Air fryer chicken leg quarters - an easy way to cook chicken legs. Perfectly juicy inside yet crispy outside. Enjoy the healthier version with the air fryer. If you love chicken and chicken legs, must make them in the air fryer.
Chicken leg quarters are a versatile and affordable meal. Leg quarters are the cuts with chicken thighs and drumsticks. They can be prepared in a variety of ways, making them the perfect meal for any occasion.
Air Fryer Chicken Leg Quarters
Air fryers are all the rage right now, and for good reason. They're a great way to cook food without using a lot of oil.
An Air fryer cooks the food using hot air that rotates through the air fryer with the spin of the high-speed fan, cooking the food therein.
This is especially beneficial when it comes to cooking chicken. If you are looking for a healthier way to eat chicken, then you must cook the chicken leg quarters in the air fryer.
Chicken leg quarters are a great dish to make in an air fryer. In this post, I will take you through step-by-step instructions to make the best air fryer chicken leg quarters that are crispy, juicy, and delicious.
Why does this recipe work?
No breading - this is a naked chicken leg quarters. You can make the crispy legs with breading as well with a little variation in the recipe.
Versatile to make changes as per dietary requirements. Also can change the seasonings for different flavors in the chicken leg quarters.
This is perfect for the keto diet, paleo, and gluten-free diet.
Easy to serve in any of the meals.
Ingredients you will need-
Chicken leg quarters
Olive oil
Seasonings - garlic powder, onion powder, oregano, smoked paprika, salt, and pepper. Add any favorite seasonings or dry rub to the leg.
Baking Powder - Optional
How to make the chicken leg quarters in the air fryer?
Wipe off the chicken dry with a paper napkin.
Drizzle over the olive oil followed by seasonings. Rub them nicely coating the chicken with seasonings.
Cover the bowl with a cling wrap or an air tight lid and let it sit for 30 minutes (or more if you have time).
If you don't have time, can cook immediately also but marinating for few minutes allows the flavors to infuse better.
Preheat the air fryer at 400 F.
Place the seasoned or marinated leg quarters in the basket. Cook for 25 - 30 minutes or till it reaches the internal temperature of 165 F or 74 C when checked with meat thermometer.
I recommend using a good meat thermometer while cooking chicken or any other meat in the air fryer. It helps in gauding the correct timing so that we don't overcook it losing the moisture and making it over dry.
Also don't forget to flip the leg quarters in the halfway. This might not be essential but flipping brings a nice equal crisp on the meat.
Extra Tips -
The basket can accommodate 2 leg quarters. Overcrowding will not make the chicken legs evenly fried.
Don't overcrowd the basket since it won't allow hot air to pass through preventing even cooking.
Baking powder is not necessary and can skip adding that to the chicken leg quarters. However, adding it brings crispiness to the meat.
For crispier leg quarters, consider buying the leg quarters with skin.
For best results, keep the leg pieces coated with marinade for a few minutes 20 - 30 minutes so that the meat can absorb the flavor. However, you can also cook them immediately without marinating them for long.
F A Qs
Chicken leg quarters may take 20 - 25 minutes depending on the size of the pieces. I strongly suggest using a meat thermometer to check the doneness of the chicken. If the thermometer reads the temperature 165F, that means it's perfectly cooked. This will help in preventing over cooking of the chicken.
Cook the chicken leg quarters at 400 F for 20 - 25 minutes or till you get the desired doneness. Check with meat thermometer.
Chicken leg quarters are the leg piece of the chicken. The leg piece of drumsticks when attached to the thighs is known as chicken leg quarters.
Leftover can be stored in fridge for 4 - 5 days when stored in an airtight container closed with a lid. To reheat, transfer the pieces to the basket. To avoid making it too dry you can add 1 - 2 tbsp water in the base layer of the basket. It will give a steaming effect while reheating. Cook for 5 - 6 minutes at 400F.
Other air fryer chicken recipes -
Air Fryer Breaded Chicken Wings
Air Fryer Chicken Leg Quarters
Equipment
- 1 MIxing Bowl
- 1 Air Fryer
Ingredients
- 2 chicken leg quarters
- 1 tbsp olive oil
Seasonings
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp onion powder
- ¾ tsp smoked paprika
- ½ tsp cayenne pepper or chili powder
- 1 tsp oregano or any dried herbs of choice
- ⅔ tsp salt to taste as per taste
- ⅔ tsp black pepper as per taste
Alternative seasonings
- 2 tsp Italian seasonings + salt & pepper to taste Option 1
- 2 tsp BBQ seasonings Option 2
Instructions
- Wipe off the chicken dry with a paper napkin.
- Drizzle over the olive oil followed by seasonings.
- Rub them nicely coating the chicken with oil and seasonings.
- Cover the bowl with a cling wrap or an air-tight lid and let it sit for 20 - 30 minutes (or more if you have time).
- Preheat the air fryer at 400 F.
- Place the seasoned or marinated leg quarters in the basket.
- Cook for 25 - 30 minutes or till it reaches the internal temperature of 165 F or 74 C when checked with a meat thermometer.
- Also, don't forget to flip the leg quarters the halfway. This might not be essential but flipping brings a nice equal crisp to the meat.
- Remove once done and serve hot with any dips of choice.
Notes
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