Smoky Dry-Rubbed Chicken Leg Quarters
Smoky Dry-Rubbed Chicken Leg Quarters deliver a balance of sweet heat and deep, woodsy paprika notes, with chipotle and cayenne adding a lingering kick. A simple brine keeps the meat juicy while the spice crust roasts up crisp and richly colored. Serve for a relaxed weekend dinner or backyard cookout when you want big barbecue flavor without sauce.
- Prep20 mins
- Cook1 hr 20 mins
- Serves10
- DifficultyMedium
easyChef Pro health score
Calculated from USDA-referenced nutrient data for the ingredients in Smoky Dry-Rubbed Chicken Leg Quarters, not estimated by an AI model. The same recipe returns the same score every time.
- Glycemic ImpactPoor
- 31 / 100
- Carb quality, not quantity. Higher is better.
- Nutritional DensityPoor
- 20 / 100
- Nutrients per calorie. Higher is better.
- Energy DensityGood
- 92 / 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.
- 58
- Heart Health
- 26
- Metabolic
- 32
- Digestive
- 35
- Inflammatory
- 60
- Performance
- 45
- General Wellness
- 1
Combine water, sugar, salt, and vinegar to make the brine in a food-grade, nonreactive container.
- 2
Rinse the chicken and pat it dry. Place it in the brine, cover, and let it sit for 2 hours.
- 3
In a small bowl, mix brown sugar, paprika, chile powder, salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, cayenne, cumin, and nutmeg to make the dry rub.
- 4
Preheat the oven to 300 degrees F (150 degrees C). Line a baking dish with foil.
- 5
Remove the chicken from the brine and pat it dry. Place it on a tray and generously sprinkle the dry rub over each piece, rubbing it into the skin and meat. (You will have some dry rub left over.)
- 6
Place the chicken, skin-side down, in the prepared baking dish. Cover with foil, taking care not to wrap it too tightly.
- 7
Bake in the preheated oven for 1 hour. Remove from the oven and increase the temperature to 450 degrees F (230 degrees C).
- 8
Remove the foil and turn the chicken over. Sprinkle more dry rub on the skin and return it to the oven.
- 9
Bake until the skin is crispy, the chicken is no longer pink in the center, and the juices run clear, about 20 more minutes. An instant-read thermometer inserted into the center should read at least 165 degrees F (74 degrees C).
- Calories 383.58 kcal Moderate 19%
- Protein 52.33 g Good Source 105%
- Carbohydrate 24.31 g 9%
- Total Fat 7.46 g Moderate 10%
- Saturated Fat 1.76 g Moderate 9%
- Trans Fat 0.04 g High --
- Cholesterol 168.72 mg High 56%
- Sodium 277.05 mg Moderate 12%
- Dietary Fiber 3.63 g Moderate 13%
- Total Sugars 21.59 g --
- Added Sugars 4.99 g Moderate 10%
- Calcium 33.41 mg Low Source 3%
- Iron 1.36 mg Low Source 8%
- Potassium 821.53 mg Moderate 17%
- Vitamin A 30.57 mcg Low Source 3%
- Vitamin C 0.08 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.
- Garlic 🧄
- Onions 🧅
About This Recipe
Smoky Dry Rubbed Chicken Leg Quarters is made with 14 ingredients and serves 10. It takes about 1 hr 40 mins and is rated medium. Key ingredients include Black Pepper, Cayenne Pepper, Chicken Leg Quarters, and Chipotle Powder. Each serving provides about 383.58 kcal, and is a good source of protein.
Recipe Questions
- What is Smoky Dry-Rubbed Chicken Leg Quarters made of?
- The main ingredients are Black Pepper, Cayenne Pepper, Chicken Leg Quarters, Chipotle Powder, Dark Brown Sugar. The full list of 14 is above.
- How long does it take to make Smoky Dry-Rubbed Chicken Leg Quarters?
- About 1 hr 40 mins in total: 20 mins to prepare and 1 hr 20 mins to cook.
- How many calories are in one serving?
- One serving provides about 383.58 kcal. The full nutrition breakdown is above.
- Is Smoky Dry-Rubbed Chicken Leg Quarters easy to make?
- This recipe is rated medium, with 14 ingredients and 9 steps.
- Is Smoky Dry-Rubbed Chicken Leg Quarters healthy?
- Smoky Dry-Rubbed Chicken Leg Quarters has an easyChef Pro health score of 46/100. Per serving, it provides 383.58 calories and 52.33 g of protein, or 105% of the Daily Value. Worth noting per serving: sodium at 277.05 mg (12% of the Daily Value), saturated fat at 1.76 g (9% of the Daily Value) and added sugars at 4.99 g (10% of the Daily Value). It contains Garlic and Onions, 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.
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