This is one of the easiest most delicious air fryer BBQ chicken recipes I have ever had. I honestly mean that too because I am not one with my air fryer. This recipe is simple, quick, crispy on the outside, and juicy on the inside. In this post, I am going to show you just how easy it is to make this air fryer bbq chicken and have dinner on the table in less than 30 minutes!
Best air fryer bbq chicken thighs EVER!
This is not my recipe and I am not going to take the credit for it. However, I am going to share it with you because it is so good (and easy) I didn’t want you to miss out on it.
I came across this particular bbq chicken recipe while scrolling through Instagram. It was in the reels section. So you can thank @theterrilowe on Instagram for this AMAZING air fryer bbq chicken.
I feel like one of the main reasons this recipe is so damn good is because she uses chicken thighs. Usually, the go-to for most people is chicken breast. Well, I am here to tell you those thighs are the shiz and I highly recommend you use those over breasts!
I know I know… chicken breasts are better for you with the white meat and whatnot, blah blah blah. Ya know what, I don’t care. I am going to eat these mouth-watering dark meat boneless skinless chicken thighs and not think twice about it.
Actually, you can totally use this exact recipe for chicken breasts, legs, wings, tenders, or even drumsticks. You will probably just need to adjust the cooking time on your air fryer.
Let’s get on with the recipe, shall we?
Air Fryer BBQ Chicken
- Boneless Skinless Chicken Thighs
- Sweet Baby Ray’s BBQ Sauce (or whatever your favorite sauce is)
- Garlic Powder
- Salt and Pepper
- Nonstick Spray (I used
The first thing you are going to want to do is wash, cut the fat, and pat the chicken dry.
However, if you are like me I typically don’t give two shits about the fat and sometimes I even skip the washing. So feel free to do the same. Or scrunch your nose at me and call me gross. I don’t care.
Next, you will season your chicken. Sprinkle salt, pepper, and garlic powder all over your thighs. Measure with your heart.
Once you season that chicken to your liking you will then spray it with a layer of nonstick spray. This is what helps makes it crispy (or so says @theterrilowe).
@theterrilowe uses Pam Organic Olive Oil cooking spray. I used the Walmart brand extra virgin olive oil cooking spray.
And I only used that kind because it’s what I had on hand. If it happened to be another brand and wasn’t olive oil, I would have used that too.
Once seasoned and sprayed with nonstick spray, you are then ready to spread your favorite BBQ sauce all over it.
In our house, we are huge Sweet Baby Ray’s fans (the original). That bbq sauce is rather scrumptious. But you use whatever kind is a staple in your home.
Now you are ready to cook these babies in your air fryer!
Place your bbq chicken thighs in your air fryer at 390° for 15 to 20 minutes. My happy cooking time was 17 minutes.
I think it depends on the size of your thighs. I had smaller ones the very first time I made this recipe, did the full 20 minutes without checking, and a couple ended up a little too crispy. As I said earlier I am not one with the air fryer.
However, my husband is and let me tell you he uses the shit out of it. Also, he never cleans it so that’s why mine looks the way it does. It’s just worn in, like an old shoe. It’s whatever. The food still tasted fantabulous.
Halfway through your cooking time open your air fryer and slap even more bbq sauce all over your chicken. Then let it finish cooking until it’s no longer pink in the middle.
That’s it, my friend. Your air fryer bbq chicken thighs are finished and ready to be gobbled up. Enjoy!
Here are a few other dinner suggestions for ya that the whole family will enjoy.
EASY CROCKPOT CHICKEN PHILLY SANDWICH
ONE-POT DINNER WITH KNORR CHEDDAR BROCCOLI PASTA AND SMOKED SAUSAGE
Air Fryer BBQ Chicken
Equipment
- 1 Air Fryer
Ingredients
- 2-5 lbs Boneless Skinless Chicken Thighs (just depends on how many you are feeding)
- Favorite BBQ Sauce (I used Sweet Baby Ray's)
- Salt and Pepper
- Garlic Powder
- Olive Oil Cooking Spray
Instructions
- Wash, cut the fat, and pat your chicken dry.
- Season chicken thighs with salt, pepper, and garlic powder. Measure with your heart.
- Spray a thin layer of olive oil cooking spray all over your chicken thighs.
- Brush bbq sauce all over your chicken thighs.
- Place in your air fryer at 390° for 15-20 minutes, brushing more bbq sauce all over your chicken thighs half way through the cook time.(My perfect cook time was 17 minutes)
- Enjoy!