Air fryer chicken leg quarters are quick to prepare and are made with simple ingredients. These whole chicken legs are nice and juicy, have crisp skin, and are packed with flavor from the homemade seasoning blend. Ready in less than 25 minutes, they are a perfect, quick weeknight dinner that the whole family will love.
This easy air fryer chicken recipe is a great option for busy weeknights. With its juicy meat and crispy skin, the chicken is quick and easy. With a simple spice rub, it tastes great with any side.
Looking for more easy chicken recipes? We love bacon-wrapped chicken tenders or air-fried buffalo chicken drumsticks.
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Why you’ll love Air Fried Chicken Quarters
- Quick – This chicken dinner is ready in about 30 minutes.
- Easy clean up – Cooked in the air fryer, there isn’t much clean up, saving time.
- Inexpensive – Often finding chicken legs for as little as $1 each makes this an inexpensive way to feed a family.
Chicken leg quarters, or whole chicken legs, make a delicious and economical meal. I can often get them for about one dollar each, making them an inexpensive cut of meat that tastes great.
A chicken leg quarter is the whole leg of the chicken, drumstick, and thigh, which remain attached and often contain a small portion of the back. Most often, this cut of meat is sold as skin-on.
They are easy to cook and can be served so many ways.
We’ve chosen to cook them in a simple, homemade seasoning blend, which adds a ton of flavor and allows the skin to become nice and crispy while leaving the meat tender and juicy.
We like to keep things easy by cooking them whole, but if you prefer smaller pieces you can seperate the leg and thigh before cooking.
When cooked in the air fryer, these delicious chicken legs are on the table in less than 25 minutes, making them a quick weeknight meal.
Leftovers in the refrigerator will keep well for about 3 days and can be enjoyed hot or cold, making them great for lunch.
They go well with a side of Creamy Mac & Cheese with Bacon or a simple dish of Garlic Rice with Cilantro.
Ingredients for Air Fryer Chicken Legs
For a full list of ingredients and measurements, see the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.
This recipe comes together easily with simple ingredients.
Whole chicken leg quarters – This recipe is made with chicken leg quarters, which are the drumstick and thigh of the chicken and usually a small piece of the back. Most of the time, this cut of chicken is skin-on. If you can’t find the whole chicken legs, you can use either drumsticks or thighs for this recipe.
Olive oil – A small amount of olive oil is used to help the seasoning stick to the legs and give them a nice, crisp skin. You can use vegetable oil or avocado oil if you like. If you prefer cooking without oil, you can skip this ingredient.
Homemade seasoning mix – These chicken legs are seasoned with a homemade blend that includes smoked paprika, mustard powder, garlic, onion powder, a small amount of chipotle powder, and other herbs. The smoked paprika gives these chicken legs a nice BBQ flavor, and the chipotle adds a bit of spice. If you don’t like spice, you can omit the chipotle powder or replace it with a milder chili powder.
You can use your favorite store-bought mix if you don’t feel like making your spice blend. Cajun seasoning, BBQ spice, and taco seasoning are all great options to add flavor to your chicken.
Pro Tip: If you don’t want to make your seasoning blend, use any dry seasoning rub for this recipe.
Step by Step Instructions
Mix the salt, chili powders, mustard, parsley, oregano, onion, and garlic powder in a small bowl.
Place the chicken legs in a large bowl and drizzle with olive oil. Toss to coat, making sure the legs are well coated.
Add half the seasoning to the bowl and toss the chicken to ensure all the legs are coated in seasoning. Then, add the remaining seasoning and toss to ensure they are fully coated.
Place the chicken legs in a single layer in the air fryer basket.
Set the air fryer to 380°F and cook for 22-25 minutes, flipping the legs halfway through. If your air fryer doesn’t have a setting for 380° you can reduce the temperature to 375°. You may have to add a minute or two to the cooking time.
The chicken is cooked when the skin is crisp and golden, and juices run clear when the chicken is pierced with a fork. If you use an instant-read thermometer, you are looking for 165°F when inserted into the thickest part of the meat.
Serving Suggestions
Whole chicken legs can be served with almost anything.
They make a great meal with a simple garden or Caesar salad. Or you can serve them with a hot side such as instant pot mashed potatoes, creamy mac & cheese, or some quick and easy air-fried french fries.
Add a side of homemade cheddar chive biscuits or whole wheat scones to complete the meal.
Because these chicken legs are seasoned with a simple, dry seasoning, they go well with almost anything.
Storing Leftovers
You can store cooked leftover chicken quarters in an airtight container in the refrigerator for about three days.
Leftovers can be enjoyed cold or reheated in the air fryer, microwave or conventional oven.
Top Tips & FAQS
The chicken legs are cooked when the skin is crisp and the juices run clear with the meat is pierced with a fork. Or when the internal temperature reaches 165°F when tested with a meat thermometer.
More Easy Air Fryer Chicken Recipes
Printable Recipe
Air Fryer Chicken Leg Quarters
Equipment
Ingredients
- 4 chicken leg quarters
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon granulated garlic
- 1 teaspoon mustard powder
- 1 teaspoon dried parsley
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- ½ teaspoon chipotle powder
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ¼ teaspoon celery seed
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
Instructions
- Mix the dry seasonings in a small bowl and set aside.
- Place the chicken legs in a large bowl and drizzle with the olive oil. Toss to coat, making sure the legs are well coated.
- Add half of the seasoning blend and toss, then add more seasoning, as needed to make sure the legs are fully coated.
- Place the chicken legs in a single layer in the air fryer basket.
- Set the air fryer to 380°F and cook the chicken legs for 22-25 minutes, flipping halfway through. The chicken is done when the skin is crisp, and the juices run clear with the meat is pierced with a fork, or when they read 165°F when tested with a meat thermometer.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutritional information is based on third-party calculations and should be considered estimates. Actual nutritional content will vary with brands used, measuring methods, portion sizes and more.