• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
Go Cook Yummy
  • Air Fryer
  • Browse Recipes
    • Easy Dinners
    • Traybakes
    • Slow Cooker
    • Baking
    • Sauces
    • Collections
  • Cooking Tips

Best Air Fryer Chicken Leg Quarters

By Victoria · On: Aug 19, 21 · Last Modified: Jan 26, 23

2.0K shares
  • 31

Best Air fryer chicken legs quarters that you can make in under 40 minutes. For an even better taste, marinate the meat for one hour, and you will get a juicy chicken quarter that you did not expect to obtain. The chicken quarters are super affordable and are great if you are looking for some budget and delicious dinner ideas.

Jump to Recipe • Print Recipe
Crispy chicken quarters on a plate.

If you’re cooking for a while in the air fryer, you know how this kitchen gadget cuts down the cooking time when we are comparing it with the conventional or fan oven.

Also, you will use a lot less oil in it. If you still didn’t own one, I highly recommend you buy one if you want to save time and money while you will cook.

Quick note: Personally, I own a Cosori Air Fryer 5.8QT and it is perfect for a family of 3-4 members, so all the directions and instructions that I will give in this recipe will be based on it. If you own a smaller Air Fryer take into consideration that usually, the cooking time in a smaller air fryer is a little bit smaller.

We will get a nice crispy skin on the bone-in chicken leg quarters and the meat inside will be incredibly tender and juicy.

You can’t beat the crispy skin and tender meat that we are getting in the air fryer.

If you didn’t try to air-fried chicken quarters, you must give a try to this recipe.

Best Recipes to Try in The Air Fryer:

  • BBQ Chicken Breast
  • Fried Eggs in Air Fryer
  • Air Fryer Yogurt Cake
  • Stuffed Mushrooms

If you’re looking for a recipe for how to air fry the chicken legs, check this recipe of how I make the chicken drumsticks in the air fryer. Also, give it a try and make some delicious chicken patties in air fryer.

In This Post: show
1 🥰 Why You Will Love This Recipe?
2 🏆 Tips for Success? How to Make It Better?
3 🤔 How to Scale the Recipe up and Down?
4 Nutrition Facts
5 🥘 Ingredients Needed for This Recipe?
6 🥦 Ingredients Swap?
7 🍽️ Serving Suggestions
8 🍲 Variations
9 👩‍🍳 Directions
10 ♻️ Make Ahead, Storage and Heating:
11 📋 Recipe Card:

🥰 Why You Will Love This Recipe?

  • Cheap source of proteins. The chicken easy leg quarters are an inexpensive source of high-quality proteins (in comparison with other parts of the chicken). Around 48 grams for a medium chicken leg.
  • You will get the juiciest chicken meat.
  • We will use simple ingredients that you probably already have in the kitchen.
  • It’s an easy recipe. You need to make a simple marinade and leave the meat to marinate for one hour and after that cook the meat for 40 minutes.
  • This recipe is very easy to modify to your taste. You can easily remove or add other ingredients into the marinade and make it your own.
  • It is a keto-friendly recipe. If you’re on a low-carb keto diet, this recipe will be a great fit for you.
  • It’s healthy. We will get the same crispy skin and juicy inside as is the deep-fried version, but we will less oil.

Used Tools

  • Cosori Air Fryer 5.8QT
  • Big Bowls
  • Cutting Board
  • Chef Knife
  • Meat Thermometer
  • Aluminum Foil

🏆 Tips for Success? How to Make It Better?

Two chicken leg quarters with parsley on a gray plate.
  • Add sesame seeds to the meat.
  • If you like sweet tastes, you can add honey about 5 minutes before the timer will end. If you will add the honey from the beginning, the honey will burn.
  • If you have some additional time, leave the meat to marinate for a longer period of time. If you want to get an even better and juicier taste, leave the meat to marinate overnight.

🤔 How to Scale the Recipe up and Down?

This is a simple recipe, so increase or decrease the ingredients proportionally.

Quick note: After I cooked the chicken quarters, I cut the chicken legs into drumsticks and thigs, so I served it in 4 servings for 4 people. If you need to serve more meat per person, please take into consideration increasing the amount of meat.

