Air Fryer Chicken Leg Quarters

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I was making my kids’ fave baked chicken leg quarters almost every week for months, until one day there was this moment… how have I not put chicken quarters in the air fryer yet?! I already knew it could crisp up air fryer chicken drumsticks, air fryer chicken thighs, and even an air fryer whole chicken like no other method can. But these air fryer chicken leg quarters? They’re our new family favorite, and they just might become yours, too. They’re more cost effective than many other cuts, but more importantly, they’re faster, crispier, and juicier than the oven version. It’s no wonder my kids won’t stop asking for them.

Why You’ll Love My Air Fryer Chicken Leg Quarters

• Crispiest, juiciest chicken ever – With the right time and temp, you’ll open the basket to the best blend of ultra crispy skin and tender, juicy chicken inside.
• Savory, herby flavors – The seasonings I use for my air fryer chicken quarters are very similar to my baked ones, but we’re adding a sprinkle of dried herbs and swapping out the paprika for a smoky one. You don’t have to settle for another boring chicken dinner!
• Easy to make – Just a few minutes of prep and you can let your air fryer do its thing. Perfect for your busiest weeknights!
• Faster than the oven – I make the oven version when I’m making larger batches, but this air fryer chicken leg quarters recipe takes me less than 30 minutes for the first 2 quarters. Yes, you do have to wait to make the 2nd batch if you’re making 4 pieces, but often times 2 of us can share a quarter (they are big!), so we can still eat dinner and I save the other 2 for leftovers.
• Budget friendly – These are just as flavorful (and did I mention crispy?) as separate legs and thighs, but a much better value to buy at the store. Win-win.
• Versatile & crowd pleasing – Kids love it, adults love it, everyone loves it. And it goes with any side — see my suggestions below!

Ingredients & Substitutions

Here I explain the best ingredients for my air fryer chicken quarters recipe, what each one does, and substitution options. For measurements, see the recipe card.

• Chicken Leg Quarters – You can’t beat the juiciness you get from bone-in dark meat in the air fryer! I use this appliance for white meat too (like my air fryer chicken wings and air fryer chicken breasts), but each cut needs a precise temperature and cooking time, so stick to chicken quarters for this recipe.
• Oil – This helps the seasonings stick and gets the skin more crispy. I use this olive oil interchangeably with avocado oil. You can use either.
• Italian Seasoning – I often have a stash of my own homemade Italian seasoning, but feel free to use store-bought if that’s what you have. I like this brand when I don’t have my own around.
• Spices – In addition to the herby Italian seasoning, I season these air fryer chicken quarters with a blend of smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, sea salt, and black pepper for the savory component. Feel free to throw in a dash of cayenne pepper for a kick.

Seasoning Variations:

The possibilities are endless here! Instead of using the herbs and spices above, try 2-3 tablespoons of one of my other seasoning blends:

• Poultry Seasoning
• Lemon Pepper Seasoning
• Cajun Seasoning
• Jerk Seasoning
• Blackened Seasoning

How To Cook Chicken Quarters In The Air Fryer

I have step-by-step photos here to help you visualize the recipe. For full instructions with amounts and temperatures, see the recipe card.

1. Prep the chicken and air fryer. Preheat your air fryer. Pat the chicken leg quarters dry with paper towels.
2. Season the chicken. Brush the chicken on all sides with olive oil. In a small bowl, mix together the Italian seasoning, smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper. Sprinkle the mixture evenly over the chicken on both sides and rub in.

3. Air fry skin side down. Arrange the chicken quarters in the air fryer basket in a single layer, skin side down, and air fry. If you’re making 4 like I did, they won’t all fit, so just cook 2 at a time.
4. Flip and air fry skin side up. Flip the chicken (I use tongs) and continue air frying, until done and crispy. (See my tips below!) Repeat the cooking steps with the remaining quarters. Don’t forget to let your air fryer chicken leg quarters rest before serving!

My Recipe Tips

• Don’t crowd the basket. The one downside of cooking chicken leg quarters in the air fryer is that you can only fit 2 into the basket. Don’t try to cram more in there, or they won’t crisp up properly and will cook unevenly.
• Start skin side down, then flip. I covered this in my instructions, but wanted to highlight why I do this. The side that faces up at the end turns out the crispiest, so starting skin side down and finishing skin side up will get you the best crispy skin.
• Cook the chicken to 170 degrees F. Air fryer chicken quarters are safe to eat once they reach 165 degrees F, but I always (always!) cook dark meat to at least 170 degrees F. Unlike white meat, this is the best temp to make these extra juicy! It usually happens naturally with the air fryer time I use, but since it can vary based on their size, I usually stick my probe thermometer into the thickest part just to make sure. You can also use a regular meat thermometer.
• Time can vary based on size. My chicken leg quarters are usually about 10 ounces each, and the air frying time I have here is ideal for that weight. It will take longer if they are larger or less time if they are smaller. You can easily air fry for a bit longer if they aren’t cooked through at the end.
• Rest before serving. Resting allows the juices to redistribute, but also, I find that the skin crisps up more as the chicken quarters cool a little.

