These Roasted Chicken Leg Quarters are marinated in the most delicious marinade and served as a traybake with Sweet Potatoes, Onions and Peppers!
Roasted Chicken Legs
I don’t often cook with full chicken leg quarters, and quite frankly I don’t really know why. They’re far juicier and more flavoursome than chicken breast, and far more convenient than cooking with a mix of thighs and drumsticks. In general, they’re also very cheap as well.
Chicken legs also make the perfect dinner! Here I’ve served it as part of a ‘dump n cook’ style tray bake for an easy hearty dinner. Here’s why I think you’ll love it:
- Flavour – Using a homemade marinade these chicken legs are bursting with flavour.
- Versatile – An easy way to use up leftover veg to create your own tray bake.
- Inexpensive – Cheap cut of meat and uses pantry essentials!
Just look at those pan juices 😍
Whole Chicken Leg Marinade
Behind every juicy, flavoursome chicken is a marinade. The marinade for these chicken legs is really simple, but really packs a punch in the flavour department. It’s verging on BBQ style – sweet and smoky, yet rich and spicy.
How long to marinade chicken legs?
Overnight is optimum, with the 2-4hour range working just great. Having said that, if for whatever you don’t have time, even just 30mins will make the world of difference.
How to marinade chicken legs (quick summary)
- Add smoked paprika, onion & garlic powder, cayenne pepper, s&p, olive oil, honey and lime juice to a small bowl.
- Thoroughly stir to combine.
- Pour over chicken legs in a large bowl.
- Thoroughly coat, then cover and marinade.
Chicken Leg Tray Bake
Alrighty, let’s turn these chicken legs into a full dinner shall we. There’s truly nothing easier than a tray bake is there?! To pair with the chicken I’ve gone for sweet potatoes, red pepper, yellow pepper and red onion. The sweet potatoes work really nicely with the BBQ/spicy flavour of the marinade, as do the peppers and onion. In my humble you don’t need much else, but do feel free to switch up if you fancy!
How to make a Chicken Tray Bake (quick summary)
- Remove chicken from marinade.
- Mix in veg with leftover marinade
- Spread out on a large tray.
- Nestle in chicken legs and bake away!
The BEST Baked Chicken Legs!
I mean, in my humble opinion of course. If you like the look of this tray bake, I know you’ll love my Spanish Chicken Tray Bake. Here’s some other similar recipes to tuck into whilst you’re here!
For another chicken leg recipe check out my Creamy Mustard Chicken!
One Pan Chicken Dinners
- One Pan Roast Dinner
- Creamy Honey Mustard Chicken Thighs
- Honey Garlic Chicken
- Herb Roasted Spatchcock Chicken
- Spanish Style Chicken Orzo
Alrighty, let’s get cracking on with this whole chicken leg recipe shall we?!
How to Roasted Chicken Leg Quarters (Full Recipe & Video)
Roasted Chicken Legs
Equipment
- 30cm x 45cm (12” x 18”) Oven Tray (or similar size)
- Large Bowl & Cling Film (for marinating)
- Small Bowl (for marinade)
- Sharp Knife & Chopping Board
- Spatula
Ingredients
Tray Bake
- 1lb / 500g Sweet Potatoes, diced into chunks
- 3 small Red Onions, quartered
- 1 large Red Pepper, diced
- 1 large Yellow Pepper, diced
- drizzle of Olive Oil
- Salt & Pepper, to taste
Chicken & Marinade
- 4 Chicken Legs (see notes)
- 3 tbsp Olive Oil
- 1 tbsp Honey
- 1 tbsp Lime Juice (can sub lemon)
- 1 tbsp Smoked Paprika
- 2 tsp Garlic Powder
- 1 tsp Onion Powder
- 1 tsp Salt
- 1/2 tsp Cayenne Pepper (more or less to taste)
- 1/2 tsp Black Pepper
Instructions
- In a small bowl combine 1 tbsp smoked paprika, 2 tsp garlic powder, 1 tsp onion powder, 1 tsp salt, 1/2 tsp cayenne pepper (or to taste), 1/2 tsp black pepper, 3 tbsp olive oil, 1 tbsp honey and 1 tbsp lime juice.
- Combine in a large bowl with 4 chicken legs. Cover and leave to marinate for as long as you have time for (2-4 hours great, overnight best, but even 30mins is better than nothing).
