Erika Wassall, the Jersey Farm Scribe, here with a cheap and easy recipe for chicken leg quarters cooked in the oven. These oven roasted chicken leg quarters are so easy and delicious you will want to add them to your regular family meal rotation. Roasting chicken is a popular cooking method that offers several benefits. Roasting enhances the natural flavors of chicken. The high heat caramelizes the sugars in the skin and meat, creating a delicious, savory taste. The process also allows any added seasonings or herbs to infuse into the meat. Delicious!
How To Cook Chicken Leg Quarters In The Oven
What are Chicken Leg Quarters?
First I will answer the question that some of you may have- what are chicken leg quarters? It is a cut of chicken on the bone, with the skin, that includes the drumstick and the thigh all in one piece. Chicken leg quarters, which consist of the drumstick and thigh, are a popular choice for roasting. It is a very inexpensive cut of chicken that is still filling and full of flavor.
Why Use Chicken Leg Quarters
I probably make oven roasted chicken about 3 times a month, at least. Why? Because oven roasted chicken leg quarters are SO versatile and easy to find at cheap prices. And with this simple and quick recipe, you can keep the ready to go chicken in the fridge for any meal! Baking the chicken leg quarters in the oven gives a crispy skin and a tender, juicy meat.
I paid 77 cents a pound for these chicken leg quarters and they weren’t even on sale! So see what I mean by perfect for a cheap family meal?
How To Cook Leg Quarters
All you do is open the package, rinse the chicken in cool water, pat the chicken dry, and stick it on a cookie sheet.
Salt, pepper and olive oil is really all you need to top the chicken leg quarters with! You can add any spices and herbs you like, such as garlic and rosemary or lemon zest and thyme. Don’t over think it though because it is delicious with even just salt and pepper! You’ll rub the olive oil into the skin to help it get nice and crispy while it bakes in the oven.
Pop the chicken leg quarters into a 425 degree oven for about 45 minutes so they can get oven roasted- nice and crispy brown skins and tender meat inside. You know it is done when the internal temperature of the thigh reaches about 165 degrees.
(No need to put any water or chicken broth or anything in the pan.)
When it comes out, it’ll be a beautiful and crispy meal of roasted chicken leg quarters just like that!
I always cook extra chicken leg quarters and let those cool while dinner is eaten. Then you can pull the chicken meat off the bone and stick it in a container to use for lunches, snacks and quick meals later in the week.
Don’t forget to toss the bones in a Ziploc bag in the freezer for the next time you want to make chicken broth!
These roasted chicken leg quarters are SO easy, and they’re a great way to make your weeknight meals even faster and easier!
Ideas For Recipes With Leftover Chicken Leg Quarter Meat:
If you have leftovers, the dark meat in chicken leg quarters remains flavorful and moist, making it suitable for various recipes. Leftover leg quarters can be used in salads, sandwiches, soups, or casseroles.
– Reheat in a pan with some chicken broth and a teaspoon of cornstarch. Add in broccoli for a creamy chicken and broccoli dish that goes great with rice or pasta.
– Mix with a pesto sauce and put on sandwich with mozzarella cheese.
– Grab some tortillas and shredded cheese and sauté up some peppers and onions. Have optional toppings like sour cream and enchilada sauce and you’ve got a quick and easy burrito night!
What ideas do you have for recipes with roasted chicken leg quarters? Let us know in the comments or look me up on Twitter at @NJFarmsScribe and @FamilyFocusBlog. I love anything that makes meals easier, so I’m always looking for new ideas!
Printable Recipe for Chicken Leg Quarters Oven Roasted:
Oven Roasted Chicken Leg Quarters Recipe
These chicken leg quarters are oven roasted for crispy skin and tender meat that is full of flavor. So easy and so cheap- it makes the perfect family meal.
Ingredients
- 4 Chicken leg quarters
- 1 tbsp Olive oil
- sprinkle of Salt
- sprinkle of Pepper
- 2 tsp rosemary, chopped fine
- 2 cloves or garlic, pressed
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 425
- Pat chicken leg quarters dry and place on baking sheet.
- Sprinkle each leg quarter with salt, pepper, rosemary, and a bit of garlic.
- Drizzle olive oil over the chicken and rub into the skin. Coat evenly with oil to ensure skins gets nice and crisp while baking.
- Cook 45 minutes or until temperature of the chicken reaches 165 degrees.
- Tent under foil, and allow to cool for at least 5 minutes before serving.
Nutrition Facts
Oven Roasted Chicken Leg Quarters Recipe
Serves: 4
|
Amount Per Serving: 1 leg quarter
|
||
|---|---|---|
| Calories | 798.96 kcal | |
| % Daily Value* | ||
| Total Fat 58.27 g | 89.2% | |
| Saturated Fat 15.5 g | 75% | |
| Trans Fat 0.21 g | ||
| Cholesterol 319.92 mg | 106.3% | |
| Sodium 289.41 mg | 12% | |
| Total Carbohydrate 9.05 g | 3% | |
| Dietary Fiber 0.07 g | 0% | |
| Sugars 8.33 g | ||
| Protein 56.33 g | ||
| Vitamin A 10.76 % | Vitamin C 0.85 % | |
| Calcium 3.27 % | Iron 13.49 % | |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.
Family Focus Blog
Conclusion
Roasting promotes even cooking throughout the chicken. When using an oven, the heat surrounds the chicken from all sides, ensuring that it cooks uniformly. This helps avoid undercooked or overcooked parts. Roasting at a higher temperature helps achieve crispy and golden-brown skin. The contrast in texture between the crispy skin and juicy meat underneath is often a highlight of roasted chicken.
I was just watching an episode of To Hell And Back With Gordon Ramsey on the cooking channel the other day and he served his chicken leg quarters on a bed of mashed potatoes with green beans on the side. So simple and yet so wholesome and tasty! Roasting is also a relatively simple cooking method. Once the chicken is seasoned and placed in the oven, it requires minimal attention. Roasted chicken leg quarters makes it a convenient option for busy cooks.
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