Easy Maple Orange Glazed Chicken Quarters Recipe | Quick & Flavorful

Posted on August 1, 2023 by Kate

Introduction

Remember those Sunday dinners where the air was filled with the most comforting aromas? The kind of meals that just make you feel all warm and fuzzy inside? Well, get ready to recreate that magic in your own kitchen with this incredibly simple and utterly delicious Maple Orange Glazed Chicken Quarters recipe. It’s so easy, you’ll be wondering where it’s been all your life, and it’s perfect for busy weeknights or when you just want a fuss-free, flavor-packed meal.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

Fast: Minimal prep time means you can get this in the oven in no time.
Easy: Seriously, if you can whisk and bake, you can make this!
Giftable: While you’ll want to eat it all yourself, imagine sharing this amazing glaze as part of a meal prep kit!
Crowd-pleasing: The sweet, tangy, and slightly spicy notes are a hit with everyone, from picky eaters to seasoned foodies.

Ingredients

Here’s what you’ll need to create this flavor explosion:

2.2 pounds (approx. 1 kilogram) chicken leg quarters: These are such a fantastic cut – juicy, flavorful, and don’t dry out easily.
3 oranges, thinly sliced: These will roast alongside the chicken, infusing everything with a beautiful citrusy aroma and flavor.
4 sprigs fresh thyme: A little bit of fresh herb goes a long way to add an earthy, fragrant note.
Juice of 2 oranges: For that bright, zesty punch in our glaze.
¼ cup olive oil: Our base for a smooth, luscious marinade.
½ cup pure maple syrup: The star of the show! It brings that wonderful sweetness and helps create that gorgeous caramelized glaze.
⅓ cup soy sauce or tamari: Adds that savory, umami depth. (Use tamari for a gluten-free option!)
1 teaspoon red chili flakes: Just a little whisper of heat to balance the sweetness. Adjust to your liking!

How to Make It

Let’s get cooking! It’s as easy as 1, 2, 3…

Prep the chicken: First things first, grab a baking dish that’s big enough to hold your chicken leg quarters comfortably. Arrange them in a single layer.
Add the aromatics: Now, let’s tuck those gorgeous thinly sliced oranges and the fresh thyme sprigs all around the chicken. They’ll work their magic while everything bakes.
Whisk up the magic glaze: In a separate bowl, let’s get our flavor party started! Whisk together the fresh orange juice, olive oil, that lovely maple syrup, soy sauce (or tamari!), and those little red chili flakes. Give it a good whisk until it’s all beautifully combined.
Coat the chicken: Pour this amazing marinade right over the chicken in the baking dish. Make sure to get it all over, coating each piece as evenly as you can.
Marinate for flavor: Now, cover the dish and pop it into the refrigerator. You’ll want to let it marinate for at least 1 hour to let those flavors start mingling, but honestly, 2-4 hours is even better if you have the time. The longer it marinates, the more depth of flavor you’ll get!
Preheat your oven: When you’re ready to bake, go ahead and preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C).
Bake to perfection: Place the covered baking dish into the preheated oven. Bake for about 40-50 minutes. You’re looking for that beautiful golden brown, caramelized skin and for the chicken to be cooked all the way through. During the last 15-20 minutes, I like to baste the chicken with those lovely pan juices a couple of times. It really helps build that incredible glaze!
Rest and enjoy: Once it’s out of the oven, let the chicken rest in the dish for 5-10 minutes before you serve it. This little step is crucial for juicy, tender chicken!

Substitutions & Additions

This recipe is fantastic as is, but here are a few ideas to make it your own:

Citrus Swap: Not a fan of oranges? Try using grapefruit or even a mix of orange and lemon for a tangier kick!
Herbal Notes: Rosemary is a wonderful companion to chicken and would be a lovely substitute for thyme.
Sweetness Level: If you prefer less sweetness, you can slightly reduce the maple syrup, but it is key to that beautiful glaze!
Spice It Up: Feeling adventurous? Add a pinch of smoked paprika or a dash of sriracha to the marinade for an extra layer of flavor.
Veggies in the Pan: Toss some chopped onions or Brussels sprouts into the baking dish with the oranges for a complete meal!

