This easy 40 Clove Garlic Chicken is a baked chicken leg recipe that’s dinner party worthy! I love this classic French recipe because it’s so much easier to make than you may think. Aromatic herbs, fresh citrus, honey, simple seasonings and of course plenty of fresh garlic come together to create the most beautifully flavorful chicken!
I love pulling out all the stops for dinner parties, but of course I want it to be easy! So this chicken with 40 cloves of garlic is a go-to recipe of mine any time I’m hosting friends or family, because it’s deceptively impressive. No one would ever believe just how simple this French chicken recipe really is!
What’s in chicken with 40 cloves of garlic?
Earthy herbs, fresh citrus, honey, seasonings and of course lots of fresh garlic come together to create the most flavorful chicken! Here are just a few ingredients that really stand out to me:
- Chicken Leg Quarters: This is the best cut of chicken for this recipe, since they are stronger in flavor and cook perfectly every time.
- Garlic: You’ll need whole heads of garlic AND some peeled garlic cloves.
- Herbs: Ground thyme and dry rosemary leaves add a wonderful herbaceous element to this recipe. You can also add fresh rosemary stems to enhance this flavor even more if you’d like.
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Can you make 40 clove garlic chicken with skinless chicken?
Yes! Any cut of chicken you like most will work for this garlic chicken recipe. If you decide to go the skinless route, I recommend using boneless skinless chicken thighs so the final results are still as tender as they’d be with leg quarters.
How to Store and Reheat
Store leftover 40 clove garlic chicken in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days, or freeze for 3 months. Reheat it in a 350°F oven until fully warmed through.
Notes and Tips
- If you’re not sure if the chicken is fully cooked, I always recommend using a meat thermometer to check the internal temperature of the chicken. Insert it into the thickest part of the chicken–once it reads 165°F, it’s fully cooked and ready to eat.
Top Reader Review
“This is one of my favorite chicken dishes. I am a garlic addict! yum!” – Sara
40 Clove Garlic Chicken Recipe
Ingredients
- 3 chicken leg quarters
- 40 garlic cloves peeled
- 3 whole heads of garlic
- ½ cup extra virgin olive oil
- Juice of 1 orange
- 1 teaspoon honey
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon ground thyme
- 1 teaspoon dry rosemary leaves
- 3 fresh rosemary stems optional
Instructions
- Preheat oven 350℉.
- Chop off the top ½ inch of the whole garlic heads.3 whole heads of garlic
- In a sheet pan, add chicken legs, whole garlic heads, and 40 garlic cloves.3 chicken leg quarters, 40 garlic cloves
- In a bowl, add olive oil, juice of orange, thyme, dry rosemary, black pepper, salt, honey.½ cup extra virgin olive oil, Juice of 1 orange, 1 teaspoon salt, ½ teaspoon black pepper, 1 teaspoon ground thyme, 1 teaspoon dry rosemary leaves, 1 teaspoon honey
- Mix with a fork then drizzle mixture over chicken and garlic.
- Bake for 35-40 minutes until chicken is golden brown and cooked through (165℉ internally).
- Serve with fresh rosemary stems and enjoy!3 fresh rosemary stems
Notes
How to Make 40 Clove Garlic Chicken Step by Step
Prepare the chicken and garlic: Chop the top half inch off of 3 whole heads of garlic. Add 3 chicken leg quarters, whole garlic heads, and 40 garlic cloves to a baking dish.
Make the olive oil mixture: In a bowl, add 1/2 cup olive oil, the juice of 1 orange, 1 teaspoon of thyme, 1 teaspoon of dry rosemary, 1/2 teaspoon of black pepper, 1 teaspoon of salt, and 1 teaspoon of honey. Mix to combine.
Bake: Pour the mixture evenly all over the chicken. Bake at 350°F for 35-40 minutes.
Serve: Serve 40 clove garlic chicken with 3 fresh rosemary stems and enjoy!
Wow! This looks so pretty and also very tasty. I bet the garlic cloves are soft and mellow with baking too. Love your photos, Becky!
Thank you! Go ahead and give it a try! Let me know what you think!
This is one of my favorite chicken dishes. I am a garlic addict! yum!
Me too!! SO happy to hear this is your new favorite!
I have always wanted to try this recipe, it looks so incredible!
Try it out and let me know what you think!
This was so easy to make, and yes packed with great flavors!
Totally agree! Glad you loved it!
This chicken sounds so flavorful and easy to prepare. It would be perfect for a busy fall or winter night.
It sure is! Let me know what you think once you’ve tried it!
Can chicken legs be used instead of leg quarters? If so, any adjustments to the recipe?I
I would just make sure the meat is cooked thoroughly! Use a meat thermometer to make sure that the temp is right!