Roasted Quail: An Easy and Flavorful Roasted Quail Dinner Recipe! (2024)

by Angela @ BakeItWithLove.com · 3 Comments

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Roasted quail is an incredibly easy and utterly delicious dinner! If you're a hunter or meat aficionado, this is definitely a recipe you'll love to make! This small bird is juicy, flavorful, and so easy to prepare! If you've never tried roasted quail, now is the time!

Cast Iron Skillet Roasted Quail

Roasted quail is such an elegant comfort food (the best of both worlds)! Each person at the dinner table gets their own bird roasted to perfection in a cast-iron skillet.

If you're a quail hunter, or simply a home cook that enjoys game birds, this is a simple and delicious recipe you have to try. This quick-cooking bird is so easy to prepare!

Roasted Quail: An Easy and Flavorful Roasted Quail Dinner Recipe! (1)
Jump to:
  • Cast Iron Skillet Roasted Quail
  • 🥘 Roasted Quail Ingredients
  • 🔪 How To Make Roasted Quail
  • ❓ What Does Quail Taste Like?
  • ❓ Should Quail Be Pink?
  • ❓ How Long Do You Roast Quail For?
  • 🥩 More Wild Game
  • 📖 Recipe Card
  • 💬 Reviews

🥘 Roasted Quail Ingredients

You don't need much to make incredible roasted quail! There are just 3 simple ingredients.

Roasted Quail: An Easy and Flavorful Roasted Quail Dinner Recipe! (2)
  • Quail - 4 whole quails (about 1 pound).
  • Olive oil - ½ tablespoon of olive oil. For best results, use EVOO (extra virgin olive oil).
  • Poultry Seasoning- ½ teaspoon of my simple poultry seasoning, or your favorite brand.

*Be sure to see the free printable recipe card below for ingredients, exact amounts & instructions with tips!*

🔪 How To Make Roasted Quail

Quail is a quick-cooking bird and this recipe is mostly hands-off! All you need is a cast-iron skillet or baking dish, a basting brush, and measuring spoons.

I prepared 4 quails with 1 bird per person. You can always make more, but you will need to work in batches or use a second pan.

Roasted Quail: An Easy and Flavorful Roasted Quail Dinner Recipe! (3)
Roasted Quail: An Easy and Flavorful Roasted Quail Dinner Recipe! (4)
  1. Prep. Preheat your oven to 400°F(205°C)and lightly grease your cast iron skillet or baking dish.
  2. Season. Pat the 1 pound of whole quails dry and then brush with ½ tablespoon of olive oil and season with ½ teaspoon of poultry seasoning.
  3. Roast. Transfer the seasoned quail to a baking dish. Roast in the oven for 25-30 minutes, or until the quail is done(*see note).
  4. Rest. Transfer your quail to a tray, plate, or cutting board and let them rest for 5 minutes before serving.

Round out your meal with a hearty carb and a vegetable. Balsamic roasted brussel sprouts and crispy roasted red potatoes would be a great choice. Enjoy!

💭 Tips & Notes

  • Quail is medium-rare once it reaches an internal temperature of 145°F(62°C).Many chefs and meat enthusiasts claim this is the best temperature to enjoy it at. The CDC recommends quail be cooked to 165°F(75°C),which is about medium-well. While some people prefer to cook their quail even more(up to 180°F (82°C) for very well-done).
  • To store: Leftover roasted quail should be kept in an airtight container and refrigerated for up to 2 days. You may freeze it in an airtight container or heavy-duty freezer bag for 2-3 months.
  • To reheat: Place the quail in a baking dish with a splash of broth or water and cover with foil. Reheat in a 300°F(150°C)oven until it reaches an internal temperature of 165°F(75°C),15-20 minutes depending on the size of the quail.

❓ What Does Quail Taste Like?

Quail is dark meat and is often compared to a cross between a duck and a chicken. It is slightly gamey, tender, and mild. Farm-raised quail will be closer to chicken than wild quail which is gamier because their diet is unregulated.

❓ Should Quail Be Pink?

Quail is small and lean, meaning it can overcook and dry out quickly. A slightly pink middle is ideal for tender and juicy quail.

❓ How Long Do You Roast Quail For?

This is dependent on the size of your quail and the temperature you are roasting at. At 400°F(205°C), 4 average-sized quail takes about 25-30 minutes to roast.

