Let’s make busy weeknights easier with this Air Fryer BBQ Chicken. You only need a handful of ingredients and less than thirty minutes to get this main dish on the table. While the chicken is air frying toss together a simple side to round out the meal.
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Whether you’re busy with work or after school activities, this Air Fryer BBQ Chicken is the perfect main dish to make your life a little easier. It’s super quick to throw together and uses ingredients I’m betting you already have on hand.
Between prep and cooking time, you only need about 25 minutes to get this juicy, saucy chicken on the dinner table.
Ingredients for Air Fryer BBQ Chicken
The ingredient list couldn’t get easier for this yummy barbecue chicken. Here’s what you need to grab to prepare this recipe:
Boneless chicken thighs: Even though we’re using boneless, skinless chicken thighs they still stay juicy and get a little crisp on the outside thanks to the air fryer. You could use boneless chicken breasts instead but will have to increase the cook time.
Spices: You can use whatever spices you like but I love to use the same spices you would find in a barbecue rub. Garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika and salt are my favorites. We also love it with lemon pepper seasoning.
Barbecue sauce: Grab a bottle of your favorite barbecue sauce or if you have the time, whip up a batch of homemade coca cola barbecue sauce for the perfect sweet and smoky sauce.
Prepare and Cook the Barbecue Chicken
The prep for the chicken is as simple as spritzing the chicken with olive oil spray then seasoning both sides liberally with spices.
Add the chicken to your air fryer and cook on one side, flip and cook for another few minutes.
Then slather both sides of the chicken with barbecue sauce and cook for a few more minutes to get the sauce sticky and a little caramelized. This step makes it feel more like grilled chicken and adds another layer of flavor.
Meal Prep Favorite
This is a super simple dish to double or triple to have on hand throughout the week for meal prep.
If you have access at lunch time to an air fryer, pop the chicken in and heat at 360 degrees for about three minutes or you can of course microwave it.
It is great on its own, on a bun or you can chop it and add it to a barbecue salad or your favorite pasta.
Keep in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to four days.
Perfect Side Dishes for Air Fryer BBQ Chicken
Make this delicious bbq chicken a full meal with one or two of these side dishes.
Air Fryer BBQ Chicken
Ingredients
- 2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 2 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 4 boneless skinless chicken thighs
- 1/2 cup barbecue sauce
- olive oil spray
Instructions
- In a small bowl, combine the garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika and salt. Spray both sides of the chicken with olive oil spray then sprinkle with the seasoning blend.
- Place chicken in a single layer in the air fryer. Cook at 375 degrees F for 8 minutes. Flip chicken and cook another 8 minutes at 375 degrees F. Slather both sides of the chicken with barbecue sauce and cook another 2 minutes at 375 degrees F.