Easy Baked Chicken ($10 Family Dinner Idea)

Published: by Brigette on June 2, 2026 | This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

This baked chicken recipe with corn and watermelon is your new go-to summer dinner. It has fresh flavors, minimal prep, and maximum crowd appeal!

Even better, bone-in chicken can be such an economical dinner choice! I wait until it goes on sale and then stock up. I can often get chicken legs or chicken quarters for $0.99 a pound (or less), and it takes about 4 pounds to feed my family of 6.

Baked chicken leg quarters are also so easy, and require just a few simple spices to create a yummy flavor! If you prefer, you can grill or air fry the chicken instead of baking it — but it’s crowd-pleasing no matter what. You can leave the skin on the chicken if you like it better that way, but it bakes up crispy on the outside either way.

I served this chicken with fresh corn on the cob and sweet watermelon, which are just coming in season here, and I look forward to both of them all year long. I love summer food!

Another side I often serve with chicken is air fryer roasted potatoes, but I chose to go with corn instead this time since it was on sale this week.

This post is part of our $10 Dinner Ideas series, brought to you by Brigette on our team! Each week, she shares easy, delicious, and affordable family-friendly dinner ideas that cost less than $10 to make, use everyday ingredients, and are super quick meals.

Baked Chicken Menu:

Baked Chicken

Air Fryer Roasted Corn

Watermelon

Ingredients for Baked Chicken:

4-5 lbs chicken legs or quarters (Aldi – $0.99/lb) — $5

4 Tablespoons olive oil (not pictured – Aldi – $7.25 for 33 tablespoons) — $0.88

1 Tablespoon garlic salt, 2 teaspoons smoked paprika, 1 teaspoon pepper, cayenne pepper to taste

Total for Baked Chicken: $5.88 (serves 6)

Ingredients for Sides:

6 ears corn on the cob (Harris Teeter) — $2

Olive oil, salt, pepper

Watermelon (Harris Teeter – $3.99) — $2

Total for Sides: $4 (serves 6)

Total Cost for Dinner: $9.88 (plus cost of seasonings) (makes 6 servings)

Finished baked chicken with crisp browned skin on a metal baking sheet. Grilled corn on the cob is in the background.

How to Make Baked Chicken:

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Cut chicken into individual pieces (if using chicken leg quarters) and remove skin if desired. Place chicken pieces on the baking sheet and pat dry with a paper towel.

2. In a bowl, mix together the 4 Tablespoons of olive oil, 1 Tablespoon garlic salt, 2 teaspoons smoked paprika, 1 teaspoon pepper, and cayenne pepper to taste.

Uncooked chicken leg quarters and drumsticks arranged on a parchment lined baking sheet. A bowl of dark marinade sits beside the pan.

3. Brush the pieces with the olive oil marinade and bake at 400 degrees for 50-60 minutes, or until the internal temperature reaches 165 degrees.

Raw chicken leg quarters and drumsticks coated with seasoning and marinade on a parchment lined baking sheet.

Golden brown baked chicken leg quarters and drumsticks resting on a baking sheet.

4. While chicken is baking, husk and wash the corn. Pat pieces dry with a paper towel and place in a single layer in the air fryer. Brush with olive oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Cook at 400 degrees for 12-14 minutes.

Fresh ears of corn arranged in an air fryer basket before finishing cooking. The corn is coated with butter and black pepper.

Several ears of corn on the cob cooking in an air fryer basket.

5. Cut the watermelon into chunks and serve alongside the roasted corn and baked chicken.

Close up of baked chicken pieces with browned seasoning on a metal baking sheet. A plate of grilled corn and a bowl of watermelon sit in the background as side dishes.

Recipe

Baked Chicken ($10 Family Dinner)

Author Brigette

Course dinner, Main Course, Side Dish

Cuisine American

Prep Time 10 minutes

Cook Time 50 minutes

This easy baked chicken recipe with corn and watermelon is your go-to summer dinner — fresh flavors, minimal prep, maximum crowd appeal.

Cook ModePrevent your screen from going dark

Ingredients

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Ingredients for Baked Chicken:

4-5 lbs chicken legs or quarters Aldi – $0.99/lb — $54 Tablespoons olive oil not pictured – Aldi – $7.25 for 33 tablespoons — $0.881 Tablespoon garlic salt2 teaspoons smoked paprika1 teaspoon pepperCayenne pepper to taste

Ingredients for Sides:

6 ears corn on the cob Harris Teeter — $2Olive oil salt, pepperWatermelon Harris Teeter – $3.99 — $2

Instructions

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Cut chicken into individual pieces (if using chicken leg quarters) and remove skin if desired. Place chicken pieces on the baking sheet and pat dry with a paper towel.

In a bowl, mix together the 4 Tablespoons of olive oil, 1 Tablespoon garlic salt, 2 teaspoons smoked paprika, 1 teaspoon pepper, and cayenne pepper to taste.

Brush the pieces with the olive oil marinade and bake at 400 degrees for 50-60 minutes, or until the internal temperature reaches 165 degrees.

While chicken is baking, husk and wash the corn. Pat pieces dry with a paper towel and place in a single layer in the air fryer. Brush with olive oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Cook at 400 degrees for 12-14 minutes.

Cut the watermelon into chunks and serve alongside the roasted corn and baked chicken.

Nutrition

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Sheet pan with baked chicken leg quarters and drumsticks beside a bowl of cubed watermelon and a plate of grilled corn on the cob.

More Ideas for Family Dinners Under $10:

And, be sure to check out all our easy dinner recipes here!

If you make this easy Baked Chicken recipe, we’d love for you to leave a review and let us know how it turned out!

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