Roasted Quail: An Easy and Flavorful Roasted Quail Dinner Recipe! (5)

🥩 More Wild Game

  • Whole Roasted Duck
  • Rabbit Stew
  • Bison Burgers
  • Venison Tenderloin Roast
  • Smoked Bison Prime Rib
  • Ground Venison Tacos

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📖 Recipe Card

Roasted Quail

Roasted quail is an incredibly easy and utterly delicious dinner! If you're a hunter or meat aficionado, this is definitely a recipe you'll love to make! This small bird is juicy, flavorful, and so easy to prepare! If you've never tried roasted quail, now is the time!

Author | Angela

Servings: 4 servings

Calories: 234kcal

Prep 5 minutes minutes

Cooking 25 minutes minutes

Resting time 5 minutes minutes

Total Time 35 minutes minutes

Pin Recipe

Ingredients

  • 1 lb whole quails (4 quails)
  • ½ tablespoon olive oil (extra virgin)
  • ½ teaspoon poultry seasoning (see recipe or use your favorite brand)

Help Us Out!If you love a recipe, be sure to come back and share your ratings. This helps future users, and allows me to continue sharing free recipes! Angela

Instructions

  • Preheat your oven to 400°F (205°C) and lightly grease your cast iron skillet or baking dish.

  • Pat the quail dry and then brush with olive oil and season with poultry seasoning.

  • Transfer the seasoned quail to a baking dish. Roast in the oven for 25-30 minutes, or until the quail is done (*see note).

  • Transfer your quail to a tray, plate, or cutting board and let them rest for 5 minutes before serving.

Notes

  • Quail is medium-rare once it reaches an internal temperature of 145°F (62°C). Many chefs and meat enthusiasts claim this is the best temperature to enjoy it at. The CDC recommends quail be cooked to 165°F (75°C), which is about medium-well. While some people prefer to cook their quail even more (up to 180°F (82°C) for very well-done).
  • To store: Leftover roasted quail should be kept in an airtight container and refrigerated for up to 2 days. You may freeze it in an airtight container or heavy-duty freezer bag for 2-3 months.
  • To reheat: Place the quail in a baking dish with a splash of broth or water and cover with foil. Reheat in a 300°F (150°C)oven until it reaches an internal temperature of 165°F (75°C),15-20 minutes depending on the size of the quail.

Nutrition

Calories: 234kcal (12%) | Carbohydrates: 0.2g | Protein: 22g (44%) | Fat: 15g (23%) | Saturated Fat: 4g (25%) | Polyunsaturated Fat: 4g | Monounsaturated Fat: 6g | Cholesterol: 86mg (29%) | Sodium: 60mg (3%) | Potassium: 247mg (7%) | Fiber: 0.03g | Sugar: 0.01g | Vitamin A: 282IU (6%) | Vitamin C: 7mg (8%) | Calcium: 17mg (2%) | Iron: 5mg (28%)

Did you try this recipe? Rate it below!I can’t wait to see your results! Mention @bake_it_with_love or tag #bake_it_with_love!

best roasted quail, cast ir on skillet recipe, easy roast quail recipe, game meat, pan roasted quail, Roasted Quail, roasted whole quail, simple quail cooking method

Course Dinner Recipes, Game Meat Recipes, Main Course

Cuisine American

Roasted Quail: An Easy and Flavorful Roasted Quail Dinner Recipe! (7)

Angela @ BakeItWithLove.com

Angela is an at home chef that developed a passion for all things cooking and baking at a young age in her Grandma's kitchen. After many years in the food service industry, she now enjoys sharing all of her family favorite recipes and creating tasty dinner and amazing dessert recipes here at Bake It With Love!

bakeitwithlove.com/about/

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Reader Interactions

Comments

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  1. Dan Murray says

    Roasted Quail: An Easy and Flavorful Roasted Quail Dinner Recipe! (12)
    The quail here in Ms. Are smaller than those up north. At 400°these birds are perfect in at around 18-22 minutes. You need to watch them closely so they don't dry out. Mine turned out great. Dan Murray

    Reply

  2. Paul says

    Roasted Quail: An Easy and Flavorful Roasted Quail Dinner Recipe! (13)
    I soak quails for one day in salted water.

    Reply

  3. Dena Miller says

    Roasted Quail: An Easy and Flavorful Roasted Quail Dinner Recipe! (14)
    First time cooking quail. It turned out very well, succulent, tender. I seared them for about a minute on each side before placing in the oven. Only seasoning I used was kosher salt and lots of freshly ground pepper.

    Reply

Roasted Quail: An Easy and Flavorful Roasted Quail Dinner Recipe! (2024)

FAQs

Which cooking method is best for quail? ›

The easiest way to cook them is in a basket (like one used to cook fish) or skewered like shrimp. Pre-heat grill to a medium-high heat. Grill the legs on one side for about 3-5 minutes then flip and cook for another 3-5 minutes.

