Air Fryer BBQ Chicken Thighs

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Posted: Mar 31, 2023 Last Modified: Mar 31, 2023 by Carmy · This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn from qualifying purchases.

Juicy, tender, and flavorful, this air fryer bbq chicken thighs recipe is the perfect weeknight dinner. Seasoned simply and coated with barbecue sauce, these sweet, saucy, and sticky chicken thighs are so easy to whip up. Enjoy it over rice, salad, or in a sandwich!

I love saucy chicken. Even more, I love a saucy bbq chicken. This air fryer bbq chicken recipe is one of my go-to recipes for when I’m craving bbq chicken. It comes together so easily and quickly, especially on a busy weeknight.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

This air fryer bbq chicken thighs come together in less than 30 minutes! It’s the perfect recipe for when you’re short on time but still want something tasty and homemade.
This is a wonderful recipe to make ahead of time as it reheats well. I like to meal prep a big batch on Sunday for easy lunches during the week.
It’s flavorful! You can use your favorite bbq sauce so you can have it as sweet, tangy, or smoky as you’d like.

Ingredients You’ll Need

Ingredients needed to make air fryer bbq chicken.

chicken thighs — I use boneless, skinless chicken thighs. Boneless, skin-on chicken thighs are wonderful as well!
oil — use any neutral oil. I like to use olive oil, but avocado oil is a great alternative.
seasoning — I season the chicken thighs with salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, and paprika. You can use sweet or smoked paprika.
bbq sauce — use your favorite barbeque sauce. Some days I crave a tangier sauce, but other days I prefer a sweeter sauce.

My Recommendation

I love my air fryer! This is the one I’m currently using and it crisps everything up perfectly with little-to-no oil.

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How to Make Air Fryer BBQ Chicken Thighs

Set of two photos showing seasoned chicken thighs in a bowl and air fryer basket.

To a bowl, add the chicken thighs, oil, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper. Toss to coat well.
Add the chicken thighs to the air fryer basket in a single layer. Avoid overlapping them. A tiny bit is ok, but you’ll have to shift them halfway through, as the chicken thighs will shrink as they cook.

Set of two photos showing chicken thighs before and after brushing with bbq sauce.

Air fry the chicken at 400F for 7 minutes.
Brush the bbq sauce onto the chicken thighs, flip them over, and brush the other side with bbq sauce as well.

Set of two photos showing air fryer bbq chicken in the air fryer basket and on a plate.

Air fry for another 4 to 5 minutes.
When done, let the chicken rest for a couple of minutes before serving.

A bowl with two air fryer bbq chicken sliced on top of a bowl of rice.

Recipe Tips and Notes

One of my favorite lazy dinner recipes is toasting up English muffins in the air fryer while reheating the chicken thighs. Then, place the chicken thighs inside the English muffin along with a slice of cheese. Blast it again in air fryer to melt the cheese, and you’ve got yourself an easy cheesy bbq chicken sandwich.
You cannot add the bbq sauce to the chicken ahead of time as the sugar in the sauce will burn in the air fryer.
You can add a bit of brown sugar to the seasoning for a sweeter flavor.
If there is moisture on the chicken thighs, pat them dry before you add oil and season them. This will help the oil coat the chicken better, and the seasoning stick better.

Close up of sliced air fryer bbq chicken over rice, garnished with green onions.

Make Ahead Tips

Meal prep: once cooled, store the cooked bbq chicken thighs in an airtight container for up to 4 days in the fridge.
Freezer: allow the chicken thighs to cool before transferring them into an airtight container and storing them in the freezer. They can last for up to 3 months.

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