Roasted Chicken Leg Quarters

Roasted Chicken Leg Quarters are a classic dinner recipe made with a buttery onion gravy. The entire quarter chicken is roasted (both the leg and thighs) for a hearty and filling chicken dish that is juicy, flavorful, and so delicious!

I love using the full quarter leg of chicken because they are still relatively reasonably priced at the grocery store and you get the entire thigh plus drumstick. The pieces are great for serving as an easy weeknight dinner, or you can meal prep a batch and enjoy them for lunch throughout the week.

The chicken is roasted with onions in a simple butter sauce. Serve the roasted chicken quarters over rice or garlic mashed potatoes for a complete meal!

Roasted Chicken Quarters – The Perfect Weeknight Dinner 😋

In under and hour, you can have juicy, succulent chicken. Serve the juicy meat with the buttery onion gravy that results from cooking the chicken juices with the butter and seasonings.

If you’re looking for an easy yet insanely delicious meal, these crispy roast chicken quarters are it!

• Packed with flavor: A few simple ingredients combine to create juicy chicken with insane flavor. This is one of the tastiest chicken recipes and you will not be disappointed!
• Super easy: Just season the chicken and transfer to a baking dish. Once you pop everything in the oven and add the broth, it’s a hands off recipe to make dinner time easy.
• Cost effective: You can find chicken leg quarters at your grocery store and they are still relatively inexpensive.
• Versatile: Roasted chicken is great for the whole family. It’s a versatile dish that pairs with any side dish like salads, roasted vegetables, mashed potatoes, and rice.

Ingredients You Need

NOTE: The full list of ingredients with measurements is provided in the recipe card below.

• Bone-in Skin-on Chicken Quarters: These are the whole chicken leg (thighs and drumsticks). They are called chicken quarters at the grocery store.
• Unsalted Butter: The butter combines the chicken juices to crisp up the chicken and adds lots of flavor.
• Yellow Onion: Cooking the chicken with onions adds a delicious depth of flavor. I prefer yellow onion, but if you have another type of onion, like red onion, you can use it.
• Better than Bouillon (Chicken Flavor): This also enhances the flavor. When paired with the onion butter, it results in a mouthwatering dish.
• Seasonings: You will need garlic powder, onion powder, sweet paprika, salt, and pepper for the seasoning mixture. You can also season them with anything you usually use to season chicken. Fresh herbs or seasonings like rosemary or Italian seasoning would also taste great.

How to Make Chicken Leg Quarters

Roasting chicken is so easy, I promise you!

1. Prepare for baking: Preheat the oven to 400°F.
2. Prep the chicken: Pat the chicken dry with paper towels, including under the skin. Trim any excess fat or skin from the quarters without breaking the skin.

3. Season the chicken: In a large bowl, Add the chicken with the sliced onions, garlic powder, onion powder, 1 teaspoon sweet paprika, and black pepper. Toss to coat the chicken all over so that it is well seasoned.
4. Roast the chicken: Transfer the seasoned chicken mixture to a large ovenproof skillet or baking dish. Bake uncovered for 20 minutes, until golden brown.

5. Add the broth and butter: Mix together the water and Better Than Bouillon, until the broth is dissolved. After 20 minutes, remove the pan from the oven. Pour the broth mixture around (not over) the chicken, letting it soak into the onions. Add the sliced butter to the crevices of the chicken. Sprinkle the chicken with the remaining 1/2 teaspoon of paprika.
6. Finish baking: Lower the oven temperature to 350°F. Return the dish to the oven and bake for another 25 to 35 minutes, or until the chicken is fully cooked (the internal temperature should read 170°F) and the onions are soft and swimming in a light gravy.

Recipe Tips and Variations

• Crispy chicken skin: This cooking method allows the skin to get nice and crispy. If you are looking for crispier skin, you can broil the chicken for the last few minutes to crisp up the skin more.
• Using whole chicken: You can definitely use a whole chicken. Just cut the chicken up into quarters, creating two chicken legs and two chicken breast quarters. You can also use this recipe with chicken breasts, chicken thighs, chicken wings, legs or a combination of chicken pieces. Just make sure to cook it until the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F (ideally 170-175°F for dark meat). Cook time will vary depending on the type of chicken used (white meat like chicken breasts requires less cooking time.)
• Use a meat thermometer: Always use an instant-read thermometer to check for doneness. Insert the thermometer into the thickest part of the thigh (or thickest part of whatever type of chicken you’re cooking). Chicken is done when the internal temperature reaches 165°F. However, dark meat loves high heat and chicken quarters contain dark meat. I always cook it to an internal temperature of 170 to 175°F. This ensures the juiciest results.
• Looking for air fried chicken? You can also air fry chicken quarters. I season the chicken quarters and air fry them without the onions and butter. Air fry at 370°F for 10 minutes. Then flip and air fry them another 10 to 12 minutes, or until the internal temperature reaches 165°F. You can also try my Air Fryer Chicken Thighs!

Serving Suggestions

Roasted chicken is such a versatile dish, you can serve it with anything, depending on what you’re feeling.

• Salad: Serve the chicken with a simple salad like Homemade Caesar Salad or Cucumber and Tomato Salad. It also pairs well with slaw or fruit salad.
• Rice or Potatoes: To create the best comfort food, serve the roasted chicken with Garlic Mashed Potatoes or rice. I really love my Cilantro Lime Rice, but if that’s not the flavor you’re going for, you can serve it with any standard brown or white rice.
• Vegetables: Simple roasted vegetables pair well with the roasted onions. Or you can serve it with Cajun Butter Corn or Garlic Butter Potatoes.
• Bread: If you’re looking to add more carbs, try my Roasted Garlic Cheesy Bread. This bread is good!

Storage and Make Ahead

Store leftover roasted chicken leg quarters in an airtight container for up to 3 days.

Freezing: Store the cooked chicken in a freezer safe bag or container in the freezer for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight before reheating.

Reheating: The best way to reheat chicken quarters is in the oven. Reheat in the oven at 350°F until warmed through. You can place them under the broiler for the last few minutes to crisp up the skin.

Other Easy Chicken Dinners

If you love these roasted chicken quarters, then you will love some of my other favorite chicken dinners. All of these recipes come together quickly and are great choices if you are looking for something easy yet satisfying.

• Air Fryer Chicken Thighs
• Italian Dressing Chicken
• Lemon Pepper Chicken Thighs
• Chicken and Broccoli Alfredo Pasta