There are many different ways you can cook chicken legs and thighs, but one of our favorites for flavor and ease has to be oven baking. This technique results in a moist, juicy chicken with a crisp, flavorful outer crust that everyone in the family will love.
What Are Chicken Leg Quarters?
A whole chicken leg is a thigh and a drumstick in one piece. Pictured above, an entire chicken leg is also known as a thigh-drumstick piece. When a thigh-drumstick part has a portion of the back attached, these cuts are chicken leg quarters. Thigh-drumstick pieces and chicken leg quarters may be used interchangeably; however, because chicken pieces vary in size, be sure to cook whichever cut you use long enough to reach a safe internal temperature of 175°F. (Technically, chicken is safe to eat at 165°F, but our Test Kitchen found these dark meats have better texture and flavor cooked to 175°F.) Often, thigh-drumstick pieces are separated into two portions: the drumstick and the thigh. Sometimes, the separate drumstick portion is also referred to as a chicken leg.
How to Bake Chicken Legs
Many of our recipes for baked chicken call for “meaty chicken pieces.” These include drumsticks, thighs, and breasts. That means any of our baked chicken recipes that call for meaty chicken pieces can be used as a recipe for baked chicken legs (drumsticks). Here’s our basic method for 2½ to 3 pounds of baked chicken legs or any combination of meaty chicken pieces.
Cooking Temperatures and Times for Baked Chicken Legs
Most of our baked chicken quarters recipes call for a temperature of 375°F (or 190°C), but you can adjust temperatures as long as you also adjust your cooking times. Adjusting cooking temperatures allows you to cook other dishes with different baking temperature requirements at the same time. Here’s a quick guide to recommended cooking times by temperature. If possible, you should always use a meat thermometer to check whether the chicken is cooked thoroughly. Chicken thighs and legs should have an internal temperature of 175°F when fully cooked.
Oven temperature at 350°F: Bake chicken uncovered for 45 to 60 minutesOven temperature at 375°F: Bake chicken uncovered for 45 to 55 minutesOven temperature at 400°F: Bake chicken uncovered for 35 to 40 minutesOven temperature at 425°F: Bake chicken uncovered for 25 to 35 minutesOven temperature at 450°F: Bake chicken uncovered for 20 to 30 minutes
How to Bake Chicken Quarters
With just a handful of ingredients and a few minutes of hands-on prep time, you can transform four chicken leg quarters or thigh-drumstick pieces into an irresistible oven-roasted chicken dish. Use these steps as a guide and come up with your own chicken leg quarter recipes by using seasonings you love. Alternatively, you can bake the chicken leg quarters or thigh-drumstick pieces in a 375°F oven. Increase the baking time to 45 to 50 minutes. Either way, because chicken pieces vary in size, be sure to check the chicken for doneness by inserting an instant-read thermometer into the thigh, avoiding the bone. Since many of our recipes call for meaty chicken pieces, you can use any combination of chicken thighs, legs (drumsticks), leg quarters, or breast halves. Here are some of our most popular baked chicken leg recipes. One of our favorite recipes for baked chicken legs is oven-fried chicken (aka baked breaded chicken). You can also try this delicious 5-ingredient baked chicken leg recipe with honey that’s perfect for busy weeknights. Or go with green onion chicken that’s usually grilled but also makes a great baked chicken quarters recipe.
