With a simple Instant Pot Chicken Quarters recipe on hand, you'll have dinner with no hassle at all. Juicy and flavorful dark meat chicken isn't too far away.
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Instant Pot Chicken Quarters are a quick and convenient way to enjoy a classic dish with juicy, tender results. Inspired by my Instant Pot Chicken Drumsticks, the pressure cooker helps infuse the chicken with deep flavors while maintaining its natural tenderness.
We love chicken quarters around here because they're cheap and versatile. For these chicken quarters, I took my seasoning rub from my beer butt chicken recipe and rubbed it onto the quarters so that they'd be flavorful and awesome.
Whether you're a novice cook or a seasoned chef, this dish is a breeze to prepare and is perfect for a comforting weeknight dinner or a special occasion.
Serve your chicken with a side of vegetables or rice for a complete meal that everyone will enjoy. I recommend this Easy Canned Corn Recipe or Jiffy Cornbread With Cake Mix.
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💛 Why You'll Love This Recipe
- The recipe is very simple. Using basic seasonings and your Instant Pot, you can create juicy, well-flavored chicken quarters with very minimal effort and prep.
- You can crisp the skin. If desired, you can follow along with the additional steps to crisp up the skin on your cooked chicken quarters. Perfect for those of us who like the chewy skin on chicken.
- It's frugal. Chicken quarters are one of the cheapest cuts of chicken, and seasonings are something found in most kitchens already. By utilizing the two and not adding anything too fancy, we can create a flavorful dinner that's easier on the budget.
🛒 Ingredients
Chicken leg quarters. Use about 4 to 5 quarters. The exact amount depends on the size of the chicken and your Instant Pot.
If you have extras, try our Crispy Baked Chicken Quarters or Air Fryer Chicken Leg Quarters.
Seasonings. Simple pantry spices like salt, ground black pepper, Italian seasoning, paprika, cayenne pepper, garlic powder, and onion powder.
Water. Needed for pressure cooking. Use 1 cup for 6 quart or smaller Instant Pots and 1½ cups for 8 quart models or larger. Check your manual if needed.
See the recipe card below for full ingredients and instructions.
🔀 Substitutions & Variations
Liquid options. Use water, broth, or even beer for added flavor. Just be sure there is at least 1 to 1½ cups of liquid in the pot so the chicken cooks properly.
💰 Budget-Friendly Tips
Choose leg quarters: Chicken leg quarters are one of the most affordable cuts and stay juicy under pressure.
Mix your own seasoning: Pantry spices cost less than store-bought rubs and let you control flavor and salt.
Cook once, eat twice: Extra chicken can be shredded and reused in wraps, salads, or casseroles later in the week.
🥄 Instructions for Instant Pot Chicken Quarters
Step 1: Blend together the spices for the chicken rub in a small bowl and set aside.
Step 2: Pour one cup of water into the bottom of the Instant Pot and place in the trivet.
Step 3: Rub the chicken with the seasoning mixture on both the fronts and backs of the quarters as best as you can.
Step 4: Stack the seasoned chicken quarters upright like books on a shelf on the trivet. I like to alternate which sides the drumsticks are on.
Step 5: Set to High Pressure for 15-20 minutes for thawed chicken or 25 minutes for frozen.
Step 6: Release the Pressure, naturally, for 5 minutes after the timer beeps, and then release the rest manually.
Step 7: Check internal temperature and make sure chicken is a safe 165 degrees F before eating. If not, bake at 350 degrees F until temp has been reached.
Optional Step- Set your oven to High Broil and place chicken on a baking sheet.
Step 8: Broil on high for 3-5 minutes to help crisp up the skin.
Serve warm with side dishes.
👩🏻🍳 Expert Tips
- Preparing Chicken Quarters- For this Instant Pot recipe, arrange chicken pieces upright on the trivet to fit them into the pot. Trim excess fat or skin as needed.
- Optional Broiling Step- Consider broiling cooked chicken quarters for a crispy skin. It's recommended but not necessary.
- Ensuring Chicken Safety- Use an instant-read thermometer to check for doneness. Chicken should reach 165°F. If needed, finish cooking in a 350°F oven until fully cooked.
❄️ Storage, Reheating & Make Ahead
Storage: Store cooked chicken in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days.
