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Roasted chicken leg quarters in a cast-iron skillet with potatoes, lemon wedges, and herbs.
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Roasted Chicken Leg Quarters

Golden, crispy Roasted Chicken Leg Quarters cook over a bed of tender potatoes and shallots that soak up every drop of flavor. This one-pan dinner delivers hearty, comforting results with minimal prep and easy cleanup.
Prep Time15 minutes
Cook Time40 minutes
Total Time55 minutes
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American
Servings: 2
Calories: 340kcal

Ingredients

  • 2 (about 1½ pounds) chicken leg quarters or whole chicken legs trimmed
  • ¾ teaspoon kosher salt or to taste, divided
  • ½ freshly ground black pepper or to taste, divided
  • 2 teaspoons minced fresh thyme
  • 1 pound Yukon Gold potatoes unpeeled and sliced into ½-inch-thick rounds
  • 2 shallots peeled and quartered, lengthwise
  • 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil divided
  • 1 clove garlic minced (or 1 teaspoon minced garlic)
  • 1 lemon
  • 1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley

Instructions

  • Adjust the oven rack to the middle position and preheat the oven to 400°F. Pat the chicken dry with paper towels and season both sides with about ½ teaspoon salt, ¼ teaspoon pepper, and the thyme, pressing the herbs into the surface. Set aside.
  • In a medium bowl, toss the potatoes, shallots, 1 tablespoon oil, and the remaining ¼ teaspoon salt and ¼ teaspoon pepper. Set aside.
  • Heat the remaining 1 tablespoon oil in a 12-inch cast iron skillet over MEDIUM heat until shimmering. Add the chicken, skin side down, and cook until well browned, about 5 minutes. Transfer the chicken to a plate and set it aside.
  • Place the potatoes and shallots in a single layer with the fat in the now-empty skillet (it’s ok if some are overlapping). Cook over MEDIUM heat, without moving, until the bottoms of the potatoes are golden brown, about 4 to 5 minutes. Scatter the garlic over the top of the potatoes and remove the pan from the heat.
  • Place the chicken, skin side up, on top of potatoes and transfer the skillet to the oven. Roast until the chicken registers 175°F and the potatoes are tender, about 30 minutes.
  • Remove the pan from the oven and zest about ½ teaspoon lemon zest over the chicken, then squeeze the juice from half a lemon over everything and sprinkle with the parsley.
  • Slice the remaining half of the lemon into wedges for serving.

Notes

Storage and Reheating: Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat in a 350°F oven until warmed through to help re-crisp the chicken skin. For a quicker option, reheat gently in the microwave, but note that the skin won’t stay as crisp.

Nutrition

Calories: 340kcal | Carbohydrates: 50g | Protein: 6g | Fat: 15g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 10g | Cholesterol: 1mg | Sodium: 892mg | Potassium: 1148mg | Fiber: 8g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 283IU | Vitamin C: 82mg | Calcium: 66mg | Iron: 3mg