Air fryer chicken leg quarters are a simple and healthy option for a quick dinner. The skin turns perfectly crispy in the air fryer, while the inside remains juicy and tender. This cooking method not only reduces the added fat but also keeps your kitchen cooler than traditional oven roasting.
❤️ Why you'll love it
This simple and easy chicken leg recipe uses only a few ingredients, such as chicken leg quarters, oil, and seasonings. Not to mention, you don’t even have to turn on the oven—the air fryer will get you the best results in the shortest amount of time!
Chicken legs are full of flavor and protein, so they’ll keep you satisfied as you stick to your healthy diet. Meal-prep them for weekday lunches or family dinners, or make them for your next party or get-together.
🧾 Ingredients Used
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- Chicken leg quarters with skin: This cut of chicken is super flavorful – I like using organic chicken, but you can use whatever you have on hand.
- Olive oil: You can use olive oil, avocado oil, or any other type of cooking oil.
- Salt: Be sure to salt the chicken on both sides before cooking.
- Chicken seasoning: My chicken seasoning recipe, made with garlic, paprika, black pepper, and other flavors, really makes this dish stand out!
🔪 How To Make This Recipe
- Pat the chicken leg quarters dry with paper towels and trim any excess skin or fat.
- Rub the chicken with the oil and the seasoning on all sides.
- Preheat the air fryer to 380F for 5 minutes.
- Place the chicken in an air fryer, skin side down, and air fry for 25 to 30 minutes. Flip the chicken halfway through cooking time.
- When the chicken is done, carefully remove it to a plate and let it rest for 2-3 minutes before serving.
🥫 Storing and Reheating
This air-fried chicken leg recipe keeps well in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. To reheat, microwave for about a minute or place in the air fryer again for a few minutes.
Feel free to make this recipe ahead of time and pop it in the freezer for easy meals throughout the month. It will keep in the freezer for up to a few months.
💭 Tips and Variations
- Marinate Overnight: The longer you let the chicken sit in the marinade, the better this recipe will turn out. Coat the chicken with the oil and spices the night before in a gallon Ziploc bag, then cook it the next day.
- Brine the Chicken: For even juicier chicken, consider brining the leg quarters in a saltwater solution for a few hours before seasoning and cooking. This helps to retain moisture.
- Use a Meat Thermometer: Make sure the chicken is perfectly cooked by using a meat thermometer. The internal temperature should reach 170°F for safe consumption.
- Other Spices: Feel free to change up the seasoning mix to experiment with the flavors. Lemon pepper, creole seasoning, rosemary, thyme, or dill are all excellent options—add whatever you fancy!
- Use the Oven: You can also bake these chicken legs in the oven. Preheat your oven to 400F and bake for 35-40 minutes or until the internal temperature reaches 165F.
- Add a Sauce: Brush the chicken with your favorite sauce halfway through cooking. BBQ sauce or buffalo sauce can add an extra layer of flavor.
🍽️ What can I eat this recipe with?
This chicken is delicious on its own or with different sauces. For more complex flavor, try it with chermoula sauce, African pepper sauce, or this Ghanaian shito sauce.
You can also pair these chicken legs with vegetables like green beans, asparagus, or cauliflower mash. It also goes great with a side salad – I like mixing spinach or romaine with cucumber, tomato, balsamic vinegar, olive oil, lemon juice, and salt and pepper for an easy dinner side.
👩🍳 Frequently asked questions
High in protein and higher in fat than other cuts of chicken, chicken legs are a fantastic staple food on a keto diet.
Yes, you can cook a quarter leg of chicken in the air fryer – just make sure you cook it for between 25 and 30 minutes.
Drumsticks need to be cooked in the air fryer at around 380-400 degrees. They’ll be done when they reach 170 degrees F.
Many air fryers require you to shake the basket at least once during cooking. For this chicken leg quarter recipe, you will need to flip the chicken halfway through.
In general, cooking at a higher temperature produces the best results. I like cooking my chicken legs at around 380 degrees F.
📖 Recipe
Air Fryer Chicken Leg Quarters
Equipment
Ingredients
- 2 chicken leg quarters with skin
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 3 tablespoon chicken seasoning
Instructions
- Pat chicken dry with paper towels and trim any excess skin or fat.2 chicken leg quarters
- Rub the chicken with the oil and the seasoning on all sides.1 tablespoon olive oil, ¼ teaspoon salt, 3 tablespoon chicken seasoning
- Preheat the air fryer to 380F for 5 minutes.
- Place chicken in an air fryer, skin side down, and air fry for 25 to 30 minutes. Flip the chicken halfway through cooking time.
- When the chicken is done, carefully remove to a plate and let rest for 2 3 minutes before serving.
Notes
- Marinate Overnight: The longer you let the chicken sit in the spices, the better this recipe will turn out. Coat the chicken with the oil and spices the night before in a gallon Ziploc bag, then cook it the next day.
- Brine the Chicken: For even juicier chicken, consider brining the leg quarters in a saltwater solution for a few hours before seasoning and cooking. This helps to retain moisture.
- Crisp the Skin: To ensure extra crispy skin, pat the chicken dry with paper towels before seasoning. Moisture on the skin can prevent it from crisping up.
- Use a Meat Thermometer: Make sure the chicken is perfectly cooked by using a meat thermometer. The internal temperature should reach 170°F for safe consumption.
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