Easy Broiled Chicken Leg Quarters

Chicken leg quarters are one of those pieces of meat that can seem overwhelming at first. After you make them, you'll realize what an easy dinner they can make!

Everyone will love these lemon garlic chicken leg quarters! Especially your wallet! Perfect for busy weeknights!

After I made these tasty Lemon Garlic Broiled Chicken Thighs I decided I wanted to broil more. First up were these chicken leg quarters because I like dark meat more than white meat. Next will probably be chicken breasts or a whole chicken!

Honestly, when I used the broiler for the first time I was skeptical. I thought I was going to burn the chicken and dinner was going to be ruined!

Then I realized how easy broiling is and that I was just all in my head because it was a new cooking method that I hadn't really experimented much with.

You can also make Baked Chicken Leg Quarters or Air Fryer Chicken Quarters.

If you're looking for more chicken dishes that would be great for meal prep or an easy dinner, check out this roasted half chicken recipe.

broiled chicken leg quarters on a white plate with a salad and a fork

Why you'll love these Lemon Garlic Chicken Leg Quarters

Budget friendly - I got a 10# bag of chicken leg quarters at Aldi's for less than $6
Simple Ingredients - All of the ingredients needed for this broiled chicken recipe can be found at your local grocery store
Quick Dinner Idea - This recipe is ready in less than 30 minutes

Ingredients

Chicken leg quarters: I kept mine together, no need to separate them into chicken leg and thigh. Keep the skin on too! The chicken skin is delicious and where all of the fat soluble vitamins are!
Oil: I used avocado oil, but you can also use melted butter or ghee. Olive oil if you don't have any of the others.
Seasonings: kosher salt, ground black pepper, fresh garlic, fresh lemon juice, fresh parsley. You can also use this salt and pepper seasoning.

chicken leg quarters, avocado oil, salt, pepper, garlic and lemon juice on a light background

Tips & Tricks

Since leg quarters are the whole chicken leg which are 2 chicken pieces (chicken thighs and chicken drumsticks) they don't always cook evenly.

So to make sure that the chicken thigh and chicken leg are both cooked to 165F degrees, you will have to cover the baking dish with aluminum foil. This step is towards the end of the cooking process.

Don't skip this step or you'll have burnt chicken skin instead of delicious golden brown crispy skin!

Tools to for broiling chicken quarters

Casserole dish, baking dish, or broiling pan
Meat thermometer or digital thermometer
Basting brush

broiled chicken leg quarters on a white plate with a salad

How to broil chicken leg quarters

Preheat your oven to broil (high heat if there is a broiler setting). Make sure the oven rack is one below the top rack.
With oil or butter, grease the bottom of a 9×9 casserole dish, roasting pan or baking dish. Next, place the chicken leg quarters skin side up in a single layer in the casserole dish.
In a small bowl, combine the avocado oil, salt, pepper, garlic and lemon juice. Brush the chicken with the oil mixture, save some for basting later.
Broil the chicken for 8 minutes uncovered, then flip the leg quarters over. Baste with some of the seasoned oil mixture.
Cook for an additional 8 minutes and flip the chicken back to right side up. Baste again.
Cook for 6 minutes then cover the baking dish with aluminum foil and cook for an additional 4-8 minutes.
Remove from the oven when the chicken reaches 165 degrees. Let the chicken rest about 5 minutes before serving. Garnish with parsley.

a small clear bowl with avocado oil, salt, pepper, garlic and lemon juice — oil mixture

2 chicken leg quarters in a white baking dish — oil mixture

How long do you broil chicken leg quarters?

Total cooking time depends on how large the chicken leg quarters are. Mine were on the larger size and cooked for a total of 29 minutes. Make sure to check the temperature frequently because you don't want to over-cook your chicken.

Substitutions

Avocado oil - If you don't have any avocado oil on hand, you can use melted butter or ghee instead.
Fresh lemon juice - don't have any lemons? You can also used bottled lemon juice, fresh just tastes better in my opinion
Fresh minced garlic - you can used garlic powder instead. Typically 1 clove of garlic equals ⅛ teaspoon garlic powder
Seasonings - you can also add onion powder, fresh herbs, or your favorite spice mixture.

broiled chicken quarters topped with parsley in a white baking dish

What to serve with broiled chicken quarters

I made a quick salad with a homemade Balsamic Vinaigrette, but you can also serve it with Griddled Zucchini, Brussels Sprouts with Bacon, Green Chile Potato Gratin, or this delicious Mashed Cauliflower as a side dish.

You can even pour some of this delicious Lemon Alfredo Sauce over the broiled chicken thighs.

You might also like this post on 25 Must Try Low Carb Vegetable Recipes if you're following a keto diet.

salad topped with cheese and tomatoes in a white bowl

How to store

Store the leftovers in an airtight container for up to 5 days.

How to reheat

Transfer the chicken quarters to a microwave safe plate. Microwave on high for 2-2.5 minutes.

FAQs

How long does it take to broil leg quarters?

It takes between 26-30 minutes to broil chicken leg quarters depending on their size. Check with a meat thermometer at 26 minutes to see if the chicken has reached an internal temperature of 165F. If it hasn't cook for 1-2 minutes and check again.

Is it better to bake or broil chicken?

It's a personal preference. Broiling will cook the chicken quicker, but you also run the risk of burning the chicken if you aren't watching it closely. This is because when you broil, you are cooking under direct heat.

Does broiling make chicken crispy?

Broiling is the easiest way to have crispy chicken skin and juicy meat!

How do you keep chicken moist when broiling?

Basting! Basting the chicken with your oil mixture after flipping will help keep the meat moist.

More easy chicken recipes

If you're looking for more easy chicken recipes, check out this Marry Me Chicken, Teriyaki Chicken Thighs on the Blackstone Griddle, Baked Honey Mustard Chicken, and this Skillet Chicken Thighs, Bacon, and Green Beans.