Yes, absolutely! You can effectively cook a quarter chicken leg in the air fryer, and it’s a fantastic method for achieving both crispy skin and tender meat. For the best results, ensure the chicken quarter lays flat in your air fryer basket, allowing for optimal air circulation around all surfaces. Remember to flip it once during cooking to promote even browning and crispiness on both sides. If you have a very small air fryer or are cooking for more than 1-2 people, you might need to split the quarter into smaller pieces or cook in multiple batches to avoid overcrowding the basket and ensure consistent results.

Chicken leg quarters typically take between 20-25 minutes to cook thoroughly in the air fryer. However, the exact cooking time can vary slightly. Factors such as the precise size and thickness of your chicken quarters, as well as the specific wattage and model of your air fryer, can influence how long they need to cook. It is crucial to always ensure that chicken is cooked to a safe internal temperature of 165°F (74°C). Use a meat thermometer to check this temperature at the thickest part of the chicken, making sure the probe does not touch the bone, which can give a false reading.

For optimal results, chicken leg quarters should be air fried at a temperature range of 380°F (195°C) to 400°F (200°C). If you prefer a less crispy skin or if your rub contains a significant amount of sugar (which can burn at higher temperatures), using a slightly lower temperature around 380°F might be preferable. For the crispiest skin and more pronounced browning, aiming for 400°F is ideal. The best temperature might also depend on the available settings on your specific air fryer model, so any temperature within this range is perfectly suitable for cooking delicious chicken leg quarters.

When air frying chicken leg quarters at 400°F (200°C), they will generally take about 20-25 minutes to cook through. If you are working with particularly large leg quarters, or if they are frozen (though it’s best to thaw for even cooking if possible), they might require an additional 5 minutes of cooking time. Remember to always flip the chicken halfway through the cooking process to ensure even crisping and thorough cooking. Most importantly, use a meat thermometer to confirm they have reached an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C) for food safety.

It should take approximately 20-25 minutes to cook two chicken leg quarters in the air fryer. Interestingly, the cooking time typically doesn’t change based on the quantity, as long as you can arrange the leg quarters in a single, uncrowded layer within your air fryer basket. The critical factor for efficient air frying is maintaining proper airflow around each piece of chicken. If you overcrowd the basket and obstruct the air circulation, this will indeed lead to uneven heating and potentially extended cooking times, so always prioritize a single layer.

No, it is strongly advised not to stack chicken legs or any chicken pieces in an air fryer. Stacking will severely limit the crucial hot air circulation that the air fryer relies on, resulting in unevenly cooked chicken – some parts might be raw while others are overdone, and the skin won’t get consistently crispy. Furthermore, stacking can bring the chicken too close to the heating element, potentially causing grease to splatter and smoke. To fit more chicken without stacking, try alternating the directions of the leg quarters in the basket. It’s okay for them to touch slightly, but never overlap completely.

The most reliable way to determine if chicken leg quarters are done is by checking their internal temperature with a meat thermometer. They are fully cooked when the thickest part of the chicken, without touching the bone, registers 165°F (74°C). Measuring the temperature of the bone can give a misleadingly high reading. If you don’t have a thermometer, you can make a small cut into the thickest part of the chicken and give it a gentle squeeze. If the juices that run out are clear, the chicken is done. If you see any traces of red or pink, it needs to cook for a few more minutes until clear.

For air-fried chicken quarters, it’s best to start them skin side down. After an initial cook of about 10 minutes, you should carefully flip the chicken over, so the quarter remains skin side up for the remainder of the cooking process. This two-stage approach ensures that both sides of the chicken get evenly exposed to the circulating hot air, promoting thorough cooking and browning. Ultimately, finishing with the skin side up guarantees that you achieve that perfectly crispy and golden-brown skin, which is a key highlight of this recipe.

When cooking frozen chicken leg quarters in an air fryer, you should anticipate a cooking time of approximately 25-30 minutes. This duration will depend on the size and thickness of the individual quarters. This timeframe is generally about 5 minutes longer than what’s required for fresh, thawed chicken. The extra time accounts for the initial colder temperature of the meat and ensures it reaches a safe internal temperature of 165°F (74°C). It’s always recommended to use a meat thermometer to confirm doneness, especially when cooking from frozen.

Yes, it is highly recommended to flip chicken drumsticks (or any bone-in, skin-on chicken pieces) when cooking them in an air fryer. Flipping ensures that the hot air circulates evenly around all surfaces of the drumsticks, promoting consistent heating and thorough cooking from every angle. More importantly, flipping helps the skin on all sides to become delightfully crispy, preventing any soggy spots on the bottom where the chicken rests against the basket. A mid-cook flip is key for achieving that desirable all-around crispy texture.

• 2 Chicken leg quarters, bone in and skin on (such as Perdue)
• 1 Tbsp olive oil
• 1 Tsp salt
• 1 Tsp black pepper
• 1 Tsp garlic powder
• 1 Tsp onion powder
• 1 Tsp paprika
• ½ Tsp mustard powder
• ½ Tsp oregano
• ¼ Cup barbecue sauce

• Preheat your air fryer to 400°F
• Pat your chicken dry, and trim any excess fat or skin
  2 Chicken leg quarters, bone in and skin on
• Rub the chicken in the olive oil, making sure it’s well coated
  1 Tbsp olive oil
• In a large Ziploc bag, add all the dry seasonings and shake them to mix
  1 Tsp salt, 1 Tsp black pepper, 1 Tsp garlic powder, 1 Tsp onion powder, 1 Tsp paprika, ½ Tsp mustard powder, ½ Tsp oregano
• Add the chicken quarters to the bag, seal, and then shake until the chicken is thoroughly coated in seasoning
• Place the chicken leg quarters in the preheated air fryer basket (either way is fine)
• Cook on the air fry setting for 10 minutes at 400°F, then flip and cook an additional 10-15 minutes, until the chicken reaches 165°F at the thickest point (but not touching the bone)
• Make sure the skin side is facing up, and then brush the top of chicken with barbecue sauce and return to the air fryer basket
  ¼ Cup barbecue sauce
• Cook an additional 5 minutes, or until the edges are browned and the sauce is sticky
• Rest for 5 minutes, before serving warm with your favorite sides

Notes

Number of total servings shown is approximate. Actual number of servings will depend on your preferred portion sizes.

Nutritional values shown are general guidelines and reflect information for 1 serving using the ingredients listed, not including any optional ingredients. Actual macros may vary slightly depending on specific brands and types of ingredients used.

To determine the weight of one serving, prepare the recipe as instructed. Weigh the finished recipe, then divide the weight of the finished recipe (not including the weight of the container the food is in) by the desired number of servings. Result will be the weight of one serving.