How long to bake frozen chicken leg quarters

I don’t know if your local market carries them, but around here they occasionally put 10 lb bags of frozen chicken leg quarters on sale. When they do, I jump at the chance to snap some up, knowing that for just my wife and I, this six dollar purchase (sometimes I can find them for as little as three dollars!) will fuel about 5 meals.

The rub is, that’s just a whole lot of chicken. The great part is that chicken is versatile, and legs and thighs are especially so. To be honest though, sometimes I just want my chicken to taste like chicken, and that’s the reason I tossed this together for lunch yesterday.

This is so simple that a recipe really isn’t needed, but I’ll post it in standard format anyway. Adjust the amounts (which I’ve not given) to suit. This particular dish can be a main course or a simple lunch, and can serve from one to as many people as you’d like to feed.

I just love chicken.

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Cook Time: 45 minutes

Total Time: 50 minutes

Simple, flavorful, roasted chicken leg quarters that are perfect for a weeknight meal, but tasty enough for company.

Ingredients

  • 6 Chicken Leg Quarters
  • Rosemary
  • Thyme
  • Salt
  • Pepper
  • Chardonnay or other white wine

Instructions

  1. Rinse chicken leg quarters and pat dry. Coat liberally with salt and pepper. Place skin side up in a roasting pan or other oven safe pan deep enough to collect the drippings. Sprinkle rosemary, thyme and pepper on skin side. (Pat in a bit if you like)
  2. Pour enough wine into the dish to just cover the bottom (This will cook off, but adds a nice flavor).
  3. Roast in a 350°F oven for approximately 35 to 40 minutes or until juices run clear if pricked.
  4. Let rest 10 minutes before serving.

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

6

Serving Size:

1

Amount Per Serving: Calories: 517Total Fat: 23gSaturated Fat: 6gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 14gCholesterol: 328mgSodium: 352mgCarbohydrates: 2gFiber: 0gSugar: 0gProtein: 62g

What I would done differently had I thought about it at the time:

I would have drained the legs on a rack or paper towel before I served them. Leg Quarters have a lot of fat under the skin, and much of it will render out in cooking. I call that a good thing since the chicken is basically braising on the bottom, but it can be a bit greasy if you are in a hurry to get to it as I was.

Other then that, it was great. In fact, I think I’m going to go make up the rest of it in a few minutes. It’ll make a great quick lunch for both my wife and myself tomorrow.

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 frozen chicken leg quarters

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!

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!

How long to bake frozen chicken leg quarters

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.

How long to bake frozen chicken leg quarters

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!

How long to bake frozen chicken leg quarters

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.

How long to bake frozen chicken leg 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!

How long to bake frozen chicken leg quarters

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 frozen chicken leg quarters

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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!


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


  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˚.


Keywords: Roasted Chicken Quarters

How long does it take to cook frozen chicken legs at 400 degrees?

How Long To Bake Frozen Drumsticks At 400 In The Oven? Frozen drumsticks will take around 55-60 minutes to bake in an oven preheated to 400 degrees, to avoid overbaking them it's highly suggested to check the internal temperature of your drumsticks with the use of a meat thermometer in the last few minutes of baking.

How long does it take to bake a frozen chicken leg?

Preheat oven to 375°F. 2. Bake frozen drumsticks 80 to 85 minutes or until internal temperature on instant read thermometer reaches 180°F. (Bake thawed drumsticks 60 to 65 minutes.)

How long does frozen chicken take to bake at 350?

Bake the chicken breasts for 50 percent longer than they would normally take. Average-sized (5-7 ounces) unfrozen chicken breasts usually take 20-30 minutes at 350°F. So for frozen chicken, you're looking at 30-45 minutes.

How long does it take to bake frozen chicken legs at 425?

Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Arrange chicken on a foil-lined baking sheet. Bake, uncovered, for about 20-25 minutes. Flip chicken pieces and cook another 10 minutes, or until chicken reaches an internal temp of 165 F and is no longer pink.