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How Long to Bake Chicken Leg Quarters at 400

How Long to Bake Chicken Leg Quarters at 400? This budget-friendly meal gives you incredibly crispy skin and tender meat in less than an hour!

How Long to Bake Chicken Leg Quarters at 400?

Chicken Quarters are the dark meat in one section. It’s chicken thighs and the drumstick, all attached together.

They’ll be cooking in about 45 minutes, at 400˚, depending on how many you’re cooking at one time.

This recipe is ready for the oven in under 5 minutes, bakes for 45 minutes, and dinner is served!

The chicken skin crisps beautifully, and makes the juiciest meat you’ll ever have… Mainly because it’s stuffed and coated with garlic herb butter.

It makes for a beautiful presentation on a plate, if that’s what you’re going for with a fun dinner party!

How Long to Bake Chicken Leg Quarters

First, let’s gather the ingredients:

  • Whole Chicken Legs – also known as chicken quarters or chicken leg pieces.
  • Garlic Herb Butter – I love this stick version from Kerrygold, but feel free to use whatever you can find in your grocery! Of course, if you can’t find it premade, you can always make your own with fresh garlic, parsley, chives, some onion powder, salt, and black pepper.

There are so many different ways to make delicious roasted chicken leg quarters!

If you’re worried about flavorful chicken, here are some spices you can try:

Red Pepper Flakes – for a subtle heat, these are a great option.

Kosher Salt – get the flaky kind, not the fine.

Fresh Herbs – rosemary, thyme, and tarragon make a roast chicken worthy of France!

Lemon Pepper Seasoning – this is a great “get it done” seasoning when you’re short on time, but need a flavor punch!

Spices: garlic powder, chili powder, etc.

Seasoning Mix – such as Italian seasoning, BBQ seasoning, or Montreal Steak Seasoning.

And, you can’t go wrong with baking the chicken flavored with just salt and pepper. Then, slather your favorite barbecue sauce over the chicken as it cooks!

chicken thighs and drumsticks

Next, gather your kitchen supplies:

  • Paper Towel – the chicken pieces need to be super dry before you go slathering on the butter. Otherwise, you’ll end up with a weird mess, and clumps of butter.
  • Baking Sheet Pan – Also known as a half-sheet pan, this is the most versatile tool for an easy weeknight meal.
  • Meat Thermometer – when you’re cooking chicken it is essential to cook it to 165 degrees f every time! If you’re new or fearful of undercooking your chicken, invest in the Meater and allow Bluetooth technology to do the guessing!

If you wanted to turn this chicken leg quarters recipe into an all-in-one sheet pan supper, roast some carrots, onions, and potatoes alongside the thigh-drumstick pieces.

Basic Method for Chicken Quarters

Preheat your oven temperature to 400.

Remove the raw chicken from the packaging. Pat with a paper towel to remove any excess moisture.

Grab your room temperature garlic herb butter stick, and slather all over each piece of chicken. Under the skin, on top of the skin, all over.

garlic herb butter on chicken legs

Place skin side up, on a rimmed baking sheet or roasting pan, in a single layer. Leave a good 2-3 inches between each chicken leg so they roast evenly.

Roast the chicken at 400 degrees for 40-45 minutes. The high temperature of the oven gives the best results for crispy skin and juicy chicken!

chicken legs baked at 400

There is no need to turn the chicken over, just leave it be for 40-45 minutes, or until the internal temperature of the meat reaches 165 degrees f.

When you remove the chicken from the oven, and it’s cooked perfectly, tent it with aluminum foil.

roasted chicken quarters

Serving this Chicken Leg Recipe

Baked Chicken Recipes need scrumptious side dishes! Delicious chicken definitely screams comfort food to me!

Southern Collard Greens Recipe with Bacon is a scrumptious addition to the chicken. You could also serve Cream Roasted Cauliflower alongside, or Macaroni and Cheese for a Crowd!

Leftover chicken can be stored in an airtight container for 3-4 days in the refrigerator. You can reheat it in your air fryer for crispy skin!

roasting whole chicken legs

Frequently Asked Questions:

How long does chicken take to bake at 400?

A medium-sized chicken breast, 5-6 ounces, will take about 20-25 minutes. A chicken quarter with the bone in will take about 40-45 minutes.

How long does it take to cook quarter legs in the oven?

When baked at 400˚, it takes about 40-45 minutes.

Is it better to bake chicken legs at 350 or 400?

400 is better if you want crispy skin and juicy meat inside.

In closing, you’ll need to bake chicken leg quarters at 400 for 40-45 minutes, or until the internal temperature of the chicken is 165 degrees. Use a digital thermometer if you’re nervous!

Save this recipe to your favorite Chicken Board on Pinterest!

How Long to Bake Chicken Leg Quarters at 400?
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How Long to Bake Chicken Leg Quarters at 400

  • Author: Sweetpea
  • Prep Time: 5
  • Cook Time: 45
  • Total Time: 50 minutes
  • Yield: 4 1x
  • Category: main dish
  • Method: oven-baked
  • Cuisine: american

Description

How Long to Bake Chicken Leg Quarters at 400? This budget-friendly meal gives you incredibly crispy skin and tender meat in less than an hour!


Ingredients

Scale
  • 4 Chicken Leg Quarters
  • 1 stick Kerrygold Garlic Herb Butter, room temperature


Instructions

  1. Preheat your oven to 400˚.
  2. Pat each chicken leg quarter dry with a paper towel.
  3. Rub each chicken piece with some of the butter. Rubbing ti under the skin, and on top.
  4. Place the chicken skin side up on a half sheet pan.
  5. Roast at 400˚ for 40-45 minutes, or until the internal temperature reaches 165˚.

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