How Long To Bake Chicken Leg Quarters In Oven At 400 Degrees?

Chicken leg quarters is every child’s favorite! Even those who aren’t children anymore have an inner child in them that would truly enjoy them as you bite off the juicy meat off the bones. This is a dish you can never go wrong choosing. And, you definitely can’t go wrong with baking a good ol’ chicken to meaty, juicy perfection! The popular cooking temperature for chicken leg quarters has to be 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Now the question is this. How long to cook chicken leg quarters in oven at 400 degrees? In this post, I wish to answer this question and share some tips on perfecting this chicken leg quarters recipe.

How Long To Bake Chicken Leg Quarters In Oven At 400?

It takes 30 to 40 minutes to bake chicken leg quarters in the oven at 400 degrees without a foil.  At this temperature, you can get a crispy skinned chicken leg quarters with tender, juicy and succulent meat inside at the end of the baking session. It’s important to make sure that the internal temperature of your chicken leg quarter is around 170 degrees before removing it from the oven. This makes sure it’s cooked through at just the right juiciness and tenderness. The internal temp should be taken at the thickest part of the meat since it will take longer to get cooked.

What are other temp to grill chicken quarters in oven?

Some also prefer to bake chicken leg quarters at 300 degrees for around an hour and a half, covered with foil. This slow cooking method ensures that the chicken leg quarters become fall-off-the-bone soft and juicy. While cooking low is a go, some also cook their chicken leg quarters at a higher temp at around 425 or 450 degrees for crispier skin. But, cooking at a higher temp may not be as ideal because of the greater tendency for the meat to be overcooked. This makes your chicken dry and hard, which no one would want on their plate.

Which is the best cooking temperature for chicken leg quarters in the oven?

If you ask me that question, I can only say 400 degrees as it provide the best result – crispy, tender chicken leg quarters – with a relatively shorter cooking time. But either cook the chicken leg quarters slow or cook it just right at 375 or 400 degrees would produce great results in their own respective ways. Whether slow roasting or baking at an average temp such as 400 or 375 degrees, just make sure that the internal temperature of your chicken is around 170 degrees, to make sure it’s cooked through at just the right juiciness and tenderness.

Recipe for cooking chicken leg quarters in oven

Your chicken leg quarters can be enjoyed in many different ways! And I love to use this recipe to cook chicken leg quarters in the oven.

1 Add Seasoning for chicken leg quarters

Mix some salt, pepper, onions, garlic, and some cayenne in a bowl. Then place the chicken leg quarters into the bowl and rub the seasoning all over it. This will give your chicken leg quarters a little spice and depth.

2 Sear the chicken leg quarters for extra crisp

Next, sear the skin for a quick 2 minutes on a frying pan just to make it extra crispy.

3 Bake

Finally, pop the chicken leg quarters in the oven for around 30 to 40 minutes. Towards the end of the baking session, check that the internal temp of the chicken leg quarters has reached 170 degrees Fahrenheit before removing it from the oven. Now, your chicken is now good to go, and will be enjoyed by everyone!

What are other ways to cook chicken quarters?

Baking is just one method. You can also roast, grill, fry, deep-fry, or even slow-cook them.  And you can use the same chicken leg quarters recipe for roasting and grilling, But if grilling, you can also baste the skin of the chicken with soy sauce and oil to create that extra glaze and to add more flavor. And I’m sure, for deep-fried chicken, you can’t go wrong with marinating your chicken in salt, pepper, cayenne, and buttermilk, then coating it with seasoned flour, egg, and bread crumbs.

How to cook chicken leg quarters in the oven fast?

There are lots of ways to enjoy chicken leg quarters with your family and friends! But, if you’re looking for a way to prep the dish quicker for hungry tums, here are some tips and tricks to cook your chicken faster.

1. Add some fat– As you season your chicken, make sure to also season it with butter or oil as they are conductors of heat that can make your chicken not only cook faster but also make it more moist and juicy!
2. Cut it smaller – Cutting your quarters into even smaller parts can also help quicken the cooking since it helps distribute the heat better and let the heat reach the innermost parts of the meat quicker.
3. Cook it twice – To cook your chicken faster, you can also choose to cook it twice. You can fry it or broil it first the day before you serve it, then, you can just quickly pop it in the oven for a few minutes on dinner day! Just be careful not to overcook and dry out the meat!

What goes well with chicken leg quarters?

Just thinking about chicken already makes my mouth drool and my tummy noisy! But, if you want to even take your dish up a notch, here are some tricks you can do to make your chicken dish heavenly better:

Add Chicken Glaze

There are a million different ways to glaze your chicken! Some of the best options you have are to use tangy fruit reductions like a pomegranate glaze or a mix of vinegar, orange, barberries, and turmeric.

Spice it up

You can never go wrong with spicy chicken. Whether you choose to season it with spicy powders, or to pour some spicy sauce into it, everyone loves a tasty and spicy chicken! Just make sure to adjust the spice levels to your guests’ tolerance.

What to serve with chicken leg quarters?

Chicken leg quarters can be quite filling on its own and it already has really great flavors in them. Hence, some veggies will be ideal to provide the freshness to contrast with the rich flavors of the chicken leg quarters. Serving your chicken leg quarters with some mashed potatoes and green beans will tie everything to perfection! You might think that not many like veggies on their plate, but with a tasty chicken to partner it with, some might even ask for more! Other side dishes that goes well with chicken leg quarters are corn, mushroom soup and cauliflower rice.

Conclusion

Chicken is just yum, and there’s no going wrong with this one. Whether with friends or family, everybody loves a good piece of chicken! I hope this can help you in prepping your winner-winner, chicken dinner for tonight! Enjoy your feast!

FAQs for Baking Chicken Leg Quarters

What temperature should chicken leg quarters be cooked to?

The chicken leg quarters internal temp should reach 170 degrees Fahrenheit for a fully cooked meat. This temperature should be taken at the thickest part of the meat since it will take longer to get cooked.

How many pounds of chicken leg quarters per person?

1 chicken leg quarter per person will be more than enough.  But a few more side dishes with less calories such as mashed potatoes, corns, green beans  or even a mushroom soup will make the entire feast even better.

What is chicken leg quarters?

Chicken leg quarters includes the chicken drumstick, thighs and part of its back. As a result, it is so named as quarters since those parts made up a quarter of the chicken. Chicken leg quarters are easy to make and they really give you immense satisfaction as you bite the meat off the bones. In addition, chicken leg quarters are really cheap too.

How Long To Bake Chicken Leg Quarters In Oven At 350?

It takes 60 minutes to bake chicken leg quarters in the oven at 350 degrees without a foil.  At this temperature, your chicken leg quarters will turn out with a golden brown skin with juicy and tender meat inside. To ensure that the meat is cooked, you would want to stick a food thermometer in the thigh area to ensure that its internal temp has reached 170 degrees.