Air Fryer BBQ Chicken

Air fryer BBQ chicken is a fantastic family-friendly busy weeknight dinner. Grab a few basic ingredients, your air fryer, and fifteen minutes, and you get juicy, flavorful barbecue chicken.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

• Air fryer barbecue chicken is EASY and SIMPLE!
• All you need is chicken, a few seasonings, and your favorite barbecue sauce.
• It’s ready in 15 minutes or less.

Recipe Ingredients

You’ll need the following ingredients to make this recipe:

• Chicken: I used boneless, skinless chicken breasts but you’re welcome to use chicken thighs, too (just adjust your cooking time).
• Oil: I typically use olive oil or avocado oil that I fill my oil misters with.
• Seasonings: season however you like, but I use and recommend garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, salt, and pepper. Regular paprika works, too! Cumin, chili powder, and/ or cayenne pepper also taste great in barbecue.
• BBQ sauce: use whichever you like! I like Stubb’s original. We love the flavor and the ingredients and the nutrition (it has only two grams sugar per tablespoon).

How to Make Air Fryer BBQ Chicken, Step-by-Step

1. Spray chicken with oil and season both sides.
2. Place chicken in air fryer basket and air fry at 360° for 10-13 minutes, flipping halfway through. When the internal temperature of chicken reaches 165°, it’s done.
3. Spread barbecue sauce on top of the chicken and return to the air fryer for an additional minute or two, to heat and lightly caramelize the sauce.
4. Let a rest a couple minutes before slicing, then eat and enjoy.

Recipe Tips & Tricks

• If your chicken is very uneven (one side is really thick and the other side thin), it can be helpful to pound it to an even thickness beforehand.
• Short on time? Cut your chicken into smaller pieces, or use boneless, skinless chicken thighs or chicken tenderloins. Smaller pieces = shorter cooking time!

Storage & Reheating

Have leftovers? They can be refrigerated in an airtight container up to three days.

To reheat, you can microwave or return to the air fryer for a couple minutes at 360°. Alternatively, if you’d like to use as pulled chicken, you can shred the chicken, add additional barbecue sauce, and then reheat in the microwave or in a skillet.

Substitutions & Variations

One small way you can add some variation or substitute to fit your needs is with the sauce.

Like I mentioned, my family like’s Stubb’s Original Barbecue Sauce with only 2 grams of added sugar per tablespoon. If you want an entirely sugar free option, you can try G. Hughes Smokehouse Sugar Free BBQ Sauce (in original or hickory!)

The other way you can change up this recipe a bit is with the cut of chicken you use.

Using Chicken Tenderloins:

Remove the tendon, then oil and season per the recipe. Air fry at 400° for 7-8 minutes, flipping halfway through. Add the BBQ sauce and return to the air fryer for an additional 1-2 minutes.

Using Boneless, Skinless Chicken Thighs:

Oil and season per the recipe, then air fry at 380° for 12 minutes, flipping halfway through. Add the BBQ sauce and return to the air fryer an additional minute or two.

Also, please note that all air fryers can vary a little. If you’re unsure whether your chicken is done, I highly recommend purchasing a meat thermometer. When the temperature reads 165° the chicken is done.

Equipment Notes

When cooking with air fryers, it’s important to get to know your air fryer. They’re neat little appliances, but there can be a lot of variation due to different sizes, structures, etc., which means there can be a little variation in cooking times and temps.

I find larger air fryers often require a little more cooking time than smaller air fryers, and preheating is more important, too.

When it comes to size, at least a 4 quart air fryer will probably be your best bet, larger if you want to make multiple chicken breasts at once.

I have a 6 quart Instant Vortex Air Fryer and love it.

Is Air Fryer Barbecue Chicken Healthy?

Air fryer BBQ chicken is a recipe that can fit into an overall healthy, balanced diet. Even with the barbecue sauce – flavor adds a lot of satisfaction to a meal, and something I teach my clients not to fear, and to always add!

Know, too, that “healthy” is subjective. The foods that help one maintain their health may or may not work for you – and that’s okay! Honor the body you have. As a registered dietitian nutritionist, I suggest eating a variety of nourishing foods that help you feel good and achieve or maintain your health, balanced with the foods you love. Remember – an election isn’t won with every vote, but the majority. Your health is the same way – the overall dietary pattern is what matters most.

Other Related Chicken Recipes You’ll Love

If you love this air fryer BBQ chicken recipe, check out my recipes for Air Fryer Chicken Cordon Bleu, as well as other favorite chicken recipes:

• Southwest Avocado Chicken Salad
• Baked Chicken Tacos
• BBQ Chicken Skewers with Zucchini

And other air fryer recipes:

• Easy Turkey Bacon in the Air Fryer
• Air Fryer Mozzarella Sticks
• Toast in the Air Fryer (use to make Blueberry Toast!)
• Air Fryer Baked Potatoes
• Tortilla Chips in the Air Fryer

Did you make this recipe? Give it a 5★ rating below! For more balanced nutrition and no fuss, balanced recipes, be sure to follow me on Instagram!