Air fryer chicken leg quarters are a great way to get the best results from a cheaper cut of meat. From the crispy skin on the outside to the juicy meat inside, this recipe is perfect for dinner any night of the week.
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We love to use our air fryer for different cuts of chicken because the results are ALWAYS fantastic! Air Fryer Chicken Breasts and Air Fryer BBQ Chicken Thighs are amongst our favorite go-to recipes, but these air fried chicken leg quarters rank up there with the best of them.
This Air Fryer Chicken Leg Quarters recipe is perfect for any night of the week, and every bite delivers flavor and texture.
From the crispy skin to the juicy dark meat, you're going to wonder why you hadn't tried this sooner.
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💛 Why You'll Love This Recipe
- It's quick and easy! From the simple pantry staple seasonings to the recipe steps, this recipe comes together quickly and requires very little effort on your part.
- Super simple. Rub some seasonings and toss them in the fryer. Flip over once for even cooking, and you're done. This recipe is very beginner friendly for anyone who is still new to an air fryer.
- Perfect for rainy weather. We love to use our air fryer whenever we can't get outside and grill, and when you live in a rainy climate or someplace with a rainy season, you'll find that grilling days feel far and few between. Thankfully the air fryer gives you similar results from the comfort of your home.
🛒 Ingredients
Chicken Quarters- You will need similarly sized chicken quarters. Frozen will take a little longer to cook, but thawed quarters are recommended because they cook more quickly and evenly. If you still have quarters left over, try making these Crispy Baked Chicken Quarters or Instant Pot Chicken Quarters.
Olive Oil- To help grease the air fryer basket and to get the skin on the chicken more crispy, you'll want to use a little olive oil. Note that this also helps to get the seasonings to stick to the skin of the chicken.
See the recipe card below for full ingredients and instructions.
🔀 Substitutions & Variations
Italian Seasoning. Italian seasoning adds a nice blend of herbs like oregano, rosemary, and thyme. If you don't have it, simply use oregano as a quick substitute.
Paprika. Use regular or smoked paprika, both work great. Smoked paprika adds a deeper, slightly smoky flavor.
BBQ Variation. For BBQ chicken quarters, brush on your favorite barbecue sauce (I love using my Easy Homemade Barbecue Sauce) after the chicken is fully cooked. Return to the air fryer for 2 minutes to caramelize.
💰 Budget-Friendly Tips
Buy Value Packs. Chicken leg quarters are already one of the cheapest cuts of meat, but family packs or value packs drop the cost per pound even more. Freeze extras for future meals.
Stretch into Multiple Meals. Leftover chicken can be shredded and used in burritos, wraps, salads, casseroles, or soups, helping one budget-friendly protein feed multiple meals.
Skip the Oven. Using the air fryer saves energy and keeps the house cooler, making it a more cost-efficient cooking method.
Pair With Low-Cost Sides. Serve with budget-friendly sides like rice, roasted carrots, canned green beans, or a simple salad to keep the meal affordable.
🥄 Instructions for Air Fryer Chicken Leg Quarters
Step 1: Add your seasonings to a small bowl.
Step 2: Mix together to combine and set aside.
Step 3: Pat the chicken quarters dry with a paper towel (if needed). Brush the skin with olive oil.
Step 4: Sprinkle the seasoning over the legs.
Step 5: Rub the seasoning around until the chicken leg quarter is well coated on all sides. You may not need all of the seasonings and this is okay.
Step 6: Place the seasoned raw chicken quarters in your air fryer basket.
Step 7: Cook at 390 degrees F for 10 minutes.
Step 8: Flip the chicken over and cook for an additional 10 minutes.
Step 9: Check the internal temperature with an instant read thermometer and make sure that it has reached at least 165 degrees F. If needed, flip the chicken over (skin side up) and give them another 2-5 minutes
Serve warm and enjoy!
👩🏻🍳 Expert Tips
- Cooking Time Varies. Chicken quarters cook differently depending on size, temperature, and whether the air fryer was preheated.
- Use Similar-Sized Pieces. Choose chicken pieces that are uniform in size so they cook evenly.
- Don't Cook From Frozen. Avoid cooking frozen quarters; any remaining ice crystals will increase cook time.
- Preheating Is Optional. Preheating the air fryer to 390°F for 2 minutes can help, but it isn't required.
- Check for Doneness. Chicken is fully cooked when an instant-read thermometer reads 165°F.
