My Air Fryer has become one of my favorite kitchen appliances over the last few years, and it’s proven to be one of the best ways to cook BBQ chicken for quick dinners. My kids love this chicken and it pairs so well with mashed potatoes, fries, veggies, or whatever side dish I come up with!
What’s in Air Fryer BBQ Chicken Breasts?
A simple seasoning mix makes the chicken breasts extra flavorful before they’re smothered with your choice of BBQ sauce!
Chicken Breasts: Use boneless, skinless chicken breasts for this barbecue recipe. Thinner chicken breasts work best, so slice larger breasts in half if needed. Seasonings: You’ll need a medley of chili powder, smoked paprika, salt, onion powder, and garlic powder for the flavorful spice rub. Olive Oil: This helps adhere the spices to the chicken while it cooks in the Air Fryer. BBQ Sauce: Use your favorite sauce. Any kind works–make it sweet, spicy, or tangy!
Add Some Heat
If you want spicier Air Fryer BBQ chicken, simply add some cayenne powder or crushed red pepper flakes to the seasoning mix before rubbing it into the chicken breasts. You can also opt for a hot barbecue sauce for a real kick.
How to Store and Reheat
Once cooled to room temperature, you can store Air-fried BBQ chicken in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. I recommend reheating it in the Air Fryer for just a few minutes, until warmed all the way through.
How to Freeze
Store Air Fryer BBQ chicken breast in a freezer-safe storage bag or container for up to 2 months. Let the frozen chicken thaw in the fridge for a few hours prior to reheating.
Notes and Tips
This Air Fryer BBQ chicken recipe really works for any cut of chicken: boneless chicken breasts, thighs, cutlets, tenders, etc. The main thing that will need to be adjusted is the cooking time. Larger, bone-in pieces will take longer; smaller, boneless pieces will cook faster.
How to Make Air Fryer BBQ Chicken Step by Step
Combine the Spices: Preheat the Air Fryer to 370°F. Then combine 1 teaspoon of chili powder, ½ teaspoon of smoked paprika, ½ teaspoon of salt, ½ teaspoon of onion powder, and ¼ teaspoon of garlic powder in a small dish. Season the Chicken: Slice 1 ½ – 2 pounds of boneless, skinless chicken breasts in half to create thinner pieces; or place the breasts between parchment paper, plastic wrap, or in a zip-top bag and pound them into thin, even pieces. Then distribute 1 tablespoon of olive oil and the seasoning mix over each chicken breast. Cook the Chicken: Place the seasoned chicken breasts in the Air Fryer basket in a single layer. Depending on the number of pieces you plan to cook, you may need to Air Fry in batches. Cook for 9 minutes. Flip: Flip the chicken breasts, and cook for 8 more minutes. Add the BBQ Sauce: Brush the chicken with about ½ cup of barbecue sauce. Then cook for another 2 minutes until the internal temperature reaches 165°F. Slice and serve air fried chicken breasts with additional BBQ sauce!
title: “Air Fryer Bbq Chicken Recipe” ShowToc: true date: “2024-10-19” author: “David Bowman”
What’s in this Air Fryer BBQ Chicken Breast recipe?
This BBQ chicken recipe is currently at the top of my list of favorite air fryer recipes! With simple ingredients and quick cooking time, your chicken breasts will always turn out flavorful, juicy, and fully cooked.
Chicken Breasts: I used boneless, skinless chicken breasts for this recipe, but you can use bone-in breasts too–just increase the cooking time. Barbecue Sauce: Use any type of bbq sauce you like to get the flavor you want. For something different, use this Carolina Gold mustard sauce, or Korean BBQ sauce! Olive Oil: This helps the spices attach to the chicken, and adds moisture to protect it while cooking. Herbs & Spices: A mix of smoked paprika, oregano, garlic powder, cayenne pepper, and salt & pepper creates a delicious spice rub that complements that barbeque flavor.
Pro Tip: For added heat, double up on the cayenne pepper and sprinkle some crushed red pepper into your spice mix.
Can I make BBQ chicken thighs in the air fryer?
Yes, you can use the same spice rub and general recipe to make either BBQ chicken breasts or thighs in your Air Fryer. If you want to use bone-in chicken thighs, cook them at 400°F skin side up for 15 minutes, then flip them skin side down and cook for another 3-4 minutes.
How to Store and Reheat
Store Air Fryer BBQ chicken in an airtight container and/or wrapped tightly in aluminum foil, and keep it in the refrigerator for 3 days. Reheat it in the Air Fryer at 375°F for about 8 minutes.
How to Freeze
Freeze chicken breasts in an airtight container or Ziplock bag for up to 2 months. Let thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.
Serving Suggestions
Serve this air fried BBQ chicken with Air Fryer corn on the cob, ranch potato salad, mac and cheese casserole, sweet potato fries, coleslaw, or any of your favorite BBQ sides. Or slice it up to toss into a BBQ chicken salad!
More Air Fryer Chicken Recipes We Love
Air Fryer Chicken Breasts Air Fryer Fried Chicken Air Fryer Chicken Tenders Air Fryer Chicken Thighs Air Fryer Chicken Nuggets Air Fryer Chicken Parmesan Air Fryer Chicken Wings
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