This is a super easy air fryer chicken quarters recipe for beginners and expert users alike. If you are wondering how to cook frozen chicken quarters in the air fryer, this fool proof recipe is right up your alley and all you need to make a quick, and flavorful side dish for dinner.
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Table of Contents
- Air fryer frozen chicken legs recipe
- Join our Air fryer Recipe group on Facebook!
- What are chicken leg quarters?
- Ingredients
- Can you put frozen chicken in an air fryer?
- How to cook air fryer chicken quarters from frozen.
- Seasoning variations
- What to serve it with
- How to store
- Tips
- More air fryer recipes for chicken leg quarters
- Air fryer chicken quarters
Air fryer frozen chicken legs recipe
Cooking Frozen chicken quarters (legs) in the air fryer is easier than you think. Don’t let the forgetting to pull it out of the freezer in time for dinner deter you from using your air fryer to cook this delicious side dish. This recipe is one of the easiest there is and the air fryer is amazing for cooking frozen foods. This will literally be one of the best chicken quarters you’ve made.
Chicken leg quarters are a budget friendly source of protein that’s large enough for you to get more servings out of it. This juicy chicken turns out well seasoned and juicy on the inside with crispy skin on the outside. It’s so tasty you won’t guess it was cooked from frozen.
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What are chicken leg quarters?
A whole chicken leg usually comprises of two parts, the thigh and the drumsticks which is called the chicken thigh-drumstick part or piece. Chicken leg quarters are the thigh-drumsticks piece that has some of the back of the chicken attached to it.
Quarters are also called Chicken legs and can be separated into the thighs and drumsticks and sold separately in the stores. The chicken drumsticks are sometimes referred to as chicken legs as well.
In a nutshell, the illustration above is to clear any confusion you might encounter with recipes and to help you know what you are looking for when shopping for a recipe especially since chicken legs can be referred to as either quarters or drumsticks.
Ingredients
- Frozen chicken leg quarters
- Paprika
- Garlic powder
- Onion powder
- Oil
- Dry basil
- White pepper
- Salt
Can you put frozen chicken in an air fryer?
Yes you can put frozen chicken in an air fryer and it’s so easy to cook and comes out tasty, juicy and tender. No need to thaw, simply season and cook till it’s fully cooked to a temperature of 165°F/ 74°C.
Frozen Chicken wings, chicken breast, thigh and drumsticks cook to perfection in this amazing kitchen appliance.
How to cook air fryer chicken quarters from frozen.
This is an overview of the recipe with step by step photos. Scroll down to end of post for a printable recipe card with full recipe and instructions.
Mix the oil and spice blend to form marinade, brush marinade on both sides of chicken.
Place chicken in air fryer skin side up. Cook at 400°F / 200°C for 10 mins, flip over and cook for another 15 mins then flip and cook for 5 mins. Check internal temperature. It should be at least 165°F/ 74°C let it rest for 5 mins before serving.
Cooking it from fresh
If cooking the chicken from fresh, it will cook in less time. Start checking at 25 mins for doneness.
Seasoning variations
You can never go wrong with switching up a chicken recipe. Swap out the seasoning in this recipe for your favorite chicken seasoning.
Alternatively season these with Cajun seasoning, Taco seasoning or Lemon pepper seasoning.
Don’t forget the sauces. Teriyaki sauce, ketchup or bbq sauce will taste amazing on chicken quarters too.
What to serve it with
Chicken quarters is a versatile part of chicken and can be served with a variety of sides from potatoes to rice dishes and lots more. Below are some of our favorite ways to serve air fried chicken quarters.
- Steak fries
- Air fryer sweet potato fries
- Panda Express Fried rice copycat in the air fryer
- Air fryer Mexican rice
- Cubed potatoes
How to store
Left over chicken leg quarters can be stored in an air tight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days and can be frozen for up to 2 months.
