🍗🧈 Air Fryer Crispy Garlic Butter Chicken Leg Quarters
Get golden, crispy skin with juicy, flavorful meat every time! These Air Fryer Crispy Garlic Butter Chicken Leg Quarters are coated with a garlic-herb butter mixture and cooked to perfection in the air fryer. Quick, easy, and packed with flavor—perfect for weeknight dinners or a weekend feast.
🛒 Ingredients
- 2 chicken leg quarters (about 2 lbs / 900g)
- 3 tbsp unsalted butter, melted
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tsp paprika
- 1 tsp onion powder
- ½ tsp dried thyme or rosemary
- ½ tsp salt (adjust to taste)
- ¼ tsp black pepper
- 1 tsp lemon juice (optional, for brightness)
- Fresh parsley, chopped (for garnish)
👩🍳 Instructions
- Prep chicken
- Pat chicken leg quarters dry with paper towels.
- This ensures maximum crispiness in the air fryer.
- Make garlic butter mixture
- In a small bowl, combine melted butter, garlic, paprika, onion powder, thyme/rosemary, salt, pepper, and lemon juice if using.
- Coat chicken
- Brush garlic butter generously all over the chicken leg quarters.
- Make sure to get under the skin for maximum flavor.
- Preheat air fryer
- Set to 400°F (200°C) for 5 minutes.
- Air fry chicken
- Place chicken leg quarters skin-side down in the air fryer basket.
- Cook at 400°F (200°C) for 12 minutes.
- Flip chicken skin-side up and cook another 12–15 minutes, until skin is golden and internal temperature reaches 165°F (74°C).
- Rest & serve
- Let chicken rest 5 minutes before serving.
- Garnish with chopped parsley.
🔥 Tips for Extra Crispy Skin
- Pat chicken completely dry before coating.
- Don’t overcrowd the air fryer basket—air circulation is key.
- For extra crisp, brush an additional small layer of melted butter halfway through cooking.
❓ Q&A
Q: Can I cook frozen chicken?
A: Yes, but increase cooking time by 10–15 minutes and ensure it reaches 165°F (74°C).
Q: Can I make this spicy?
A: Add ½ tsp cayenne pepper or chili powder to the garlic butter mixture.
Q: Can I use drumsticks instead of leg quarters?
A: Yes! Adjust cooking time slightly (drumsticks usually need 18–20 minutes total).
Q: Can this be reheated?
A: Yes, reheat in the air fryer at 375°F (190°C) for 5–7 minutes to restore crispiness.
Q: Can I make it in the oven instead?
A: Yes, bake at 425°F (220°C) for 35–40 minutes, flipping halfway.