Air fryer chicken leg quarters are a fantastic way to enjoy succulent, crispy chicken with minimal fuss. Cooking whole chicken legs in the air fryer is a quick and easy make beautifully roasted, juicy chicken without turning your oven on.
Why air frying whole chicken legs is the BEST!
This recipe for air frying chicken leg quarters has become one of my go-tos for a quick, delicious, and satisfying meal. It’s incredible how the air fryer can create chicken that tastes just as good as a traditional roast chicken, with perfectly crispy skin and juicy, flavorful meat. The best part is you can whip it up in under half an hour!
What do you need?
- Whole chicken legs (UK) / chicken leg quarters (US) – I usually use skin-on leg quarters for crispy skin roast chicken, but you can use skinless chicken legs if you prefer.
- Seasoning – in the recipe below I simply use salt, pepper and rosemary to season the chicken, but you can add your favourite herbs and spices if you like, or use a dry-rub.
- Oil – I usually use light olive oil when air frying. You can substitute any other cooking oil you regularly use, though choose one with a high smoke point like vegetable oil or corn oil.
How to cook chicken quarters in the air fryer
1
Preheat.
Preheat the air fryer to 195°C/ 390°F. If your air fryer doesn’t have a preheat mode, just set it to air fry for 3-4 minutes.
2
Prepare.
Pat the raw chicken quarter dry with a paper towel, then lightly brush or drizzle the chicken quarter with oil, then sprinkle with salt, pepper, and rosemary.
3
Air fry.
Step 4: Air fry chicken quarters. Place chicken quarters in the air fryer basket, skin side down. If you are cooking more than one chicken quarter, make sure they are not touching.
Air fry the chicken quarters for 20-25 minutes, flipping them over half-way through the cooking time. Check the temperature with an instant-read thermometer in the center of the thickest part when the cooking time is finished. It should read 165°F / 74°C. Cook for additional 3-4 minute intervals if required until they are done. See the section below for more details on cooking times.
4
Rest.
When cooking is finished, it is essential to rest the chicken so that the juices can reabsorb into the meat. Remove it from the air fryer to a plate, cover with aluminum foil and leave for 5 minutes.
A note on cooking times
Cooking times will vary depending on your particular air fryer and how large your chicken legs are.
It should take around 20-25 minutes (as per the recipe below). If the chicken legs are particularly thick or large, then add an extra 5 minutes.
To ensure your chicken is cooked safely, always check the internal temperature with a meat thermometer. To ensure it is safe to consume, chicken needs to be cooked until it reaches 165°F/ 74°C in the center of the thickest part.
Variations and serving ideas
- Air fry some veggies too! Slower cooking veg (like potatoes) can be added at the start, or quicker cooking veggies can be added towards the end of cooking the chicken. Crisp the veggies up while the chicken is resting.
- Or serve with creamy mashed potatoes, steamed veggies, and a rich mushroom gravy for a comforting, satisfying meal.
- For a lighter option, pair with a simple side salad and steamed potatoes tossed in herb butter.
Air Fryer Chicken Quarters
Ingredients
- 2 whole chicken legs/ chicken leg quarters (approx. 1½lb/ 700g)
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- ½ teaspoon chopped rosemary (fresh or dried)
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
Directions
- Preheat air fryer to 195°C/ 390°F.
- Pat chicken quarters dry and rub with oil. Sprinkle rosemary, salt, and pepper over the chicken and rub in.
- Place chicken legs in air fryer basket skin side down. Ensure they are not touching.
- Air fry for 20-25 minutes, flipping the chicken legs over halfway through cooking time.
- Check the internal temperature with an instant-read thermometer – it should be 74°C/ 165°F or higher in the center. Air fry for additional 3-4 minute intervals if required until this temperature is reached.
- Remove chicken quarters from the air fryer, cover with foil, and let rest for 5 minutes before serving.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is an estimate and provided for informational purposes only.
