Make this delicious air fryer BBQ chicken recipe! The thighs are juicy, sweet, smoky, and flavorful. Everything is ready in less than 30 minutes; all you have to do is stir the ingredients for the BBQ sauce.
Chicken and frozen fries are the two things that I cook the most in my air fryer. Either this air fryer BBQ chicken, air fryer frozen chicken breast, or air fryer frozen wings, air fryer drumsticks, and so on.
The machine makes everything even easier and faster than regular cooking. And the results are always a hit: juicy, moist pieces, crispy skin when needed, and everything full of flavor.
And if you would like to learn more about cooking in the air fryer, check out The Best Air Fryer Recipes for Beginners. Or make Air Fryer Chicken Cordon Bleu.
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Recipe ingredients
Chicken thighs, skin on, bone-in.
BBQ sauce: Either bought or homemade. For more BBQ flavor, you could also try the BBQ Rice or the Baked BBQ Sauce Chicken Breast.
See the recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities.
How to make air fryer BBQ chicken?
Step #1: Dry the thighs with paper towels and season them. Place them in the basket, skin-side down.
Step #2: Cook them for 18 minutes until golden.
Step #3: Mix the sauce ingredients and brush the thighs with the mixture.
Step #4: Flip them and brush them with more sauce. Cook, skin-side up, for 3 more minutes or until the meat is cooked through.
Good to know!
There is no need to wash the meat. The bacteria will only be killed when you cook the pieces, and washing will only spread them all over your sink.
Check the internal temperature to see if the meat is cooked through. Do not overcook it, as this will make it dry.
Use your favorite brand of sauce to make the recipe for the air fryer BBQ chicken even easier.
Recipe FAQs
The cooking time depends on the size of the thighs. Mine were medium, but if those you have are larger, you might have to increase the cooking time slightly.
The internal temperature should be 165°F/ 74°C. Check with an instant-read thermometer.
Refrigerate leftovers in an airtight container for 3-4 days.
Freeze leftovers for 2-3 months. Defrost in the fridge.
Reheat in the air fryer, oven, or microwave.
Air Fryer Bbq Chicken
Ingredients
Chicken:
- 4 chicken thighs Note 1
- a few dashes olive or vegetable oil spray
- ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1-2 sprinkles cayenne pepper to taste
- fine sea salt and pepper
BBQ sauce (Note 2):
- 2 tablespoons ketchup
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- 2 teaspoons brown sugar
- 2-3 teaspoon balsamic vinegar to taste
- 2 teaspoon lime juice
- ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper to taste
- ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
- fine sea salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Preheat the air fryer to 375°F/ 190°C, if required by its instructions.
- Season chicken: Dry the chicken pieces with kitchen paper. Spray them with a little oil on both sides. Mix the smoked paprika, cayenne, salt, and pepper, and rub the chicken with the mixture on both sides.4 chicken thighs + a few dashes olive + ½ teaspoon smoked paprika + 1-2 sprinkles cayenne pepper + fine sea salt and pepper
- Air fry chicken: Place in the basket of the fryer, skin-side down. Cook for 18 minutes.
- Make BBQ sauce: In the meantime, make the sauce. Mix all the ingredients. Adjust the taste with salt, pepper, more sugar, vinegar, or lime juice. Taste until it's exactly to your liking.2 tablespoons ketchup + ½ teaspoon garlic powder + 2 teaspoons brown sugar + 2-3 teaspoon balsamic vinegar + 2 teaspoon lime juice + ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper + ½ teaspoon smoked paprika + fine sea salt and pepper
- Brush the thighs with bbq sauce, flip and brush the upper side with more sauce.
- Continue cooking, this time skin-side up for 3 minutes or until the meat is cooked through. Check the internal temperature with a meat thermometer; it should be 165°F/ 74°C. Or insert a toothpick in the thickest part of the thigh; the juices should run clear.
- Brush with more sauce if desired and serve immediately.
Notes
- Chicken cut: You can use chicken breast instead. Cook for 15 minutes, flipping halfway and brushing with the sauce during the last 3 minutes of the cooking time. Check the internal temperature with a meat thermometer; it should be 74°C/165°F.
- BBQ sauce: Use your favorite brand to make the recipe even simpler.
Jackie says
Fab easy very tasty go to recipe
Adina says
Thank you, Jackie, I am happy you liked the chicken.