• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Nutrition to Fit

  • ABOUT
    • Press
    • FREE eBook
  • SERVICES
  • RECIPES
menu icon
go to homepage
  • ABOUT
  • SERVICES
  • RECIPES
  • THE BLOG
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • search icon
    Homepage link
    • ABOUT
    • SERVICES
    • RECIPES
    • THE BLOG
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • ×

    Home » Blog » Recipes

    Air Fryer BBQ Chicken

    Published: Jan 30, 2022 · Updated: Apr 26, 2022 · This post may contain affiliate links. · Leave a Comment

    Jump to Recipe - Print Recipe
    sliced bbq chicken on a plate with green beans and quinoa in the background

    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.

    air fryer bbq chicken breasts inside an air fryer basket

    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

    ingredients to make air fryer bbq chicken: chicken breast, barbecue sauce, smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, black pepper, salt

    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.
    pouring barbecue sauce onto seasoned and cooked chicken breasts

    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.

    A close up of a plate featuring sliced air fryer bbq chicken breast with green beans and quinoa in the background.

    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 healthy recipes and tips to create your own balanced relationship with food and health, be sure to follow Nutrition to Fit on Instagram!

    Print Recipe
    5 from 1 vote

    Air Fryer BBQ Chicken

    Air fryer BBQ chicken is the perfect family-friendly dinner for busy weeknights. In 15 minutes you've got juicy, flavorful barbecue chicken.
    Prep Time2 mins
    Cook Time13 mins
    Total Time15 mins
    Course: Main Course
    Cuisine: American
    Servings: 4
    Calories: 197kcal
    Author: Lindsey Janeiro, RDN

    Equipment

    • Air Fryer

    Ingredients

    • 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (about 1 pound total)
    • avocado or olive oil
    • ½ teaspoon garlic powder
    • ½ teaspoon onion powder
    • ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
    • salt & pepper to taste
    • ⅓ cup barbecue sauce

    Instructions

    • If necessary, trim your chicken. If your chicken breasts are very uneven, pound them to an even thickness.
    • Spray chicken with oil and season both sides.
    • 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.
    • 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.
    • Let a rest a couple minutes before slicing, then eat and enjoy.

    Notes

    Nutrition information will vary based on type of barbecue sauce used.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 197kcal | Carbohydrates: 6g | Protein: 34g | Fat: 4g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 117mg | Sodium: 239mg | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 3IU | Calcium: 1mg | Iron: 3mg
    « Food Combining: Fact or Fiction?
    21 Salad Protein Ideas »

    Reader Interactions

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

    Primary Sidebar

    Welcome, friend!

    Welcome to Nutrition to Fit! I'm Lindsey, a balanced nutritionist and Registered Dietitian obsessed with helping you find your healthy balance with food and health! I'm not going to tell you what I think you should do, but instead my goal is to empower you to create your own balance (which, PSA, absolutely includes delicious foods!). Learn More

    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest

    As Featured In:

    Featured Recipes

    overhead shot of 6 glasses of brightly and different colored agua frescas

    How to Make Agua Frescas

    Maple dijon brussels sprouts are your answer to add flavor to easy roasted brussels sprouts. Try this easy, healthy side dish recipe today!

    Maple Dijon Brussel Sprouts

    a bite from a decadently fudgy, ganache frosted avocado brownie on a white plate

    The Best Avocado Brownies

    green spinach banana muffins on a metal tray - some with almonds, some plain, some with blueberries

    Spinach Banana Muffins

    • ABOUT
    • SERVICES
    • RECIPES

    Footer

    Leave a ❤️ if you needed to see this. Leave a ❤️ if you needed to see this.
    Sacrificing your life for your "health" is a red f Sacrificing your life for your "health" is a red flag that diet or those methods may not be the healthiest for you.

Create a healthy balance that helps you feel at home in your body and lets you live your life!
    Feeling a little off-balance in your eating and he Feeling a little off-balance in your eating and health habits after the weekend? Or just in general lately?

It happens!

But if this has typically triggered restrictive or extreme habits or eating patterns, let's try something different:

Can you try to gently step back into caring for yourself?

Check in with your baseline habits.
+How are you sleeping?
+Managing stress?
+Has your water intake turned to mostly coffee intake? 
+Are you moving your body in a way that feels good right now?
+How are your eating habits?

Then, when the opportunity next presents itself to do something a little different, like adding vegetables to your lunch or skipping Netflix to actually go to bed at a decent time😘, act on it!

What's one thing you're going to do today to support nourishing and caring yourself and getting back to any of your health goals?
    Don't shoot the messenger!!🙈 I have nothing aga Don't shoot the messenger!!🙈 I have nothing against coffee or protein coffee, but neither👏are👏a👏meal👏

Per usual, remember to add - swipe for some ideas of protein coffee pairings that make a better balanced breakfast.

Are you a protein coffee fan?
    Friendly reminder for the first Monday of the new Friendly reminder for the first Monday of the new year: unless you're allergic or the food's gone bad, you don't have to cut any foods from your diet!

Instead, shift your focus to what you can add - like more fiber, more fruits and veg, more water, more joyful movement. It's going to be more enjoyable, sustainable, and may be the shift that helps you find your healthy balance!

#healthybalance #balanceddiet #foodfreedom #dietitian #nutritiontips #newyearnewme

    back to top | privacy policy | affiliate disclaimer | contact | © 2022 all rights reserved

    as an amazon associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

    This website uses cookies to improve your experience. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish.Accept Reject Privacy Policy
    Privacy & Cookies Policy

    Privacy Overview

    This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
    Necessary
    Always Enabled
    Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
    Non-necessary
    Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.
    SAVE & ACCEPT