- Take chicken legs out and add 1lb/500g sweet potato, 2 peppers and 3 small onions to the leftover marinade. Add a drizzle of oil and pinch of salt and pepper and thoroughly mix.
- Poor out onto an oven tray and nestle in the chicken legs. Pop in the oven at 210C/410F for 50-60mins, or until the veg and chicken is nicely charred and completely cooked through. Check after 30mins and if it's all charring too quickly, just take it out, flip the veg, baste the chicken and pop in at a slightly lower temp.
- The internal temp of the chicken should be 75C/165F with the juices running clear.
Video
Notes
Your Private Notes:
Nutrition
Looking for more?
You’ll find plenty more delicious comfort food like this in my Debut Cookbook ‘Comfy’
If you loved this Roasted Chicken Legs Recipe then be sure to Pin it for later! Already made it or got a burning question? Give me a shout in the comments below and pick up your free ecookbook along the way!
So very good. My husband never asks about my pins on pinterest BUT today he asked me if I saved this recipe: roasted chicken legs tray bake dinner. Thank you.
That’s awesome to hear, Michelle! So glad you both enjoyed the recipe. Thanks for popping back for a review 🙂 Chris.
I just made an improvised version of this last night for myself! Improvised because I had already put 2 leg quarters in the oven at 325F, painted with avocado oil, seasoned with garlic powder, lemon salt I snared from the Amalfi coast and a special blended Seasoning Salt I got for Christmas….I planned on baking them then brushing with a bottled smokey organic bbq sauce near the end. But I wanted to see if I could find a different bbq or sauce/glaze recipe. Your link was shared from a cooking group I am in, which has been my go-to during the crazy Covid pandemic! For 2 legs I pretty much used the same amounts – because I love all things saucy – but worked with what I had: Olive oil, maple syrup, lime juice, regular paprika, garlic powder, black pepper. The legs were also in the oven for about 45 mins when I found this, so quickly pulled everything together and brushed the legs with half the sauce and increased the temp to 400. I cooked them for another 20 mins, basting the other side half way. Let me tell you, this sauce is THE BOMB! The meat was nice and tender and cooked perfectly, nothing dried out! I served this with organic couscous simmered with sliced leeks and parsley. It took everything I had not to eat the 2nd leg, but common sense took over and now I can have it tonight! Thanks for such a great recipe. Next time, I will bake this on a larger sheet with the added veggies. I do baked veggies all the time – so yummy! Cheers from Toronto, CANADA!
So happy this recipe worked out well for you! Thank you from Edinburgh, UK 🙂
I made this last night with boneless skinless chicken thighs…really good! This is going to go on my “make again” list” for sure!
Marc, this is awesome to hear! C.
I made this for my family. They enjoyed it very much and I will be making it again soon.
Awesome to hear, Dee! Thanks so much for the review 🙂
Love, love this!! Full disclosure…I used boneless, skinless chicken thighs (what I had) and substituted two of red onions with shallots…again, improvising and a little extra cayenne. Cook time was only 30 min and everything turned out perfectly. From across the pond, in sunny, hot, humid Florida, this recipe will be shared and used again and again! Thank you, Chris.
That’s awesome to hear, Laurie! Thanks for popping back for a review. Hello from a grey, drizzly and cloudy Edinburgh!
I made it tonight. It was delicious! A perfect combination of flavors!! I will make it again. Thanks for posting.
That’s awesome to hear! Glad it went down well 🙂
Made this today, I added whole bella mushrooms Kept a check on it and mine was done in 40 minutes. Looks & taste amazing! I wish I could add a photo.
Ooo yum! Bet the bella mushrooms were great in this, will have to give it a go 🙂 Thanks for popping back and leaving a review! Chris.
These look amazing!! I love all the spices you added, and the sweet potatoes and peppers probably pair so nicely with the chicken!
Thanks, Anjali!!
This marinade sounds wonderful. I really like that you marinade overnight and that you throw the veggies in it too before cooking. This is yummy.
Thanks, Andrea 🙂
Ooh these look fantastic! I love the spice from the cayenne…such a delicious meal for the week!
Sure is Tammy! 🙂
The skin on these chicken legs look perfect. What a great family meal!
Thanks, Erika! 🙂