The BEST Air Fryer BBQ Chicken
Recipe Snapshot
PREP + COOK TIME: 35 minutes
METHOD: Air Fryer
OTHER TOOLS: basting brush
TOTAL INGREDIENTS: 4
BBQ chicken in the air fryer is a fair match for the grill or oven any day – without the mess! Crispy bone-in chicken paired with your favorite BBQ sauce is a great choice for gameday, a weeknight dinner, or a meal prep option in your fridge. Enjoy this flavorful dish with minimal effort!
What’s To Love About This Recipe
- BBQ doesn’t have to be limited to summertime! With the air fryer, you can get the BEST crispy, smoky chicken year round. An added bonus is much less mess than grilling or baking!
- It’s quick and easy to make bone-in chicken in the air fryer. This tasty dish will be ready in around 30 minutes!
- The air fryer is a foolproof way to cook chicken that is juicy on the inside and crispy on the outside. It doesn’t tend to dry out as easily as other methods.
- Bone-in chicken is already full of flavor, and you can adjust the flavors as much as you like. Use different BBQ sauces or up the spice!
- This recipe is great for meal prep. Make a few chicken thighs at a time and use the leftovers in lots of other recipes. Add to sandwiches, use as a pizza topping, or shred to serve with potatoes, veggies, and more.
Ingredients Needed
- Chicken thighs – Bone-in skin-on chicken thighs are perfect for the air fryer. They stay juicy and the skin gets lightly crispy.
- Cajun seasoning – The smokiness of Cajun seasoning blends well with BBQ flavors . Use a homemade version or your favorite blend from the store.
- Herb and garlic seasoning – This is the best all-purpose seasoning! It adds a little extra flavor to the chicken during cooking and complements the sauce.
- BBQ sauce – Most people are loyal to a specific style or brand of BBQ sauce. Use your favorite sauce for this recipe – any choice would be delicious! Different sauces can really vary the overall flavor (smoky, hickory, honey-sweet, reduced-sugar, etc.).
How To Make BBQ Chicken In The Air Fryer
- Sprinkle the chicken evenly with seasoning.
- Place chicken thighs in the air fryer basket and set to 375 ℉.
- Cook until the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165 ℉ (about 15-18 minutes).
- Remove and brush each piece of chicken with BBQ sauce.
- Return the chicken to the air fryer and cook for 2-3 more minutes.
- Let the chicken rest for 5-10 minutes before serving.
Pro Tips
- The cooking time may vary, so adjust it based on the size, thickness, and cut of the chicken.
- To prevent sticking, spray the air fryer basket lightly with oil or use parchment liners.
- Avoid overcrowding to allow the air to circulate for even cooking. Typically, 3-4 chicken thighs will fit in a standard air fryer basket.
- If you don’t have a premade seasoning blend, mix up your own for an easy swap.
- Select the BBQ sauce based on dietary needs (reduced sugar, sodium, gluten-free, etc.).
- Apply the BBQ sauce to the chicken in the last 3-5 minutes to prevent burning.
Recipe Substitutions and Variations
- Use different chicken cuts with the same flavors! The air fryer is also a great method for chicken thighs, drumsticks, and wings. Adjust the cooking time accordingly (e.g., smaller, thinner pieces will cook in less time).
- Adjust the flavor to get the BBQ results that you love!
- Make it spicier by adding cayenne or hot sauce to the BBQ sauce.
- Make it smoky by using smoked paprika or a smoky BBQ sauce.
- Make it milder with a sweet BBQ sauce or reduce seasoning.
How To Serve Air Fryer BBQ Chicken
Serve BBQ chicken picnic-style with Creamy Coleslaw, Easy Instant Pot Baked Beans, and salads. Or, include hearty sides like the BEST Cheesy Potato Casserole or Air Fryer Potato Wedges with dipping sauces such as ranch, blue cheese dressing, and honey mustard.
Add some simple roasted veggies, cornbread, and potato salad for a balanced plate.
You’ll find plenty of ways to enjoy the leftovers, too! Chop or shred the leftover meat for a BBQ pizza topping, or serve on a bun with pickles and slaw. A BBQ chicken wrap with tortilla, lettuce, and cheese would also be so tasty!
Storing and Reheating
Store leftover chicken in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. I don’t recommend freezing the chicken due to texture changes with frozen sauce.
When you’re ready to eat the leftovers, there are many ways to use BBQ chicken. Remove the meat from the bone and shred or chop, then reheat in your preferred method:
- Air Fryer – 350℉ for 3-5 minutes.
- Oven – 350℉ for 10 minutes, covered with foil.
- Microwave – Set the timer for short intervals to prevent the chicken from drying out.
The BEST Air Fryer BBQ Chicken
BBQ chicken in the air fryer is a fair match for the grill or oven any day – without the mess! Crispy bone-in chicken paired with your favorite BBQ sauce is a great choice for gameday, a weeknight dinner, or a meal prep option in your fridge. Enjoy this flavorful dish with minimal effort!
Equipment
- basting brush
Ingredients
- 2 pounds bone-in skin on chicken thighs
- 1 teaspoon Cajun seasoning
- 1 teaspoon herb and garlic seasoning
- 1/4 cup BBQ sauce
Instructions
- Sprinkle chicken evenly with seasoning
- Place chicken thighs in air fryer basket and set to 375 ℉
- Cook until chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165 ℉ (about 15-18 minutes)
- Remove and brush each piece of chicken with BBQ sauce
- Return chicken to air fryer and cook for 2-3 more minutes
- Let chicken rest for 5-10 minutes before serving
Notes
- Substitute reduced or no-sugar BBQ sauce if needed.
- Cooking time may vary based on the size, thickness, and cut of the chicken.
- To prevent sticking, lightly spray the air fryer basket with oil or use parchment liners.
- Avoid overcrowding to allow the air to circulate evenly while cooking.
- Store leftover chicken in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. To reheat, use your preferred option:
- air fryer at 350 ℉ for 3-5 minutes
- oven at 350 ℉ for 10 minutes (covered with foil)
- microwave in short intervals to prevent drying out.
Air Fryer BBQ Chicken FAQs
- Can I put barbecue sauce in the air fryer? Yes, but only add the sauce in the last 3-5 minutes to prevent burning.
- Can I cook frozen chicken in the air fryer? Yes, you can use frozen chicken in the air fryer, but increase the cooking time and ensure it reaches 165 ℉ internally.
- Is this recipe gluten-free? This can be gluten-free if you ensure that you use a gluten-free BBQ sauce. (Some brands use thickeners containing gluten.)
