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When I need a simple dinner that tastes amazing and allows me to be a lazy cook, baked chicken leg quarters come to the rescue. This dish is all about juicy, flavorful chicken with perfectly crispy skin, paired with tender, golden potatoes that soak up all those irresistible juices. It’s hearty, full of bold flavors, and feels like a cozy hug served straight from the oven.
I love how the rosemary infuses everything with its earthy aroma, making my kitchen smell like a dream. This is the best baked chicken legs recipe, it’s as low maintenance as it gets. Toss everything into one pan, pop it in the oven, and let the magic happen.
Ingredients for baked chicken leg quarters
- Chicken Leg Quarters: The star of the dish, offering juicy meat and crispy skin.
- Baby Potatoes: A perfect side that roasts in the chicken juices for extra flavor.
- Kosher Salt: Enhances the natural flavors of the chicken and potatoes.
- Red Pepper Flakes: Adds a touch of heat to balance the savory flavors.
- Paprika: Gives the chicken a smoky flavor and beautiful color.
- Italian Seasoning: Brings in a medley of herbs for added aroma and taste.
- Garlic Powder: Adds a savory, garlicky depth to the seasoning mix.
- Onion Powder: Complements the garlic and enhances the overall flavor.
- Olive Oil: Helps the seasoning stick and ensures crispy skin.
- Rosemary Sprigs: Infuses the dish with earthy, aromatic notes.
The full written recipe with measurements is below on the recipe card.
How to cook chicken leg quarters
Preheat your oven to 400°F. Rinse and pat dry the chicken leg quarters, then place them and halved baby potatoes in a baking dish.
I like to place the chicken leg quarters on top of the potatoes so the juices will drip down onto them. This also will create airflow for the chicken to cook evenly.
Rub olive oil all over the chicken and potatoes, then season with a mix of salt, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, and Italian seasoning. Add rosemary sprigs for extra flavor.
Cover with foil and bake for 20 minutes.
Remove the foil and baste the chicken. Then bake uncovered for another 40 minutes until the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 170°F.
Commonly Asked Questions
Yes, you can! The cooking time may be slightly reduced since thighs are smaller.
Pat the chicken dry before seasoning and avoid overcrowding the pan. Baking uncovered for the last 40 minutes also helps.
Absolutely! Carrots, Brussels sprouts, or green beans work wonderfully with this recipe.
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. Reheat in the oven for crispy skin.
Please remember to leave a review if you make this recipe. The feedback helps me to become a better cook and develop amazing recipes for you.
Baked Chicken Leg Quarters
Ingredients
- 4 chicken leg quarters
- 2 cups baby potatoes cut into halves
- 1 tsp kosher Salt
- ½ tsp red pepper flakes
- 1 tsp Paprika
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning
- 1 tsp Garlic powder
- ½ tsp Onion Powder
- 2 tbsp Olive oil
- Sprigs of rosemary
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.
- Rinse and pat dry the chicken. Place the chicken and potatoes into a baking dish. I like to place the chicken leg quarters on top of the potatoes so the juices will drip down onto them. This also will create airflow for the chicken to cook evenly.
- Brush or rub the olive oil all over the chicken and pour the remaining oil over the potatoes.
- Mix together all of the seasonings in a small bowl. Spread the rub all over the chicken and some seasoning onto the potatoes. Stir the potatoes a bit. Add a few springs of rosemary to the baking dish.
- Cover with foil and bake in the preheated oven for 20 minutes. After 20 minutes, remove the foil and baste the chicken with the drippings in the dish. Place back in the oven and finish cooking for another 40 minutes.
- When finished, the thickest part of the chicken should read 165 on a thermometer. However, I like to cook chicken quarters to 170 degrees as they can handle a higher cooking temperature. They will still be tender and juicy.
- Remove from the oven and enjoy!
Video
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
This was great, really simple to prepare. 2 ingredients to shop for: chicken and potatoes. What is easier than that?!
I forgot to buy fresh rosemary, so I just shook some dried rosemary into the spice mix. My potatoes weren’t fully tender, but my chicken came out PERFECTLY cooked. So I sat the chicken on the side and put the potatoes back in until they were tender, easy fix. I think next time I’ll just cut them a little smaller and that ought to prevent the issue. I will definitely be adding this to our family’s meal rotation. Five stars!
Thank you Bee!