Grilled Chicken Quarters is a delicious and juicy chicken that is loaded with flavor. Chicken quarters cooks easily and the perfect weeknight meal.
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Grill Chicken Leg Quarters is the perfect chicken to grill for your next BBQ. With these easy steps you will have the best grilled chicken recipe that is both delicious and budget friendly.
You will love the crispy texture and juicy center of this grilled chicken quarter recipe. This chicken cooks in under an hour which makes the perfect weeknight recipe. You may also love this Grilled Boneless Skinless Chicken Thighs Recipe, Grilled Paprika Chicken or Grilled Jalapeno Popper Chicken.
Table of Contents
- Why This Recipe Works
- Ingredients
- Variations
- How to Make Chicken Quarters on the Grill
- How Long to Grill Chicken Quarters
- When do you know they are done?
- What temperature should my Gas Grill be at
- Recipe Tips:
- Side Ideas
- How to Store Leftovers:
- Frequently Asked Questions:
- More Grilled Chicken Recipes:
- Grilled Chicken Quarters Recipe
Why This Recipe Works
If you are looking for a recipe for perfectly grilled chicken, this is the one to make. These easy steps will result in juicy, delicious chicken every time.
The simple seasoning and BBQ sauce is all you need to make a delicious any day of the week.
Ingredients
For the Chicken:
- Chicken Leg Quarters (Bone In, Skin On)
- Barbecue Sauce
For the Rub:
- Brown Sugar
- Paprika
- Garlic Powder
- Onion Powder
- Kosher Salt
- Chili Powder
- Ground Black Pepper
- Oregano
Scroll to the bottom for the full recipe and ingredients in the recipe card.
Variations
- Chicken Marinade – We love the flavor of the dry seasoning, but you can also place chicken in a marinade. You can make a marinade with soy sauce, lime juices, or white wine.
- Change the BBQ Chicken – Feel free to use different cuts of chicken when making this recipe. We have used this seasoning with chicken breast, boneless chicken thighs, and chicken tenders.
- Favorite BBQ Sauce – We love basting BBQ chicken after it is done cooking. This allows the BBQ sauce to caramelize as the chicken is on the grill.
How to Make Chicken Quarters on the Grill
Step 1 – Combine Dry Rub – Mix the rub ingredients together in a small bowl.
Step 2 – Prepare Chicken Quarters – Rinse the chicken quarters and pat them dry with paper towels. Then rub the seasoning mixture over the chicken. Massaging it into the chicken and let the chicken sit while the grill is preheating.
Step 3 – Place Chicken – Preheat the grill over medium high heat (400 degrees Fahrenheit). Turn off the center burners to create an indirect heating source on the grill. Place the chicken quarters over the section of the grill with the burners off to cook over indirect heat.
Step 4 – Cook Chicken Quarters – Cook for 40-50 minutes flipping every 10 minutes. Cook until the chicken reaches a temperature of 165 degrees.
Step 5 – Move the Chicken – Then move the chicken to the direct heat side of the grill. Baste the chicken with the barbecue sauce.
Step 6 – Continue Cooking – Cook both sides for 2-3 minutes. Cook over direct heat to brown and cartelize the skin on the chicken.
- Step 9 – Remove Chicken – Remove the chicken from the grill.
- Step 10 – Serve and Enjoy – Let it rest for 10-15 minutes. Then the chicken is ready to serve and enjoy.
How Long to Grill Chicken Quarters
Chicken quarters will take longer to cook than chicken thighs, chicken wings or chicken breast.
You will cook the chicken on the cooler side of the grill for about 40 minutes. After this time and the chicken reaches a temperature of 165 degrees. Then move to direct heat.
Continue cooking chicken over direct heat for about 3 minutes to create a crispy skin. This dark meat is one of our favorite cuts of chicken to cook.
When do you know they are done?
Use an instant-read meat thermometer to make sure that the chicken is cooked to a safe temperature. You will insert an instant-read thermometer in the thickest part of the thigh.
The temperature should read at least 165 degrees when chicken is done cooking.
What temperature should my Gas Grill be at
If you are grilling bone-in chicken quarters. Then your gas grill needs to be set to medium high heat, which is about 400 degrees. Place chicken skin side down on oiled grates over lit side of the grill.
Close grill lid and grill until skin-side-up is crispy and chicken internal temperature reaches 165 degrees.
Recipe Tips:
- Prepare Grill – To prevent chicken quarters from sticking and burning, make sure you oil the grill grates.
- Meat Thermometer – Make sure to use a meat thermometer to ensure chicken is done.
- Prepare Seasoning – Combine the seasoning in a small bowl. You can easily prepare this ahead of time.
- Prepare Chicken Quarters – We like to wash and towel dry the quarters before seasoning them.
- Cooking Chicken – Cook the chicken on the skin side down first and then flip. We recommend flipping every 10 minutes to prevent chicken from sticking. Close the lid while the chicken is cooking. Cooking time will vary.
- Rest Chicken – To lock in the excess moisture, we recommend allowing the chicken to rest. Rest chicken for 10 to 15 minutes before serving.
- Adding BBQ Sauce – Add the BBQ Sauce to the chicken after it has cooked. If you add the BBQ Sauce to early, your chicken could burn.
Side Ideas
There are many sides to serve with this chicken recipe. We love to cook our side dishes on the grill, but you can also cook them in the air fryer.
- Roasted Broccoli
- Grilled Potatoes
- Potato Salad
- Corn
- Coleslaw
How to Store Leftovers:
Refrigerate the leftovers in an airtight container for up to 5 days. These chicken quarters are delicious leftover for lunch the next day. I like to store in individual containers for a quick lunch.
Frequently Asked Questions:
You may see some a slightly pink color for the meat right next to the bone. But as long as the internal temperature reaches 165 degrees then the chicken is safe to eat.
Yes, you will need to flip chicken quarters while grilling. We recommend flipping about every 10 minutes as this helps the chicken to cook evenly.
If you have a lot of chicken quarters leftover, then you reheat them in the oven in a baking dish. Bake in the oven at 350 degrees for about 10 minutes.
You can also reheat in the microwave for about 20 seconds or until reheated.
More Grilled Chicken Recipes:
We love hearing from you. If you make these Grilled Chicken Leg Quarters Recipe, please leave a comment or a star review.
Grilled Chicken Quarters
Ingredients
For the Chicken:
- 4 Chicken Leg Quarters Bone In, Skin On
- 1/4 cup Barbecue Sauce
For the Rub:
- 2 tablespoon Brown Sugar
- 1 tablespoon Paprika
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon Onion Powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon Chili Powder
- ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon Oregano
Instructions
- Mix the rub ingredients together in a small bowl.
- Rinse the chicken quarters and pat them dry with paper towels.
- Then rub the seasoning mixture over the chicken, massaging it into the chicken and let the chicken sit while the grill is preheating.
- Preheat the grill over medium high heat (400 degrees Fahrenheit) and turn off the center burners to create an indirect heating source on the grill.
- Once the grill is preheated, place the chicken quarters over the section of the grill with the burners off to cook over indirect heat.
- Cook for 40-50 minutes (flipping every 10 minutes) until the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Then move the chicken to the direct heat side of the grill. Baste the chicken with the barbecue sauce.
- Cook both sides for 2-3 minutes over direct heat to brown and cartelize the skin on the chicken.
- Remove the chicken from the grill.
- Let it rest for 10-15 minutes. Then the chicken is ready to serve and enjoy!
