Air Fryer BBQ Chicken Thighs

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These Air Fryer BBQ Chicken Thighs are juicy, saucy, and delicious but so quick and easy to whip up. This is the best BBQ chicken dish you will make in the air fryer!

I used a simple seasoning blend and my homemade BBQ sauce but feel free to use your favorite rub and sauce.

air fryer BBQ chicken thighs 1 Air Fryer BBQ Chicken Thighs

BBQ Chicken in the Air Fryer

Summertime is almost here and BBQ dishes are entering our menu. Well, if you ask my Hubby, it does not have to be summer for us to enjoy a barbecue! Thanks to the air fryer, I can whip up BBQ chicken thighs in no time. It’s a great dinner idea for a weekend but so quick and easy, you can enjoy it on busy weekdays too! The caramelized sweet sauce and the perfectly seasoned chicken make this dish irresistible. You will be making it again and again this season!

My whole family enjoys this dish! The chicken is juicy and so tasty. We always need extra napkins thanks to the sticky, caramelized sauce. It’s delicious!

Ingredients:

chicken thighs: I used bone-in skin-on thighs
oil: spray cooking oil or grapeseed oil
seasoning: salt, pepper, cayenne pepper, paprika, garlic powder, Italian seasoning
BBQ sauce: your favorite or make my homemade sauce

air fryer bbq chicken thighs ingredients 1 Air Fryer BBQ Chicken Thighs

How to make BBQ chicken thighs in the air fryer?

Trim thighs from excess fat.
Spray or rub the chicken with oil.
Mix seasoning in a small bowl. Sprinkle evenly over each chicken piece (both sides). Rub in.
Preheat the air fryer to 380 degrees F.
Place chicken thighs in the air fryer and cook for 12 minutes, flip and cook for 8 more minutes.
Brush chicken with BBQ sauce and cook for 2 more minutes.
Check the internal temperature of the chicken. It should be at least 175 degrees F.

air fryer bbq chicken thighs step 1 and 2 Air Fryer BBQ Chicken Thighs

Can boneless chicken thighs be used in this recipe?

Absolutely! Since there is no bone, the chicken will cook quicker. Set the first cook time to 9 minutes, flip the chicken, cook for 5 minutes, then check the internal temperature. Brush with BBQ sauce and finish cooking.

Best tips:

Line the air fryer basket with a sheet of parchment paper for easier clean-up.
Choose chicken thighs that are the same size; they will cook evenly at the same time.
Use your favorite rub in place of the seasoning in my recipe.
Always check the internal temperature of the meat. A good meat thermometer, like ThermaPen, is a great tool to have in the kitchen.
If using cooking oil spray, apply it to the chicken while it’s still on a cutting board or a plate. If you spray it while it’s in the air fryer basket, the oil will leave a hard-to-clean residue on your appliance.

What to serve with air fryer BBQ chicken thighs?

air fryer BBQ chicken thighs 2 Air Fryer BBQ Chicken Thighs

More air fryer recipes:

For more recipes like this one, feel free to browse our Air Fryer category.

If you like this recipe and make it, snap a photo and share it on INSTAGRAM! Tag me @crunchycreamysweet so I can check it out and leave a comment!

Air Fryer BBQ Chicken Thighs

These Air Fryer BBQ Chicken Thighs are juicy, saucy and delicious but so quick and easy to whip up. This is the best BBQ chicken dish you will make in the air fryer!

Prep Time 15 mins

Cook Time 25 mins

Total Time 40 mins

Course Main Dish

Cuisine American

Servings 4 servings

Calories 412 kcal

Ingredients

4 bone-in skin-on chicken thighs
1 tablespoon grapeseed oil see note
¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper
½ teaspoon garlic powder
½ teaspoon paprika
½ teaspoon Italian seasoning
½ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon black pepper
½ cup BBQ sauce

Instructions

Prepare the chicken: trim any excess fat from each thigh. Pat the chicken dry with paper towel.
Preheat air fryer to 380° Fahrenheit for 4 minutes.
Rub chicken with oil or spray with cooking oil spray.
In a small bowl, mix cayenne, garlic powder, paprika, Italian seasoning, salt and pepper. Sprinkle the seasoning over chicken and rub it in.
Once the air fryer is preheated, place a sheet of parchment paper in the air fryer basket (trim it to fit the basket).
Arrange chicken on the parchment. Do not overlap or crowd the air fryer.
Cook for 12 minutes, then flip the chicken thighs using kitchen tongs. Cook for 8 to 10 more minutes. Check the internal temperature of each piece. It should be at least 175° Fahrenheit. See note below.
Brush chicken with BBQ sauce and cook for 2 more minutes to caramelize the sauce.
Remove from air fryer and rest chicken for a few minutes, then serve.

Notes

Use your favorite rub in place of the seasoning in my recipe.
You can use grapeseed oil or cooking oil spray. If you are using the spray, apply it to the chicken while it’s still on the plate or cutting board. If you spray it in the air fryer basket, you will have a residue that is hard to clean.
It’s always recommended to check the internal temperature of cooked meat. Remember to insert the thermometer into the thickest part of the chicken thigh, not touching the bone.
Please note, that the nutrition value can vary depending on what product you use. The information below is an estimate. Always use a calorie counter you are familiar with.