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    Home » Air Fryer

    Jul 18, 2023 by Farwin Simaak.

    Air Fryer BBQ Chicken Thighs

    These Air Fryer BBQ Chicken Thighs come out crispy and juicy in 20 minutes without the need to fire up the grill. They're perfectly seasoned and slathered with plenty of barbecue sauce for a delicious chicken meal.

    Jump to Recipe
    air fryer bbq chicken thighs with bbq sauce on a board.

    Now I can cook BBQ chicken all year round with the Air fryer. How cool is that? I love making all kinds of chicken recipes in the Air fryer because they make a quick and delicious dinner in no time.

    Chicken thighs are one of the juiciest cuts of meat. I love making these Crispy and Juicy Air Fryer Chicken Thighs , Grilled Chicken and Air Fryer Chicken Leg Quarters. For more dinner recipes, check my Air Fryer Recipe Collection.

    These barbecue chicken thighs are perfectly seasoned and cooked in the Air fryer. Then slathered with plenty of barbecue sauce and air fried a few more minutes to get that charred look and barbecue taste and flavor just like we do on the grill. I used Kraft barbecue sauce and you can use your favorite brand.

    The bbq chicken thighs get done in about 20 minutes. Halfway through the cooking process, we slather the barbecue sauce and cook till the chicken is tender, juicy and the skin crispy.

    The Air fryer bbq chicken thighs can be served on their own, with a side of salad or mashed potatoes for delicious dinner.

    Jump to:
    • Why we love BBQ Chicken Thighs in Air Fryer:
    • Ingredients and Notes
    • How To Cook Air Fryer BBQ Chicken Thighs
    • Expert Tips
    • What Air Fryer to Use?
    • Substitutions
    • Side Dishes For Air Fryer BBQ Chicken
    • How to Store And Reheat
    • Frequently Asked Questions
    • Can I air fry frozen chicken thighs?
    • How long to cook bbq chicken thighs in the Air fryer?
    • More BBQ Recipes
    • More Air Fryer Chicken Recipes You'll Love:
    • Recipe

    Why we love BBQ Chicken Thighs in Air Fryer:

    • Ready in 20 minutes
    • Perfectly seasoned
    • Crispy skin, tender and juicy meat
    • Great BBQ flavor with your favorite barbecue sauce
    • Easy weekday meal

    Ingredients and Notes

    • Chicken thighs - I used 6 bone-in chicken thighs with skin. You can use boneless chicken thighs with skin removed.
    • Spices - I use this spice mix but feel free to add your favorite spices for more flavor.
      • Garlic powder
      • Onion powder
      • Black pepper
      • Red chili powder/Cayenne pepper - for heat.
      • Salt
    • BBQ sauce - use your favorite brand.

    How To Cook Air Fryer BBQ Chicken Thighs

    ⁕Scroll below for the printable recipe card and ingredient measurements.

    chicken thighs on a chopping board.
    scored chicken thighs on a chopping board with a knife.

    Trim excess fat and pat dry the chicken thighs with paper towels. Next, score the chicken thighs on the skin side till the bone. This means putting a few cuts on the chicken flesh so the seasoning can go deeper. It aslo helps to cook the inside of the chicken.

    spice mix for air fryer bbq chicken thighs.

    chicken mixed with the spices.

    In a small bowl, mix the onion powder, garlic powder, black pepper and red chili powder. In a large bowl, mix the chicken thighs with spices until they are coated all over.

    chicken thighs in the air fryer basket.
    chicken thighs with barbecue sauce in the air fryer basket.

    Preheat air fryer to 400F. Place the chicken thighs skin-side down and cook for 10 minutes. Brush the chicken with plenty of barbecue sauce. Cook for another 5 minutes.

    brushing barbecue sauce on chicken thighs.

    Flip the chicken thighs skin-side up and brush with barbecue sauce. Air fry chicken thighs for another 3 to 5 minutes until the skin is crispy and lightly charred. Make sure to check the internal temperature with meat thermometer. Ideally, the chicken is cooked at 165F. However, I like to cook it until 170F since it's with bones and I don't want it to be bloody near the bone.

    air fryer bbq chicken thighs in the air fryer basket.

    Brush with more barbecue sauce if you prefer and serve warm.

    Expert Tips

    • Preheat Air fryer for faster cooking and crispy chicken.
    • Line the Air fryer basket with parchment paper for easy cleanup.
    • Air Fry the skin-side down and finish cooking with skin side-up for that crispy skin.
    • Don't overcrowd the Air fryer basket. Place the chicken in a single layer. Cook in batches if needed.
    • Check for doneness using an instant-read meat thermometer. The chicken should be done when the internal temperature is 170F.