Storage Instructions

• Store: Place leftovers in an airtight container and store in the fridge for up to 3-4 days. You can reheat them to enjoy whole (see below), but I also like to shred the chicken to throw into my Cobb salad, or soups like buffalo chicken soup, chicken Florentine soup, or chicken stew.
• Reheat: Pop the chicken quarters in the air fryer again for a few minutes to restore their crispiness. The microwave will heat them up fine, but the skin will be soft.
• Freeze: You can freeze cooked air fryer chicken leg quarters in a zip lock bag for up to 3 months. Thaw in the refrigerator overnight before reheating.

Serving Suggestions

Air fryer chicken quarters pair with just about any side dish you like, but if I’m using my air fryer, I also want a quick and easy side. Here are my favorite side dishes:

• Potatoes – I like to pull out my pressure cooker and make Instant Pot baked potatoes while I have chicken leg quarters in the air fryer, but you could also start some simple roasted potatoes in the oven before starting your chicken. For a sweeter combo, make my baked sweet potatoes instead. I prefer to make sauteed radishes (they taste so much like roasted potatoes) or roasted rutabaga for a low carb option.
• Veggies – For a complete kid-friendly meal, throw some corn on the cob in the Instant Pot. Or just throw together some sweet honey roasted carrots (my kids’ veggie du jour) before starting your chicken. If you didn’t start your side first, my quick roasted asparagus will still be done in time, or make my easy air fryer brussels sprouts while your chicken is resting.
• Salad – My daughter’s favorite is my kale salad recipe with maple dressing, but my family also loves a sweet pomegranate salad or fresh cucumber tomato salad.
• Sauces – Air fryer chicken leg quarters are already so juicy and flavorful that I don’t usually add a sauce. But if you like, feel free to brush on or dip them into some BBQ sauce.

More Air Fryer Chicken Recipes

The air fryer is my fave way to make chicken! Here are some of my ways to use it for other cuts:

Air Fryer Boneless Chicken Thighs

Air Fryer Chicken Legs

Air Fryer Chicken Thighs

Air Fryer Frozen Chicken Wings

My Favorite Tools For This Recipe

• Air Fryer – It’s roomy enough for just about anything I want to cook. Plus, it includes a reheating button for warming up leftovers!
• Probe Thermometer – This isn’t the same level of “necessary” that it is with a sirloin steak, but I still use it to ensure my bone-in chicken reaches that juicy 170 degrees F, without having to check on it.

Recipe Card

4.85 from 13 votes

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Air Fryer Chicken Leg Quarters

These air fryer chicken leg quarters have flavorful, juicy meat and crispy skin! Just season, pop in the air fryer, and enjoy in 30 minutes.

Prep: 5 minutes

Cook: 20 minutes

Resting Time: 5 minutes

Total: 30 minutes

Author: Maya Krampf from Wholesome Yum

Servings: 4 (adjust to scale recipe)

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Ingredients

Tap underlined ingredients to see the ones I use.

• 4 medium Chicken leg quarters (~2.5 lb) ▢
• 2 tbsp Olive oil ▢
• 2 tsp Italian seasoning ▢
• 1 tsp Smoked paprika ▢
• 1/2 tsp Garlic powder ▢
• 1/2 tsp Onion powder ▢
• 3/4 tsp Sea salt ▢
• 1/4 tsp Black pepper ▢

Instructions

Tap on the times in the instructions to start a kitchen timer.

1. Preheat the air fryer to 370 degrees F (188 degrees C) for at least 5 minutes.

2. Meanwhile, pat the chicken leg quarters dry with paper towels. (This will help the skin get crispy.)

3. Brush the chicken on all sides with olive oil.

4. In a small bowl, mix together the Italian seasoning, smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper. Sprinkle the mixture evenly over the chicken on both sides and rub in.

5. Arrange two of the chicken quarters in the air fryer basket, skin side down. Air fry for 10 minutes. Flip and air fry for another 10-12 minutes, until the internal temperature reaches 170 degrees F (74 degrees C).

6. Rest for 5 minutes before serving.

7. Repeat steps 5 and 6 with the other 2 chicken leg quarters.

LAST STEP: Leave a rating to help other readers, or tag me @wholesomeyum on Instagram. I’d love to hear from you!

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Maya’s Recipe Notes

Serving size: 1 chicken leg quarter

📖 Want more recipes like this? Find this one and many more in my Healthy Air Fryer Bundle!

Nutrition Facts

Amounts per serving. Serving size in recipe notes above.

Calories 383

Fat 30.9g

Protein 23.7g

Total Carbs 1.9g

Net Carbs 1.2g

Fiber 0.7g

Sugar 0.1g

I provide nutrition facts as a courtesy. Have questions about calculations or why you got a different result? Please see my nutrition policy.

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