Smoker-Roasted Chicken Leg Quarters
Smoker-Roasted Chicken Leg Quarters deliver juicy, tender meat under a lightly crisped skin, seasoned with a bold blend of garlic, black pepper, and a hint of cayenne. The gentle heat of the smoker infuses deep wood-fired flavor that pairs beautifully with the warming spice. Serve for a relaxed weekend cookout or a casual dinner when you want big flavor with minimal fuss.
- Prep10 mins
- Cook2 hrs 30 mins
- Serves4
- DifficultyEasy
easyChef Pro health score
Calculated from USDA-referenced nutrient data for the ingredients in Smoker-Roasted Chicken Leg Quarters, not estimated by an AI model. The same recipe returns the same score every time.
- Glycemic ImpactFair
- 66 / 100
- Carb quality, not quantity. Higher is better.
- Nutritional DensityPoor
- 10 / 100
- Nutrients per calorie. Higher is better.
- Energy DensityGood
- 91 / 100
- Calories by weight. Higher means more food for fewer calories.
- NOVA Unprocessed or minimally processed
- 1 / 4
- Processing level, 1 (whole) to 4 (ultra-processed). Lower is better.
How it scores for each health goal
The same recipe scores differently against different goals, because the goal changes the calculation rather than filtering a list. Set your goal in easyChef Pro and every recipe is scored against it.
- 52
- Heart Health
- 73
- Metabolic
- 15
- Digestive
- 32
- Inflammatory
- 57
- Performance
- 51
- General Wellness
- 1
Mix the salt, garlic powder, red pepper flakes, black pepper, and cayenne pepper in a glass or ceramic bowl. Add the chicken and toss to coat evenly. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and marinate in the refrigerator for 4 to 8 hours.
- 2
Three hours before cooking, set an electric smoker to 275 degrees F (135 degrees C) following the manufacturer's instructions. Keep the top vent closed.
- 3
When ready to cook, place 1 chicken leg quarter on each of the four wire racks. Put the racks into the smoker and add water to the water pan. Add two loads of soaked wood chips according to the manufacturer's instructions and open the vent.
- 4
Smoke in the preheated smoker as directed by the manufacturer until the center is no longer pink and the juices run clear, about 2 1/2 hours, adding more wood chips after each hour of cooking. An instant-read thermometer inserted into the centers, near but not touching the bone, should read at least 165 degrees F (74 degrees C).
- Calories 338.51 kcal Moderate 17%
- Protein 61.78 g Good Source 124%
- Carbohydrate 2.06 g 1%
- Total Fat 7.4 g Moderate 9%
- Saturated Fat 1.68 g Moderate 8%
- Trans Fat 0.03 g High --
- Cholesterol 199.16 mg High 66%
- Sodium 239.99 mg Moderate 10%
- Dietary Fiber 0.7 g Low Source 3%
- Total Sugars 0.23 g --
- Added Sugars 0.0 g Low Source 0%
- Calcium 28.64 mg Low Source 2%
- Iron 1.22 mg Low Source 7%
- Potassium 957.66 mg Good Source 20%
- Vitamin A 47.39 mcg Low Source 5%
- Vitamin C 0.0 mg Low Source 0%
- Vitamin D 0.0 mcg Low Source 0%
Values are per serving. Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000-calorie diet.
- Corn 🌽
- Garlic 🧄
About This Recipe
Smoker Roasted Chicken Leg Quarters is made with 6 ingredients and serves 4. It takes about 2 hrs 40 mins and is rated easy. Key ingredients include Black Pepper, Cayenne Pepper, Chicken Leg Quarters, and Garlic Powder. Each serving provides about 338.51 kcal, and is a good source of protein.
Recipe Questions
- What is Smoker-Roasted Chicken Leg Quarters made of?
- The main ingredients are Black Pepper, Cayenne Pepper, Chicken Leg Quarters, Garlic Powder, Red Pepper Flakes. The full list of 6 is above.
- How long does it take to make Smoker-Roasted Chicken Leg Quarters?
- About 2 hrs 40 mins in total: 10 mins to prepare and 2 hrs 30 mins to cook.
- How many calories are in one serving?
- One serving provides about 338.51 kcal. The full nutrition breakdown is above.
- Is Smoker-Roasted Chicken Leg Quarters easy to make?
- This recipe is rated easy, with 6 ingredients and 4 steps.
- Is Smoker-Roasted Chicken Leg Quarters healthy?
- Smoker-Roasted Chicken Leg Quarters has an easyChef Pro health score of 57/100. Per serving, it provides 338.51 calories and 61.78 g of protein, or 124% of the Daily Value. It is a good source of potassium. Worth noting per serving: sodium at 239.99 mg (10% of the Daily Value) and saturated fat at 1.68 g (8% of the Daily Value). It contains Corn and Garlic, so it may not be suitable for people with those allergies or dietary restrictions. Whether it fits your goals depends on your complete meal plan and nutritional needs. Remix it in easyChef Pro to adjust the ingredients and generate fresh nutrition and scores.
How easyChef Pro scores recipes and products
easyChef Pro analyzes up to 41 nutrients using data sourced from USDA and other verified food databases. Its scoring method uses the nutrients relevant to nutrition quality, calorie density, processing level, and your selected health goal. Recipes and food products get a health score from 0 to 100, calculated using consistent rules instead of being estimated by AI. The same nutrition data, serving size and health goal will produce the same result.
The calculation evaluates nutrients, calorie density, processing level, and how well the food supports your selected health goal. Protein, fiber, vitamins, minerals and other beneficial nutrients can strengthen the score. High amounts of sodium, saturated fat, added sugar and other nutrients may lower it.
Your health goal also matters. easyChef Pro evaluates recipes and products across six health areas and adjusts their importance for your selected goal. This means the same food may be a better fit for one health goal than another.
For recipes, changing an ingredient, quantity or serving size changes the nutrition and may change the score. Remix the recipe in easyChef Pro to calculate fresh nutrition and scores for the version you actually make. Product scores are based on the nutrition and serving information associated with that specific product.
Score a recipe free, no app required