Tips
- Before freezing chicken, I usually wash and clean by cutting off excess skin and fat. This when when I don’t remember to pull it out of the freezer in time for any meal I can easily air fry with no worries because cleaned it before freezing.
- No need to thaw, cook from frozen. If the chicken is stuck together, you can either run it under the tap water to defrost it enough to separate them or you precook in the air fryer at 400°F / 200°C for 5 mins before seasoning.
- Mix the oil and spice blend to form a marinade before applying on the chicken.
- Though the recommended internal temperature for chicken to be fully cooked and safe for consumption is 165°F / 74°C I like to cook my chicken leg quarters for longer especially when it’s a very large one. I usually get up to 185°F / 85°C and I find that it’s still juicy and tender.
- If cooking from fresh, cook for 25 to 30 mins and check internal temperature.
More air fryer recipes for chicken leg quarters
- Air fryer BBQ chicken legs
- Lemon pepper chicken quarters
- Air fryer chicken leg quarters
Other easy air fryer chicken recipes
- Frozen chicken breast in the air fryer
- Air fried boiled chicken thighs
- Frozen chicken wings in air fryer
- Air fryer boneless chicken thighs
- Honey Sriracha chicken wings
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Air fryer chicken quarters
Equipment
- Cosori Air fryer
- Pastry brush
- Kitchen tongs
Ingredients
- 2 Frozen Chicken quarters
- 1 ½ teaspoons paprika
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- ¼ teaspoon white pepper
- 1 teaspoon dry basil Substitute with Oregano or Parsley)
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 2 - 3 Tablespoons oil
Instructions
If cooking from Frozen
- Mix oil and spice blend to form marinade
- Brush marinade on both sides of chicken. If there’s any left, reserve and brush it on the chicken when you flip to the other side.
- Place chicken in the air fryer basket skin side up and cook at 400°F / 200°C for 10 mins, flip chicken over, cook for 15 mins then flip chicken over again and cook for another 5 mins. Check internal temperature with an instant read thermometer. It should read at least 165°F / 74°C. If it isn’t there yet, flip and cook for another 5 mins and check again.
- Let chicken rest for 5 mins before serving.
If cooking from Fresh
- Follow same steps above and cook for less time. Start checking for doneness at 25 mins.
Notes
- No need to thaw, cook from frozen. If the chicken is stuck together, you can either run it under the tap water to defrost it enough to separate them or you precook in the air fryer at 400°F / 200°C for 5 mins before seasoning.
- Mix the oil and spice blend to form a marinade before applying on the chicken.
- Though the recommended internal temperature for chicken to be fully cooked and safe for consumption is 165°F / 74°C I like to cook my chicken leg quarters for longer especially when it’s a very large one. I usually get up to 185°F / 85°C and I find that it’s still juicy and tender.
I followed the instructions to the letter, and my chicken was still COMPLETELY raw.
This is a dangerous recipe. 10/10 do not recommend.
Hi Shelby!
This is a recipe we use often and haven’t had any issues. Sorry the recipe didn’t work for you, I’d be happy to help you with some pointers as to why it may not have worked for you.
1. Air fryers vary by brand, some brands have higher watts and those brands cook hotter and faster. Some examples in this category include Cosori, Gourmia and Ninja.
2. The size of the chicken quarters matter. Smaller chicken quarters will cooks faster than large ones. That’s where the meat thermometer comes in. As mentioned in the recipe, you should use a meat thermometer and it should read at least 165°F / 74°C to be considered fully cooked. I also mentioned that I like to
Cook up to 185°F (personal preference)
3. Add extra time if necessary. You must have also missed where I said that if the internal temperature isn’t right to cook for additional 5 mins.
Hope this helps you when next you are cooking chicken even if it’s not from my website. Wishing you all the best in your air frying journey.
PS: this is a review I got a few months back by someone who tagged me after making this recipe. She tried this same recipe, loved it and decided to share on her page.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CaHm343ukAz/?igshid=Nzg3NjI1NGI=