Air Fryer Chicken Quarters

Try this recipe for air fryer chicken quarters for a healthy dinner that’s super fast to make. It is ideal for busy people on the go and the perfect alternative to a takeaway.

How to cook chicken quarters in an air fryer

It’s always nice to have a quick and easy dinner that you can whip up quickly after a long day at work. I love air fryer chicken quarters because they can be ready in less than half an hour, making them perfect for the end of a busy day.

Not only is it quick to cook chicken quarters in an air fryer, but you get great results every time for juicy chicken with crispy skin. With just a handful of ingredients, this makes for an easy dinner you can cook up in no time. 

For some more easy recipes for air fried chicken try: air fryer chicken drumsticks, air fryer half chicken, air fryer chicken thighs, or air fryer whole roast chicken. 

Scroll down for the printable card for this chicken leg quarters recipe, or read on for all the details.  

Ingredients

Quantities for all ingredients are given in the recipe card below.

Chicken leg quarters: I usually use skin-on leg quarters (air frying guarantees really crispy chicken skin), but you can use skinless chicken if you prefer. 

You can also use frozen chicken quarters for this recipe, but the cook times will be longer, so it is important always confirm it has reached the safe internal temperature 165°F/ 74°C before consuming.  

Seasoning: The recipe below uses simple kosher salt and black pepper, but you can add other flavors if you like. Here are some seasonings that we like to use:

• Cajun seasoning
• Italian seasoning
• Rosemary and thyme
• Lemon pepper chicken seasoning
• Garlic and rosemary

You will need around 2-3 teaspoons of seasoning. 

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.  

Directions

Step 1: Preheat the air fryer to 390°F (195°C).  

Step 2: Pat the raw chicken quarter dry with a paper towel. It needs to be dry before you add the oil so the skin can get really crispy. 

Step 3: Season the chicken. Lightly brush or drizzle the chicken quarter with oil, then season with salt and pepper. 

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. 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. 

Note: Some air fryers require food to be flipped over halfway through the cooking time (check your manual if you are unsure whether this applies to your air fryer). 

Step 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.

How Long To Air Fry Chicken Quarters

The exact length of time that chicken leg quarters need to be air-fried will depend on a few factors, including their size, thickness, and how powerful your air fryer is. 

It should take around 20-25 minutes (as per the recipe below). If it is particularly thick or large, then add an extra 5 minutes. If you are cooking chicken from frozen, add 5-10 minutes to the cooking time. 

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. 

Serving

For a super easy light dinner, I often serve chicken leg quarters with a side salad, some easy vegetable sides like microwave steamed vegetables, or Instant Pot mashed potato.

However, one of the really great things about cooking chicken quarters in an air fryer is that it leaves plenty of space for air frying the vegetables at the same time. 

I usually add some vegetables to start cooking once there is around ten minutes of cooking time remaining. Once you remove the chicken to rest you can pop the veggies back into the air fryer to crisp up for 5-10 minutes.

Try one of these great options:

• Air fryer roast potatoes
• Air fryer roast carrots
• Air fried cauliflower
• Air fryer sweet potato fries
• Air fryer potato wedges 

Storage and reheating

Store any left-over chicken in an airtight container in the refrigerator, and use within 3 days.

You can reheat the chicken in the air fryer – air fry for 3-5 minutes until 165°F/ 74°C in the center of the thickest part. 

Air fryer chicken leg quarters recipe card

You may also like: 

• Air fryer chicken wings
• Air fryer chicken breast
• Air fryer chicken tenders 
• Air fryer Cornish hen

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