    What Air Fryer to Use?

    I use a Cosori 5.8 quart basket type which is perfect for our family of 5. Clean up is easy too!

    Substitutions

    • Spices - I use a mix of onion powder, garlic powder, black pepper and chili powder. Add your favorite spices or a just salt and black pepper. Substitute the chili powder with smoked paprika for less heat.
    • Barbecue sauce - I use Kraft barbecue sauce. You can use the following brands too.
      • Sweet Baby Rays BBQ sauce
      • Bulls Eye BBQ sauce
      • Primal BBQ sauce for a keto/low-carb/sugar-free option

    Side Dishes For Air Fryer BBQ Chicken

    Serve Air fryer bbq chicken thighs with these delicious side dishes.

    • Fluffy Mashed Potatoes
    • Air Fryer Broccoli
    • Cauliflower rice for low-carb/keto option
    • Cauliflower steaks
    air fryer bbq chicken thighs with barbecue sauce.

    How to Store And Reheat

    Store the cooked chicken thighs in the fridge in an airtight container for 3 to 5 days.

    Reheat in the Air fryer at 300F until warm.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Can I air fry frozen chicken thighs?

    Yes, you can use frozen chicken thighs. You need to increase the cooking time. Cook at 400F for 15 minutes before brushing with sauce.

    How long to cook bbq chicken thighs in the Air fryer?

    It would take about 20 minutes at 400F to cook the chicken thighs in the Air fryer.

    I cook chicken thighs skin down for 10 minutes, brush with bbq sauce, cook for 5 minutes. Flip them over skin side up, brush with plenty of bbq sauce at cook for another 3 to 5 minutes.

    More BBQ Recipes

    • Air Fryer BBQ Chicken Wings
    • Air Fryer BBQ Chicken Meatballs
    • Air Fryer BBQ Chicken Legs

    More Air Fryer Chicken Recipes You'll Love:

    • Air Fryer Chicken Leg Quarters
    • Crispy and Juicy Air Fryer Chicken Thighs
    • Air Fryer Chicken Breast
    • Air Fryer Buffalo Chicken Wings
    • Air Fryer Grilled Chicken

    Love air frying? You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, or join our  Facebook Air Frying Group.

    If you like this recipe, I’d love it if you can give me a rating and comment! Share it with your family and friends! ❤️

    Recipe

    Air Fryer BBQ Chicken Thighs

    air fryer bbq chicken thighs with bbq sauce on a board.
    These Air Fryer BBQ Chicken Thighs come out crispy and juicy in 20 minutes without the need to fire up the grill. They're perfectly seasoned and slathered with plenty of barbecue sauce for a delicious chicken meal.
    4.37 from 115 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 5 minutes mins
    Cook Time 20 minutes mins
    Total Time 25 minutes mins
    Course Main Course
    Cuisine American
    Servings 4
    Calories 435 kcal
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Equipment

    • Air Fryer

    Ingredients
     

    • 6 chicken thighs bone-in, with skin
    • ½ teaspoon garlic powder
    • ½ teaspoon onion powder
    • ½ teaspoon red chili powder/cayenne pepper
    • ¼ teaspoon black pepper
    • ½ teaspoon salt
    • ½ cup barbecue sauce

    Instructions
     

    • Trim excess fat and pat dry the chicken thighs with paper towels. Next, score the chicken thighs on the skin side till the bone. This means putting a few cuts on the chicken flesh so the seasoning can go deeper.
    • In a small bowl, mix the onion powder, garlic powder, black pepper, and red chili powder. In a large bowl, mix the chicken thighs with spices until they are coated all over.
    • Preheat the air fryer to 400F. Place the chicken thighs skin-side down and cook for 10 minutes. Brush the chicken with plenty of barbecue sauce. Cook for another 5 minutes.
    • Turn the chicken thighs skin-side up and brush with barbecue sauce. Air fry chicken thighs for another 3 to 5 minutes until the skin is crispy and lightly charred. Or until the internal temperature is 170F.
    • Brush with more barbecue sauce if you prefer and serve warm.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 435 kcalTotal Carbs: 16 gProtein: 28 gFat: 28 gSaturated Fat: 8 gSodium: 790 mgFiber: 1 gSugar: 12 gVitamin A: 213 IUVitamin C: 1 mgCalcium: 27 mgIron: 1 mgNet Carbs: 15 g
    Keyword air fryer, bbq chicken, easy
    Tried this recipe?If you like this recipe, I’d love if you can give me a rating and comment! Share this with your family and friends!