Reheating: Reheat in the microwave until warmed through, or place in a 350°F oven covered with foil to keep it from drying out.
Make Ahead: Chicken can be cooked ahead and refrigerated, then broiled just before serving to re-crisp the skin.
🥗 Side Dishes or Pairing Ideas
Serve Instant Pot chicken quarters with mashed potatoes, rice, or roasted vegetables for a hearty meal. A simple salad, steamed green beans, or cornbread also pair well and keep the meal budget-friendly.
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- Oven Roasted AsparagusRecipe $4.13 / Serving $1.03
❓ Recipe FAQs
Chicken quarters (or chicken leg quarters as some call it) are the dark meat of a chicken, from the hip bone down. It includes the thigh and drumstick of a chicken in a solid piece that can be later separated or cooked whole as desired by the consumer.
For frozen chicken quarters, just make sure that they aren't frozen too much. You want them to be able to be stacked without being one clump of solid ice. As long as they're partially frozen and can be fitted into the Instant Pot, you can cook them on High Pressure for 25 minutes with a Quick Pressure Release.
Cheaper cuts of meat are almost always meats that have the least amount of work involved. Unlike boneless, skinless chicken breasts, a leg quarter doesn't require nearly as much work to cut off the whole. Therefore the cost is lower as there is less expense involved in the prep.
🍽️ More Recipes You'll Love
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🐝 If you tried these Instant Pot Chicken Quarters, please leave a ⭐️ star rating and share your buzz in the 💬 comments below. I'd truly appreciate it!
📖 Recipe
Instant Pot Chicken Quarters
Ingredients
- 1 cup water - ($0.00)
- 4 whole chicken leg quarters - ($2.84)
Spice Rub
- ½ teaspoon salt - ($0.01)
- ½ teaspoon Italian seasoning - ($0.04)
- ½ teaspoon paprika - ($0.04)
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder - ($0.04)
- ½ teaspoon onion powder - ($0.04)
- ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper - ($0.02)
- ⅛ teaspoon cayenne pepper - ($0.01)
Instructions
- Make rub. In a small bowl, mix together all of the spice rub ingredients.
- Prepare Instant Pot. Add the water to the Instant Pot and place the trivet inside.
- Season chicken. Rub the spice mixture evenly over the chicken leg quarters.
- Arrange. Stand the chicken quarters upright on the trivet, alternating direction so they fit evenly.
- Pressure cook. Close the lid, set the valve to sealing, and cook on High Pressure for 15 to 20 minutes. Use 25 minutes if the chicken is partially frozen.
- Release pressure. Allow a natural pressure release for 5 minutes, then carefully release the remaining pressure manually.
- Check temperature. Verify the internal temperature has reached at least 165°F. If not, place the chicken in a 350°F oven until fully cooked.
- Crisp skin. Place the chicken skin-side up on a baking sheet and broil on high for 3 to 5 minutes, until the skin is crisped to your liking.
- Serve. Serve warm with your favorite side dishes.
Notes
- Positioning. Standing the chicken upright on the trivet helps it fit better and cook evenly.
- Liquid options. Water, chicken broth, or beer can be used. Ensure at least 1 to 1 ½ cups of liquid for proper pressure cooking.
- Broiling. Broiling after pressure cooking is optional but recommended for crisp skin and better color.
- Food safety. Always confirm the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F before serving.
Nutritional Information
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kg says
Learning to use instapot. We loved the herb flavor. Will be back for more
Nicole Durham says
I'm so glad you liked it! 🙂
Crista says
My chicken leg quarters were completely thawed and I actually only did 3, and they were nowhere near done after 15 min in the instant pot, 5 minutes depressurizing, and 5 min of broiling...still bloody inside.
Nicole says
Aw I'm so sorry to hear that. Did you use large chicken quarters? Did you check their temperature before broiling them? I've had chicken quarters finish anywhere from 15-25 minutes and it varies per piece. Also, unless you butchered the chicken yourself, that's not blood. It's hemoglobin that is in the tissues of the bird, and the color lingers even after it has been cooked, so discoloration shouldn't be used as a measure for chicken "doneness." I recommend an instant-read food thermometer to check to see if the meat has finished cooking next time.
DDeborah D says
At last, I have found a recipe that has the correct cooking time for instant pot chicken quarters.