Tips for Success

A few little tricks to ensure your Maple Orange Glazed Chicken Quarters are absolutely perfect:

Don’t Overcrowd the Pan: Make sure your chicken pieces have a little breathing room in the baking dish. This helps them cook evenly and get that lovely crispy skin.
Pat Your Chicken Dry: Before you arrange the chicken in the dish, give it a gentle pat with paper towels. This helps the skin crisp up beautifully.
Marinade Time is Key: While an hour is good, 2-4 hours in the fridge really lets the flavors penetrate the chicken. If you’re really short on time, you can skip the marinating and just pour the glaze over before baking, but you’ll miss out on some depth.
Basting is Your Friend: Don’t forget to baste! It really does make a difference in creating that sticky, delicious glaze.
Prep Ahead: You can make the marinade up to a day in advance and store it in an airtight container in the fridge. You can also arrange the chicken and oranges in the baking dish and cover it, ready to be marinated.

How to Store It

Leftovers are a delicious thing! Once your chicken has cooled down, store any remaining portions in an airtight container in the refrigerator. It should stay fresh for about 3-4 days. This chicken reheats beautifully, either gently in the oven or on the stovetop.

FAQs

Can I use chicken breasts instead of leg quarters?

You can, but you’ll need to adjust the cooking time. Chicken breasts cook faster, so keep an eye on them to prevent drying out. Start checking around the 25-30 minute mark.

Is this recipe spicy?

The recipe includes red chili flakes for a mild warmth, but it’s not overly spicy. You can easily increase or decrease the amount to suit your heat preference.

Can I make this in a slow cooker?

While this recipe is designed for the oven, you could adapt it for a slow cooker. You’d likely want to reduce the liquids slightly and finish it under the broiler for a few minutes at the end to get that nice caramelized glaze.

Maple Orange Glazed Chicken Quarters

Print Recipe

An incredibly simple and utterly delicious Maple Orange Glazed Chicken Quarters recipe. It’s so easy, you’ll be wondering where it’s been all your life, and it’s perfect for busy weeknights or when you just want a fuss-free, flavor-packed meal.

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 50 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour 5 minutes
Yield: 4 quarters

Ingredients

Scale

Chicken and Aromatics

2.2 pounds chicken leg quarters (Approx. 1 kilogram)
3 oranges (Thinly sliced)
4 sprigs fresh thyme

Maple Orange Glaze

2 oranges (Juice of)
0.25 cup olive oil
0.5 cup pure maple syrup
0.33 cup soy sauce or tamari (Use tamari for gluten-free)
1 teaspoon red chili flakes (Adjust to liking)

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Instructions

Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C).
Arrange chicken leg quarters in a single layer in a baking dish.
Tuck thinly sliced oranges and fresh thyme sprigs around the chicken.
In a separate bowl, whisk together orange juice, olive oil, maple syrup, soy sauce (or tamari), and red chili flakes until combined.
Pour the glaze over the chicken, ensuring each piece is evenly coated.
Cover the baking dish and refrigerate for at least 1 hour, preferably 2-4 hours.
Place the covered baking dish into the preheated oven and bake for 40-50 minutes, or until the chicken is golden brown and cooked through.
During the last 15-20 minutes of baking, baste the chicken with pan juices.
Let the chicken rest in the dish for 5-10 minutes before serving.

Notes

Pat your chicken dry before arranging it in the dish to help the skin crisp up. Don’t overcrowd the pan for even cooking and crispy skin. Marinade time is key for flavor depth, but you can skip it if short on time, though the flavor will be less intense. Basting is highly recommended for a sticky, delicious glaze. The marinade can be made up to a day in advance.