    More Easy Air Fryer Recipes

    • frozen chicken nuggets from the air fryer in a white plate with ketchup.
      Air Fryer Frozen Chicken Nuggets
    • air fried frozen fish sticks on a plate with ketchup and fries.
      Air Fryer Frozen Fish Sticks
    • air fryer chicken cutlets on a plate with chopped parsley.
      Crispy Air Fryer Chicken Cutlets
    • air fryer bok choy on an oval plate with dipping sauce.
      Air Fryer Bok Choy Recipe

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    Comments

    1. Scott P says

      December 28, 2022 at 7:43 pm

      5 stars
      This recipe is hands down the best BBQ chicken thighs I have ever had, from any method of cooking. My son agreed wholeheartedly. He took his first bite and literally said OMG. The 10-5-5 timing is the key in my opinion. It cooks the BBQ sauce without burning it (I used Sticky Fingers from TN, but use what you like). I had to cook in batches so I kept a plate in my oven at 170degrees to keep the cooked pieces warm while the others finished, just threw some loose foil over them. This is so good. Try this.

      Reply
      • Farwin says

        December 29, 2022 at 11:39 am

        Hi Scott, thank you for the wonderful review. I'm so glad you and your son enjoyed this recipe.

        Reply
    2. Darren says

      January 16, 2023 at 8:19 am

      Do you score to the bone?

      Reply
      • Farwin says

        January 16, 2023 at 12:34 pm

        yes, this helps the spices seep in.

        Reply
    3. d n english says

      February 02, 2023 at 4:24 pm

      5 stars
      Excellent. Thank you agree 10-5-5 the magic combination
      Scoring beside bone great trick

      Reply
      • Farwin says

        February 07, 2023 at 4:35 pm

        Hi, you're welcome. I'm glad you enjoyed it 🙂

        Reply
    4. Alisha says

      April 19, 2023 at 9:37 pm

      Hello, would the time be the same 10/5/5 for boneless thighs?

      Reply
      • Farwin says

        April 20, 2023 at 7:04 am

        Hi Alisha, no the timing will reduce. Rather than cooking for 10 minutes, you can cook for 7 to 8 minutes. 7-8/5/5

        Reply
    5. Denise says

      May 05, 2023 at 12:15 pm

      5 stars
      Chicken thighs come out perfect everytime. Thank you for sharing your recipe.

      Reply
      • Farwin says

        May 08, 2023 at 10:49 am

        Hi Denise, I'm glad you liked them. Thanks for letting me know. 🙂

        Reply
    6. Vanessa says

      May 23, 2023 at 7:06 pm

      Hi, I made this last Sunday and it’s so delicious. It worked perfectly in m air fryer. Next time I’ll try it with boneless chicken thighs. Thank yoi

      Reply
      • Farwin says

        May 26, 2023 at 11:38 am

        I'm so glad to hear that Vanessa. Thank you.

        Reply
    7. Carol says

      June 02, 2023 at 8:52 pm

      5 stars
      omg I will never cook chicken any other way again. This was amazing,flavourful and downright easy.

      Reply
      • Farwin Simaak says

        June 06, 2023 at 6:51 pm

        Thanks Carol! I'm glad you enjoyed this recipe. It's one of our favorite dishes too.

        Reply
    8. Vanessa says

      July 05, 2023 at 11:04 pm

      5 stars
      I’ve made this recipe with bone in and boneless chicken thighs. Each time it turned out fantastic. It’s very tasty. Thank you for this recipe!!

      Reply
      • Farwin Simaak says

        July 09, 2023 at 4:21 pm

        You're welcome Vanessa! I'm delighted to hear that it came out well for you.

        Reply
    9. Lindsay says

      July 20, 2023 at 7:28 pm

      5 stars
      These were delicious! I used skinless because that is what I had and they were so good! I will def make again.

      Reply
      • Farwin Simaak says

        July 24, 2023 at 1:17 pm

        Thanks Lindsay! This is such a versatile recipe.

        Reply
    10. Chuck says

      August 19, 2023 at 7:22 pm

      5 stars
      Awesome recipe. Very simple and cost-effective way to feed a family. Delicious and juicy every time. I will keep this in the meal rotation. Thanks

      Reply
      • Farwin Simaak says

        August 30, 2023 at 12:04 pm

        Thanks Chuck! I'm glad you enjoyed it.

        Reply
    11. Mich24 says

      September 13, 2023 at 10:22 pm

      Hi
      Which air fryer do you have?

      Reply
      • Farwin Simaak says

        September 14, 2023 at 10:03 am

        Hi Michelle, I have a Cosori 5.8qrt air fryer.

        Reply

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