What does roasted quail taste like? ›

It is often referred to as tasting like a mix between chicken and duck. Additionally, quail is typically more tender than chicken meat and is known for being very moist when prepared correctly. Because of this, even though quail and chicken are alike in many ways, they're very different experiences to eat.

What is a good side dish for quail? ›

The best side dishes to serve with quail are grilled sweet potatoes, green beans, stuffed mushrooms, blistered tomatoes, potato wedges, butter lettuce salad, yellow rice, zucchini boats, cauliflower rice, creamed spinach, polenta, roasted beets, apple slaw, pear and walnut salad, and couscous.

How long does it take for a quail to cook? ›

For my oven, roasting quail for 14 minutes at 525 degrees is the sweet spot. The skin gets crispy after 14 minutes and the meat is still juicy. Depending on your oven, if you can go higher than 525 degrees, consider roasting it for 12 to 13 minutes. If 500 is as high as you can go, roast for 15 to 16 minutes.

Do you need to soak quail before cooking? ›

You don't need to marinate or brine the quail, but since the meat is lean and fairly dry, doing so can reduce the risk of drying the meat out during the cooking process.

What tastes better chicken or quail? ›

No, it has some similarity to chicken as any poultry but quail is more gamey and tender and has more complex taste than chicken.

Why is quail meat expensive? ›

“It's more expensive to produce quails than chickens, as the birds require a higher-protein feed of roughly 28% in comparison with a broiler starter ration that averages between 18% and 20%.

Which is healthier chicken or quail? ›

Context in source publication. ... Table 1 shows, the flesh of quails [22] has a lower calorie level and a higher protein level than chicken and duck meat. Quail meat also has a lower fat content than chicken and duck meat. ...

Are quail healthy to eat? ›

Quail is rich in protein, vitamins, minerals, iron and macronutrients such as calcium, phosphor, zinc and more. Here are a few prominent health benefits: it contains a host of vitamins, including Vitamin A, D, K and B. Quail eggs and meat are rich in selenium, essential fatty acids and antioxidants.

How many quail per person for dinner? ›

Grilled, broiled, or sautéed, they're almost impossible to ruin. The medium-dark flesh has a mildly gamey flavor that readily takes to being marinated, stuffed, or highly seasoned. They are small, so allow one quail per person for an hors d'oeuvre, and at least 2 per person for an entrée.

How many quail should you keep together? ›

The rule of thumb is to have about 1 square foot of space per bird. This is how they are happiest. In fact, many urban areas that do not allow chickens, will allow you to keep quail!

Is rice good for quails? ›

They might eat it but it's not recommended. Brown rice is better and food doesn't have preservatives and chemicals added. There isn't a lot of nutrition, but it is a grain; a tiny bit wouldn't hurt a bird or squirrel.

Should quail be served pink? ›

They are ready as soon as the skin can be pushed away from the bone of the leg. Quail is lovely when the breast is still pink but the leg meat is cooked through. Personally, I like my quail to have a crisp outer skin but still be a little pink on the inside.

How do you know when quail is done? ›

Once both sides are browned, move the quail to the middle or indirect heat on the grill. Continue cooking with this indirect heat until its interior temperature is around 165F, 10–12 minutes more.

How do you tenderize quail meat? ›

One of the best ways to do southern-fried grouse or quail is to soak them in buttermilk. The thick, fat-rich milk helps to tenderize the meat and maintain moisture. It also serves as an excellent compound to hold the dredged coating before cooking. Soak birds for 24 to 48 hours.

Can quail be cooked medium rare? ›

They are small, so allow one quail per person for an hors d'oeuvre, and at least 2 per person for an entrée. Because they are lean, they need to be cooked quickly over high heat and served medium rare to retain their moisture and flavor.

Is it better to steam or boil quail eggs? ›

Once the water has reached a hard boil, add the quail eggs. Next, you will need to set your timer for 10 minutes, if you'd like a soft boiled egg the steaming time is 8 minutes. Keep in mind, anything longer than 10 minutes will cause the egg whites to become rubbery in texture.

What is the most suitable method for cooking poultry? ›

Tips & Techniques > Cooking Methods for Poultry Breasts
  • Most Suitable: Dry Heat: pan frying, baking/roasting, grilling, shallow frying, deep frying, stir frying, sauteing. ...
  • Suitable: Dry-heat: searing, broiling.
  • Less Suitable: Moist-heat: simmering, boiling, braising, stewing, pot roasting.

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