blend seasoning is the perfect combination of several key spices, including oregano, thyme, rosemary and basil. The ground mustard gives the dish a bright, spicy flavor that goes well with the other ingredients and brings them all to life. It’s a wonderful ingredient and perfect for poultry recipes. The paprika adds a mild flavor to the spice mix and of course, it’s excellent color.
Begin by preparing a baking sheet by lining it with foil. This will help with cleanup.
Next, remove any excess skin or fat from the chicken. Sometimes chicken quarters have extra skin between the thigh and leg joint. Trim and discard it. Thoroughly pat dry the chicken skin using paper towels. This step is crucial to ensure the skin becomes crispy by eliminating excess moisture.
Once you’ve combined all the ingredients for the spice rub, brush both sides of the chicken with olive oil, then evenly apply the seasoning rub. Press it into the skin. I like to apply a thin coating of oil to the skin side of the chicken quarters after all the spice rub has been added.
It’s now time to put the chicken in the oven. Place the chicken on the prepared sheet pan.
Let Chicken Rest Before Serving
When the chicken is done, remove from the oven and let it rest for about 5-10 minutes. By allowing the chicken to rest, the juices have a chance to seep back into the meat. As the chicken cools, the proteins start to relax, and the juices are able to move back through the meat. This helps keep the chicken juicy and flavorful when you cut into it.
Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes: A natural pairing, our Instant Pot mashed potatoes are easy to make, rich, and OH so good!
Air Fryer Brussels Sprouts: With a pit of parmesan cheese and ranch seasonings, these are sure to please even the pickiest eaters.
Country Creamy Coleslaw: Another natural pairing, chicken and coleslaw go together perfectly for the most comforting of meals.
Sure it can, just make sure you have enough rook on your sheet pan. Chicken quarters can be pretty large. Just double everything. Cooking time will be closer to 45 minutes but monitor with instant read thermometer.
This chicken is best when it’s fresh out of the oven. That’s when we have some nice crisp on the skin and the juiciest meat. However, if meal planning for the week, it certainly makes a delicious meal the next day. It’s even better this way when shredded up and put over a salad.
Preheat your oven to 325°F. Place the cooked chicken quarters on a baking sheet and loosely cover them with aluminum foil to keep them from drying out. Put the baking sheet in the oven and heat the chicken quarters for 15-20 minutes. Remove the foil for the last 5 minutes of heating for crispier skin.
Absolutely you can? If you have a favorite chicken seasoning blend, go right ahead and use it.
AMAZING Baked Chicken Leg Quarters | Summer style recipe you need to try!
FAQ
Why are chicken leg quarters so cheap?
Chicken leg quarters are typically inexpensive because they require less processing than other cuts. They consist of a drumstick, thigh, and a portion of the back, which are all part of the same cut and don’t need to be separated before sale. This lower processing cost translates to a lower price for consumers.
What to do with leftover chicken legs?
Fresh ideas for leftover chickenChicken & tzatziki wraps. Chicken, bacon & watercress baguettes. Easy coronation chicken. Mexican chicken & black bean wraps. Caesar pitta. Herby chicken & butter bean soup. Spiced black bean & chicken soup with kale. Chicken & sweetcorn soup.
How to eat chicken leg quarters?
Chicken leg quarters, consisting of a drumstick, thigh, and sometimes a portion of the backbone, can be enjoyed in various ways. They can be cooked whole, or the drumstick and thigh can be separated for different cooking methods.