❄️ Storage and Reheating
Storage. Keep cooked Air Fryer Chicken Leg Quarters in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days. Make sure it has fully cooled before storing to avoid condensation.
Air Fryer Reheating. Reheat chicken at 350°F for 4-5 minutes, or until heated through and crispy again.
Microwave Reheating. Place a piece of chicken on a microwave-safe plate and heat for about 2 minutes. Adjust time as needed depending on microwave strength.
🥗 Side Dishes or Pairing Ideas
This Air Fryer Chicken Leg Quarters recipe goes well with just about anything but for a nice summery feel you can try one of these Delicious Summer Squash Recipes. You can't go wrong with veggies like this Instant Pot Asparagus, Instant Pot Brussel Sprouts and Bacon, or Microwave Yellow Squash!
- Instant Pot Brussel Sprouts and BaconRecipe $4.01 / Serving $1.01
- Microwave Yellow SquashRecipe $2.29 / Serving $0.57
- Deviled Egg Pasta SaladRecipe $6.14 / Serving $0.51
- Strawberry Cottage Cheese SaladRecipe $7.61 / Serving $0.63
❓ Recipe FAQs
Your chicken should be cooked to 165 degrees F, but when in doubt, you can cook your dark meat to 170 degrees F.
I get this question from my kids A LOT but it's NOT blood! Commercially processed chickens have blood drained before being cut, so there's almost no chance of this. The pink discoloration is mostly water and a protein called myoglobin which carries oxygen through the muscles.
Purple discoloration in your chicken is a result of myoglobin and purple marrow in the bones. These colors don't really fade as the meat is cooked, and if your chicken reaches 165F, it's perfectly fine to eat!
The legs and thighs of a chicken are considered dark meat; since the chicken quarters are both thigh and legs, this means that this bird cut is all dark meat.
To air fry leg quarters, follow these steps: Place seasoned raw chicken quarters in air fryer basket. Cook at 390°F for 10 minutes. Flip chicken over and cook for additional 10 minutes. Check internal temperature with instant-read thermometer; ensure it reaches at least 165°F. If needed, flip chicken over (skin side up) and cook for another 2-5 minutes.
Yes, you can cook frozen chicken quarters in an air fryer. Preheat to 390°F, cook for 30-40 minutes, flipping halfway. Check internal temperature reaches 165°F.
🍽️ More Recipes You'll Love
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- Beer Brined Chicken WingsRecipe $7.59 / Serving $1.27
- Honey Lemon Pepper Chicken WingsRecipe $9.14 / Serving $2.29
🐝 If you tried this Air Fryer Chicken Leg Quarters, please leave a ⭐️ star rating and share your buzz in the 💬 comments below. I'd truly appreciate it!
📖 Recipe
Air Fryer Chicken Leg Quarters
Ingredients
- 2 chicken leg quarters - ($1.42)
- 3 tablespoons olive oil - ($0.42)
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning - ($0.08)
- 1 teaspoon onion powder - ($0.08)
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder - ($0.08)
- ½ teaspoon paprika - ($0.04)
- ½ teaspoon salt - ($0.01)
- ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper - ($0.02)
Instructions
- Mix seasoning. Combine the Italian seasoning, onion powder, garlic powder, paprika, salt, and black pepper in a small bowl.
- Prep chicken. Pat the chicken leg quarters dry with paper towels if needed. Brush the skin with olive oil.
- Season. Sprinkle the seasoning mixture over the chicken and rub to coat all sides evenly. You may not need all of the seasoning.
- Air fry. Place the chicken leg quarters in the air fryer basket. Cook at 390°F for 10 minutes.
- Flip and finish. Flip the chicken and cook for another 10 minutes. Check the internal temperature and ensure it has reached at least 165°F. If needed, flip skin side up and cook an additional 2 to 5 minutes.
- Serve. Serve warm.
Notes
- Optional Sauce. Brush cooked chicken with barbecue sauce and air fry for 2 additional minutes.
- Cooking Time. Cooking time varies based on size, starting temperature, and air fryer model. Use similar sized pieces for even cooking.
- Frozen Chicken. Thawed chicken cooks best. If cooking from frozen, add additional time and verify doneness.
- Reheating. Reheat in the air fryer at 350°F for 4 to 5 minutes or microwave for about 2 minutes.
- Storage. Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
Nutritional Information
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