Nutrition Facts

An average chicken quarter (12 oz. / 340g.) provides about 475 Kcal, it has 48g. of proteins, 23g. of fat, and 328mg. of Cholesterol.

🥘 Ingredients Needed for This Recipe?

Ingredients for chicken quarters with spices on white table.
  • 2 Chicken Leg Quarters. When you will pick the chicken quarters, keep in mind the size of your air fryer basket. I used Cosori Air Fryer 5.8 QT and it fitted perfectly with 2 average chicken quarters. If you are using a smaller-sized air fryer, consider cooking them in two batches or picking smaller chicken quarters.
  • 2 tablespoons of Mayonnaise.
  • 1 tablespoon of Mustard.
  • ¼ teaspoon of Dried Garlic
  • ⅛ teaspoon of Chili flakes (or to taste)
  • ½ teaspoon of Salt (or to taste)
  • ⅓ teaspoon of Black Pepper (or to taste)

🥦 Ingredients Swap?

  • Mayonnaise. If you want to replace the mayo, you can use it for marinade yogurt, sour cream, or olive oil instead.
  • Dried Garlic. You can use fresh garlic instead.
  • Chili Flakes. You can replace it with paprika, or fresh chili peppers or omit it altogether.
  • Black Pepper. You can replace it with a mix of peppers.
  • Mustard. You could replace it with wasabi or omit it altogether.

🍽️ Serving Suggestions

You can serve these roasted juicy chicken quarters near a variety of dishes like:

  • Fried zucchini with parmesan
  • Parmentier potatoes
  • Oven-baked potato wedges
  • Air Fryer Broccoli
  • Creamy Polenta
  • Nando’s Spicy Rice
  • Air Fryer Smashed Baby Potatoes
  • Delicious Asparagus in Air Fryer (From Frozen)

🍲 Variations

  • Air Fryer Chicken Legs Panko. Follow the same recipe for marinade and after the meat will marinate, soak the chicken quarters in panko and cook it in the air fryer.

👩‍🍳 Directions

Clean the chicken well of all excess fat or pieces and corners that you do not like how it looks.

Do You Love Your Air Fryer?

Level up your experience even more with these air fryer accessories!

Put the chicken quarters in a bowl, and pour over them the mayo, mustard, and the rest of the spices that you decided to use.

Cover well the meat with the marinade that we just made.

Cover the plate with plastic food wrap and let the meat marinate for at least 1 hour. Also, you can put the chicken quarters in well-closed Ziploc bags to marinade.

Chicken quarters in marinade in a white plate.

After the meat was marinated, preheat the air fryer at 380°F (190°C) for about 5 minutes and put the chicken quarters in the air fryer basket.

Quick Note: If you see that the chicken hindquarters are too crowded in the air fryer basket, for the best results, consider cooking them in separate batches. This will allow them to cook evenly on all sides.

Marinated chicken quarters in the air fryer basket.

Cook the chicken quarters for about 35-40 minutes at 380°F (190°C)

Quick Note: Keep in mind that the cooking time may differ from the size of the chicken leg quarters and from how your air fryer works because the heating methods, may differ from one air fryer manufacturer to another. For this recipe, I used Cosori Air Fryer 5.8 QT. Also, take into count that if your fryer is smaller, the meat will cook faster.

I didn’t flip the chicken hindquarters. All I did, after 20 minutes, I cover them with aluminum foil to stop burning the skin from the top and to let the meat from the bottom cook slowly.

If you don’t have aluminum foil at hand, you may consider just flipping the chicken quarters on another side after 20 minutes.

To make sure that the meat is enough cooked, we need to get a nice golden skin and if you have a meat thermometer, then check if the internal temperature of the meat is at least 165°F (75°C).

Quick note: If you don’t have a meat thermometer and you can’t verify the internal temperature of the meat, choose the part of the meat that is the thickest, and with a knife, make a cut to see the inside of the meat if there is some blood left. If you can’t see any blood, then the chicken legs are ready.

Roasted chicken quarters in the air fryer basket.

Let the chicken rest for about 10 minutes before consuming it. By letting it rest, the meat will fully absorb the moisture and as a result, it will become more tender.

