Air Fryer BBQ Chicken

A wooden spatula holds a glazed, cooked chicken breast over an air fryer basket.

5 from 1 vote

🍗👌🏻 An EASY way to enjoy barbecue chicken with virtually no work and it's ready in under 30 minutes! A simple dry rub adds big flavor and the chicken stays juicy on the inside, slightly charred on the outside, and it's slathered in your favorite barbecue sauce for the win!

Prep Time5

Cook Time20

Course: 30-Minute Meals, Air Fryer, Chicken, Dinner

Cuisine: Chicken, Dinner

Diet: Gluten Free

Keyword: air fryer barbecue chicken, air fryer bbq chicken, bbq chicken in air fryer

Servings:

Calories: 189cal

Equipment

Ingredients

1.5 to 2 pounds boneless skinless chicken breast sliced in half or butterflied if breasts are thick (boneless chicken thighs may be substituted)
1 tablespoon light brown sugar packed
2 teaspoons kosher salt or to taste (recommended to keep the chicken flavorful and moist)
1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper or to taste
½ teaspoon garlic powder
½ teaspoon onion powder
½ teaspoon chili powder
½ teaspoon smoked paprika
¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper optional and to taste
1 tablespoon olive oil or as desired
⅓ cup barbecue sauce store bought or homemade

Instructions

Chicken: If it's thick or the breasts are very large, halve them horizontally so they're thinner because thick cuts aren't well-suited for air frying. Pat dry with paper towel; set aside momentarily.
Oil: Lightly drizzle or mist with olive oil, as desired.
Dry Spice Rub: To a small bowl, combine brown sugar through optional cayenne pepper, and mix with a small spoon to combine.
Evenly sprinkle the spice rub all over the chicken, on both sides, and lightly pat it in.
Air Fry: Place the chicken in the basket and air fry at 375F for about 8 minutes. Open the basket, flip chicken and air fry on the second side for about 6-8 minutes, or until chicken is within a couple minutes of being done.
Tip - Do not crowd. If you need to cook in batches to avoid crowding, I recommend that because if you do crowd the chicken, it doesn't get as crispy on the outside and steams rather than "fries".
Air Frying Tips - The heat output of air fryers varies dramatically from machine to machine. So does the thickness of the chicken, how full the air fryer basket it, air temperature in your kitchen, etc. so cook it as long as is necessary until it reaches 165F on a digital thermometer; do not guess. If it looks like the chicken is browning too quickly on the exterior before the interior will be cooked through, reduce the heat to 360-365F.
Barbecue Sauce: In the final 2-3 minutes of cooking, evenly brush the chicken with your favorite bbq sauce, or just spoon it on and smooth it out evenly as best you can with a spoon or spatula.
Finish cooking until chicken reaches 165F.
Rest: Remove the chicken from the air fryer and set it on a cutting board for 5-10 minutes to let it rest and for the natural juices to redistribute before slicing and serving.
Serve: Optionally garnish with fresh herbs such as parsley, basil, cilantro, mint, etc. and enjoy with your favorite sides like mashed potatoes, Brussels sprouts or a house salad.

Notes

Storage: Leftover chicken will keep airtight in the fridge for up to 5 days or in the freezer for up to 3 months. Reheat gently in the microwave before serving leftovers or as desired.

Nutrition