Air Fryer BBQ Chicken Thighs Recipe

Fantastic for that summer back garden get-together, air fryer BBQ chicken thighs are succulent and juicy without the hassle of lighting the grill!

Air fryer BBQ chicken thighs are the perfect dish to remind you of summertime all year long. On long cold winter evenings, there’s nothing quite like the taste of tender chicken smothered in tangy barbecue sauce to bring a smile to your face.

Not only is air frying much quicker than grilling, but it’s also more delicious too. Air fryer barbecue chicken thighs cook evenly every time, creating moist, flavorful meat and crisp outsides.

The favorite thing about this barbeque chicken thighs in air fryer recipe is that you will only need three ingredients, and preparation only takes 10 minutes. The simple preparation makes this an excellent recipe for people who enjoy delicious food but don’t want to spend all evening on it.

Ingredients you’ll need to make BBQ chicken thighs

**Find the full list of ingredients along with the recipe instructions at the end of this post**

Boneless, skinless chicken thighs: Rather than buying by the number of pieces, buy your chicken thighs by weight (1 ½ pounds is about right for this recipe). That way, they will all take roughly the same amount of time to cook - sometimes packages of chicken thighs have some pieces much smaller than the others, making timing difficult. 

BBQ dry rub: I use a rub in this BBQ boneless chicken thighs recipe to season the meat before cooking. You can buy them ready-made or make one using brown sugar, paprika, chili powder, cayenne pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, and salt and pepper. Making your own is a great way to control the spice level!

BBQ sauce: BBQ sauces can have high sugar levels, so look out for this when buying yours. I usually go for a low-sugar brand if I can find one.

How to make BBQ chicken thighs in air fryer

Season Chicken: Place the chicken on a large cutting board or baking sheet; pat dry chicken thighs with paper towels, rub oil all over the thighs, and season with salt and pepper to taste; rub the seasoning on all sides. 

Air Fry: Arrange the chicken thighs in the air fryer basket and cook to 380ºF for 15 minutes, turning halfway through.

Add BBQ sauce: Using a pastry brush, coat the chicken thighs on both sides with BBQ sauce. Air fry for an additional 5 minutes. The chicken is done when the internal temperature reaches 165ºF on an instant meat thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the thigh.

Recipe tips

• Pat the chicken dry with paper towels before seasoning it, as this allows the seasoning to better sink into the meat and means that the outside will go more crispy as there’s no excess moisture.
• Use a pastry brush to coat the chicken in BBQ sauce to ensure even coverage.
• Chicken thighs are pretty dark, so it can be difficult to tell by eye when they are cooked. I recommend using a meat thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the meat to avoid over or undercooking - the safe internal temperature for chicken is 165°F.

How long to air fry chicken thighs BBQ

You will need to air fry barbecue chicken thighs for around 15 minutes at 380°F, turning once halfway through.

The cooking time will be affected by the air fryer model and the side of the chicken pieces, so always use a meat thermometer to check for a safe internal temperature of 165°F to avoid over or under-cooking.

What goes good with BBQ chicken thighs

• Healthy air fryer eggplant parmesan
• Delicious air fryer cauliflower bites
• Crispy air fryer broccoli bites
• Air fryer smashed potatoes

FAQ’S

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