Close look of roasted chicken legs on a gray plate.

♻️ Make Ahead, Storage and Heating:

Can I Prepare It Ahead?

You could marinate the meat ahead and freeze it marinated. When you will plant to cook it, take it out of the freezer and cook it in the air fryer.

How Long Does it Last in the Fridge?

If you have leftovers, put the meat in a well-closing container and you can keep it in the fridge for up to 2 days.

Can I Freeze the Air Fryer Chicken Quarters?

I would not recommend freezing leftovers because chicken skin will become soft and the meat will not be so juicy.

How to Heat the Chicken Leg Quarters?

You could heat it in the microwave for 1-2 minutes, or in the air fryer for 2-3 minutes at the maximum temperature.

📋 Recipe Card:

Roasted Chicken Quarters on a gray plate.

Air Fryer Chicken Leg Quarters

Victoria
Air Fryer Roasted Chicken leg quarters marinated in mustard, mayo, garlic, and pepper. These chicken quarters are jam-packed with flavors and you can cook them in the oven or an air fryer. Crispy outside and tender inside and ready in 40 minutes.
5 from 42 votes
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 5 mins
Cook Time 40 mins
Marinade 1 hr
Total Time 1 hr 45 mins
Course Main Course
Cuisine American
Servings 4 people
Calories 470 kcal

Equipment

Cosori Air Fryer 5.8QT
Cosori Air Fryer 5.8QT
Meat Thermometer
Meat Thermometer

Ingredients
  

  • 2 pieces Chicken Leg Quarters Medium-sized
  • 2 tablespoons Mayonnaise
  • 1 tablespoon Mustard
  • ¼ teaspoon Garlic Powder
  • ⅛ teaspoon Chili Flakes or to taste
  • 1/2 teaspoon Salt or to taste
  • 1/3 teaspoons Black Pepper or to taste

Instructions

  • Clean and remove the fat and corners or unwanted pieces from the meat.
  • Take a large bowl and put in it the chicken quarters. Pour over the meat, the mayo, mustard and spices that you decided to use for the marinade.
  • Cover well the chicken quarters with marinade on all sides. Cover the bowl with food plastic wrap and leave the meat to marinate for at least one hour.
  • Preheat the Air Fryer at 380°F (190°C), put the chicken quarters in the air fryer basket and cook them for 20 minutes at 380°F (190°C)
  • After 20 minutes, flip the meat on other side or cover it with aluminum foil and cook the meat for another 20 minutes.
  • Check the internal temperature of the meat to be at least 165°F (75°C)
  • After the meat is cooked, wait 10 minutes and you can serve it on the plates.

Quick Note

I highly recommend reading the entire recipe to find more tips and notes about this recipe. Read Full Recipe ⇑

Notes

  • You can marinate the meat also in Ziploc bags.
  • If you have the possibility, leave the meat to marinate for a longer period. You will get even softer and juicier meat.
  • Instead of flipping the meat on the other side after 20 minutes, you can put on top of the meat an aluminum foil to stop burning the chicken skin.
  • If you don’t have a meat thermometer to check the internal temperature of the meat, you can use a knife to cut the meat in the thickest part and to check if it still has blood. If not – the chicken legs are ready to be served.
 
 

Nutrition Estimates

Serving: 260gSodium: 253mgPotassium: 681mgCholesterol: 328mgCalories: 470kcalTrans Fat: 0.1gMonounsaturated Fat: 9.2gPolyunsaturated Fat: 4.8gSaturated Fat: 6.3gFat: 23gProtein: 48g
Keyword air fryer, chicken quarters, main course, meat
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

We are participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.
2.0K shares
  • 31
Previous Post: « Air Fryer Parmesan Zucchini Chips with Garlic
Next Post: Frozen Green Beans in Air Fryer »

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Quentin Brandèl

    Sep 03, 21 at 9:13 PM

    5 stars
    Another yummy dish! I just made this recipe and everyone loved it, thank you!!

