Tender, juicy chicken thighs are always a hit in my house, but our Air Fryer BBQ Chicken Thighs might just be the favorite version of all! Sweet, sticky BBQ sauce coats the juicy chicken, adding loads of big flavor! This air fryer recipe is quick and simple, ready in just 15 minutes.
So I have fallen in love with these BBQ chicken thighs I’ve been making lately! Seriously, picture this: juicy, succulent chicken thighs slathered in this tangy-sweet BBQ sauce with a small amount of smokiness. It’s a full-flavor experience with a balance of sweet and savory that’ll have you licking your fingers clean.
But hey, if you’re more of a white meat person, you can whip up some air fryer BBQ chicken breasts instead!
Once the chicken is done, oh man, the aroma alone is enough to make your stomach growl. Those caramelized edges, that tender meat, it’s like a tiny piece of BBQ heaven, I swear.
If you love grilling barbecue chicken, you’re going to love the ease and convenience of our Air Fryer BBQ Chicken Thighs! They can be made all year long, regardless of the weather, and you still get that glorious caramelization of the sauce. Obsessed!
Ingredient Notes:
As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Chicken- We will use boneless chicken thighs here. You can get skin-on or skinless, the cooking time won’t change.
BBQ Sauce – While you can use any type or brand of bbq sauce that you like, we love thicker style sauces, such as Sweet Baby Ray’s or our homemade bourbon bbq sauce. We doctor the sauce up with a bit of garlic, onion powder, and paprika. More flavor please!
Seasonings- You’ll season the chicken with a bit of salt and pepper.
How to Make BBQ Chicken Thighs in an Air Fryer:
- Prep the thighs– Pat them dry with paper towels then rub olive oil on them. Next season them with salt and pepper.
- Prep the BBQ– Add your BBQ sauce to a small bowl. Mix in your minced garlic, paprika, onion powder, and garlic powder.
- Coat – Next, brush this mixture on each chicken thigh. Get both sides evenly.
- Air fry the thighs– Place your chicken in a single layer in your air fryer basket and cook for 7 minutes, then flip them. Cook for an additional 6 minutes. At this point, the chicken should be cooked to an internal temp of 165 degrees F. Check this with a meat thermometer to be certain. Let the chicken rest for a few minutes before garnishing with parsley and serving.
Shop our Favorite Air Fryers!
We’ve tested loads of air fryers over the years and narrowed it down to the best of the best! Whether you’re looking for a basket style air fryer that fits nicely on your countertop or you want the toaster oven style air fryer, we’ve got the recommendation for you!
FAQ:
Absolutely! There is no risk of damage to the air fryer and the BBQ sauce will thicken nicely while cooking, without burning it.
The internal temp of the chicken should be 165 degrees before serving.
I recommend using the air fryer. You can air fryer it at 350 degrees F for about 5 minutes to warm it back up. Then you can easily wash your basket in the dishwasher! Way better than microwaving!
Recipe Tips!
We often have a hard time finding boneless thighs with the skin on. You can easily make this recipe with skinless thighs too. Just follow the recipe as directed.
This chicken is great served alongside some air fryer red potatoes and air fried crescent rolls!
Comments & Reviews
Christine says
So far I’m loving your recipes for my air fryer. I’m new to the air fryer at 79 yrs young cooking has become an issue due to most recipes are for 4 servings and I only cook for 1.
I’m very excited t l try more delicious recipes.
Thank you
Karly Campbell says
So glad you’re enjoying our recipes and loving your air fryer!
Melanie says
This recipe sounds delicious and quick to make! However I worry about the clean up. Does the bbq sauce leave a sticky mess in the air fryer? If I am doing several batches then does the sauce get even more baked on? Any tips? Thank you – I would hate to spend more time cleaning then I did cooking 🙂
Karly Campbell says
Hi Melanie! We just pop our basket in the dishwasher, so I didn’t pay too much attention to how baked on it got. That said, it would definitely make for easier clean up if you lined the basket with a parchment liner. We use these often!