Name: Baked Garlic Leg Quarters
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 45 min
Total time: 50 min
Ingredients: 4 chicken leg quarters; Salt and black pepper (for seasoning); 2 tablespoons olive oil; 4 cloves garlic (coarsely chopped); 1 1/2 tablespoons chopped fresh thyme; 1 pint cherry tomatoes

Recipe

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These baked garlic leg quarters are crispy on the outside, juicy on the inside. It's the type of recipe that lets dark meat shine.

If garlic leg quarters that are baked to perfection with out-of-this-world pan drippings are your thing, this recipe is for you!

two chicken leg quarters on a baking pan

Garlic & Thyme Chicken Leg Quarters

One night, when my youngest told me he wanted that part of the chicken with the bone, we officially left behind the only-chicken-breast routine. As much as I love juicy chicken breasts, the flavor of baked leg quarters is second to none.

This recipe has been a family favorite since then and it couldn’t be ANY easier. Simple ingredients + 5-minute prep. What else can this busy mom ask for dinner?

What You Need

Chicken leg quarters already have flavorful meat, so you only need olive oil, salt, pepper, garlic cloves, and fresh thyme to infuse them with irresistible flavor and aroma. In this recipe, I also bake cherry tomatoes at the same time for extra deliciousness and nutrition!

How to Bake Garlic Chicken Leg Quarters

You season the chicken generously and bake it in the same sheet pan with the cherry tomatoes for 40 to 45 minutes at 400F. While the chicken is in the oven, you can prep your favorite chicken sides. So easy you won’t believe it!

Getting Crispy Skin

To achieve those deliciously crispy skins we all love, pat dry the chicken leg quarters with a paper towel before seasoning. And don’t skim on the salt! Both things will help to dehydrate the skin and make it golden and crispy.

Best Sides

Make a simple and delicious side and you’ll have a complete meal effortlessly! I usually serve these baked chicken leg quarters with cilantro lime rice, roasted Parmesan green beans, or this light sweet potato salad. So good!

Baked Garlic Leg Quarters

two large chicken leg quarters with onions and tomatoes

Servings: 4

Prep Time: 5

Cook Time: 45

Total Time: 50

These baked garlic leg quarters are crispy on the outside, juicy on the inside. It's the type of recipe that lets dark meat shine.

5 from 24 votes

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Ingredients

4 chicken leg quarters
Salt and black pepper, for seasoning
2 tablespoons olive oil
4 cloves garlic, coarsely chopped
1 ½ tablespoons chopped fresh thyme
1 pint cherry tomatoes

Instructions

Prep:

Place the oven rack into the middle position and preheat the oven to 400F (205C). You can line the baking sheet with parchment paper for easy cleanup.
Drizzle a little olive oil (about a tablespoon) on the baking sheet. Place the cherry tomatoes, chopped garlic, and fresh thyme on the sheet.
Trim the chicken quarters of excess fat and pat them dry with a paper towel. Generously season them with salt and pepper on both sides, and place them in the baking tray, on top and around the tomatoes, skin-side up.
Drizzle the remaining olive oil over the chicken quarters.

Bake:

Bake for 40 to 45 minutes in the preheated oven or until the internal temperature has reached 175F (80 C).
Halfway through cooking, I like to baste the chicken quarters with some of the juices in the pan. If you don’t have a baster, remove the pan from the oven, use kitchen tongs to flip the quarters over a couple of times to coat them with the drippings, and return the pan to the oven with the chicken skin-side-up.
Remove the baking sheet from the oven and let it rest for 5 minutes while you gather your sides.