    Reply
  2. Dianne

    Oct 23, 21 at 7:13 AM

    5 stars
    This is a REALLY good recipe! If I sound surprised, that’s because I am because I couldn’t use the chili flakes (can’t eat anything hot/spicy) so I thought it might not be very tasty but it is. I used Dijon mustard to oomph what I thought might be the blandness without the chili flakes. I will make it again.

    Reply
  3. Lousia

    Dec 07, 21 at 4:47 PM

    5 stars
    I have the same model of air fryer and they turned out so great! Thank you!

    Reply
  4. DianneRose

    Dec 09, 21 at 12:35 AM

    5 stars
    This is really, REALLY good! I like it so much it’s on my regular rotation.

    Reply
  5. Cristina

    Jan 13, 22 at 5:34 AM

    5 stars
    Really good with great tips! very crisp on both sides.

    Reply
  6. Amanda

    Jan 13, 22 at 8:25 PM

    5 stars
    Great recipe! I made this and it came out perfectly. Thank you for sharing!

    Reply
  7. Inna

    Jan 13, 22 at 11:28 PM

    5 stars
    Super easy and delicious meal. I added potatoes for an easy one pan dinner!

    Reply
  8. Caroline

    Jan 14, 22 at 10:25 AM

    5 stars
    Made this for our tiny two-person dinner, and it was absolutely incredible!

    Reply
  9. Airy

    Jan 15, 22 at 4:12 PM

    5 stars
    Great pics and directions, easy to follow, and simple! Love it!

    Reply
  10. Aubrie

    Jan 15, 22 at 8:25 PM

    5 stars
    Used this recipe for my first air fryer recipe and it turned out exactly as described!

    Reply
  11. Alina

    Jan 15, 22 at 8:33 PM

    5 stars
    Yummiest chicken ever made thank you!

    Reply
  12. Caroline

    Jan 19, 22 at 8:31 PM

    5 stars
    I just tried this recipe today and our whole family enjoyed it!

    Reply
  13. Laura

    Jan 20, 22 at 2:30 PM

    5 stars
    I followed the recipe for these chicken quarters exactly as it describes and it turned out just perfect. Thank you!

    Reply
  14. Kanika

    Jan 20, 22 at 8:33 PM

    5 stars
    My family and I love this recipe! We have made it more than 5 times and it has never failed us!

    Reply
  15. Victoria

    Jan 21, 22 at 8:31 PM

    5 stars
    My first recipe in the air fryer and I loved it! Thank you for sharing!

    Reply
  16. Patricia

    Jan 23, 22 at 8:32 PM

    5 stars
    I made these chicken quarters this weekend, and my husband and 3-year-old son devoured them!

    Reply
  17. Julia

    Jan 24, 22 at 11:52 AM

    5 stars
    Omg I did this recipe and thank you so much for this now my family called me a chef! Thanks for the flavourful recipe!

    Reply
  18. Elina

    Jan 24, 22 at 8:31 PM

    5 stars
    Perfect! I must say that it was pretty easy to prepare.

    Reply
  19. Sarah

    May 11, 22 at 9:55 AM

    5 stars
    I followed the recipe exactly, and it was absolutely delicious. Incredibly moist, flavorful, with a heavenly aroma!

    Reply
  20. Gabrielle

    May 13, 22 at 4:28 AM

    5 stars
    AMAZING! This was my first chicken roasting experience in an air fryer and what an experience! They turned out so great! And it is much easier than in the oven!

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




Primary Sidebar

Happy to Have you there!

Hey, I'm Victoria, the blogger behind the Go Cook Yummy. I'm running this blog with my husband, Alex, where we share our family recipes that actually work. Read more about us...

Recipes to Try:

Close look of juicy air fryer roast pork with apple slices.

Air Fryer Pork Roast with Apples

Wooden cutting board with chicken strips coated in bread crumbs.

Air Fryer Chicken Strips Coated in Breadcrumbs

Macro look of fried eggplant appetizers cooked in the air fryer.

Crispy Air Fryer Eggplant Fries

Close look of a plate with air fryer nachos loaded with cheese.

Cheesy Air Fryer Nachos

Footer

Follow Us:

  • Facebook
  • Pinterest
  • TikTok

Copyright © 2023 GoCooYummy • Stories • Contact Us • Privacy Policy