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Recipe image shows air fried chicken leg quarters with crispy skin and served with rice, cream spinach, and lemon in one plate.
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Air fryer chicken leg quarters recipe

Learn to make super crispy air fryer chicken leg quarters. Find out the best seasonings and cooking tips for this easy and versatile dish.
Prep Time5 minutes
Cook Time20 minutes
Total Time25 minutes
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American
Keyword: Air fryer chicken leg quarters, chicken quarters in air fryer
Servings: 4 servings
Author: ChihYu Smith

Ingredients

  • 1 tsp ground black pepper
  • 2 tsp coarse sea salt
  • 1/2 tsp ginger powder
  • 1 tsp garlic granule
  • 3.5 lb whole chicken legs 4 large legs
  • 1 lemon for garnish
US - Metric

Instructions

To Season:

  • Mix the pepper, salt, ginger powder, and garlic granule in a bowl. Pat the chicken dry, then rub the spices all over—front, back, and under the skin.

To Air fry:

  • Place 2 chicken legs, skin side down, in a 6-quart air fryer basket, leaving space between them.
  • Air fry at 380°F (193°C) for 20 minutes total. Flip the legs skin side up during the last 8 minutes to crisp the skin.
  • Check the internal temperature with a meat thermometer; it should reach 175°F (79°C) to 180°F (82°C). If not, cook for 3–5 more minutes.
  • Repeat with the second batch.

Serve:

  • Let the chicken rest for 5–10 minutes. Serve with lemon wedges on the side.

Video

Notes

  • To Bake: Preheat the oven to 400°F (200°C). Place the chicken skin side up on a wire rack over a baking sheet. Bake for 35–45 minutes, checking for doneness at 35 minutes. The internal temperature should reach 175°F (79°C) to 180°F (82°C).
  • Crispy Skin Tips: Pat the chicken dry, then season with dry spices—they stick better to the chicken and won’t add extra moisture. Start with the skin side down, then flip it skin side up toward the end to crisp. The side that cooks last always crisps up more, so this method works best.
  • Storage and Reheating: Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3–4 days. Reheat in the air fryer at 380°F (193°C) for 4–6 minutes until warmed through and crispy.

Nutrition

Serving: 1leg quarter | Calories: 497kcal | Carbohydrates: 4g | Protein: 38g | Fat: 36g | Saturated Fat: 10g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 8g | Monounsaturated Fat: 15g | Trans Fat: 0.1g | Cholesterol: 210mg | Sodium: 1354mg | Potassium: 516mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 217IU | Vitamin C: 15mg | Calcium: 31mg | Iron: 2mg