Barbecue chicken happens to be one of our kids’ favorite summer recipes, especially when made on the grill. Recently, we were looking for a quicker, year-round recipe and this Air Fryer BBQ Chicken is the ultimate solution! It’s probably the simplest version of the dish we’ve ever made and is also so delicious. With just 10 minutes of prep time, it’s easy to cook anytime of the year without turning on the grill or heating up the house with the oven.
We love to meal prep this chicken for a busy week ahead since it’s great on salads, wraps, and in sandwiches. Our kids even love it cut into pieces in their school lunch box. It’s truly become a family favorite recipe that we can’t live without. If you love the air fryer, be sure to also try our roasted potatoes and Brussels sprouts that use the handy machine too!
Why you’ll love this recipe
- Less than 10 ingredient chicken recipe. Pretty much all of the ingredients for this easy chicken recipe will be found in your pantry. We make an easy spice rub from scratch and then brush on our favorite barbecue sauce.
- Great hassle-free dinner for both kids and adults. The whole family will love this recipe, we’ve even made it for a crowd too.
- Perfect for meal prepping. If you are in a need for new chicken recipes to meal prep, this barbecue chicken in the air fryer is a great one to add to your routine. It’s full of bright flavors and pairs well with so many side dishes.
Tips for Busy Cooks
We use boneless, skinless chicken breasts for this air fryer barbecue chicken. Look for smaller and thinner breasts at the store if you can, they cook more evenly and won’t dry out. You can also use boneless, skinless chicken thighs, the cook time will just be shorter.
Key Ingredient Notes
- Light brown sugar – Adds a hint of molasses sweetness to every bite.
- Coarse kosher salt – Seasoning correctly is so important with proteins. Be sure to use a whole teaspoon here.
- Smoked paprika – Adds a hint of smokiness.
- Black pepper – Compliments all of the flavors in the rub nicely and adds a little heat.
- Chili powder – Gives that smoky, spicy quality that pairs perfectly with the bbq sauce.
- Garlic powder – Adds a hint of sweet garlic in every bite.
- Onion powder – A way to add delicious onion flavor into the rub.
- Boneless, skinless chicken breasts – This is about 3-4 medium chicken breasts. Be sure to look for the smaller and thinner chicken breasts at the store. If you can’t find them, then you’ll want to butterfly the breasts yourself to make them thinner. It’s easy, we show you how here.
- BBQ sauce – Use your favorite brand, this is where you can have lots of fun with flavor for your bbq chicken since there are so many types!
How to make air fryer BBQ chicken
Step 1: Combine brown sugar, salt, black pepper, smoked paprika, chili powder, onion, and garlic powder in a small bowl.
Step 2: Rub the seasoning all over the chicken. You can prepare this step up to 24 hours in advance. Store in the fridge.
Step 3: Place the chicken in the air fryer basket in a single layer. Air fry at 375°F for 10 minutes.
Step 4: Brush some barbecue sauce, flip, and brush more sauce. Cook for another 8-10 minutes or until the inserted thermometer reads 160°C on the thickest part.
Step 5: Remove the chicken onto a plate or cutting board, cover with foil, and rest for 5 minutes.
Step 6: Slice and serve the chicken breast with additional bbq sauce if desired.
Expert Tips:
- If your chicken breasts are too large, you will want to butterfly them to make them thinner. We have an instructional post all about how to butterfly chicken. In simple terms, this means cutting the breast open through its side so it unfolds like a book. This will ensure the chicken is moist and not dry when cooked.
- You can use chicken thighs as well, just watch the cook time. Buy boneless, skinless chicken thighs and cut the cook time down since they will cook faster than breasts.
- Make extra of the spice rub to have on hand. We often like to double or triple the spice rub and store it in an airtight container in the pantry. It’s a great seasoning to quickly add to other proteins like steak or salmon too.
- Enhance your favorite bbq sauce with mix-ins. This is totally optional, but you can add other spices like smoked paprika, more garlic powder, or a pinch of cayenne for spice to a jarred barbecue sauce to make it taste homemade.
- Make sure you give the chicken breasts enough room to cook in the air fryer. This will help them to cook evenly and also brown nicely. You may need to cook the chicken in batches depending on the size of your air fryer.
Storage and Make Ahead
Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. Reheat in the air fryer or microwave for a few minutes until warmed through.
This chicken also freezes well in an airtight container for up to 2 months. Just thaw in the fridge overnight and reheat according to the instructions above.
When it comes to prepping these bbq chicken breasts in advance, you can rub them with the spice mixture up to 24 hours before cooking them and store in the fridge for a richer flavor. Cooking the chicken for meal prep is also one of our favorite ideas too!
What to serve with air fryer barbecue chicken breasts
The options are endless, that’s why we love this recipe so much as a quick and easy chicken dinner recipe. Here are some sides we serve with it often:
FAQs
Yes, you can use it on proteins just like you would in the oven or on the grill. Brush it, often in stages, to get a nice caramelized coating.
Both are fine to make, the boneless will take less time to cook. Be sure when buying boneless, the cuts of meat are smaller so they stay moist and don’t become dry.
Use a spice rub and a sauce that have barbecue flavors and cook the protein at a higher temperature so it becomes slightly charred on the outside.
More Delicious Chicken Recipes
Air Fryer Barbecue Chicken
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon light brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon coarse kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- ½ teaspoon chili powder
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- 2 lbs boneless, skinless chicken breasts about 3-4 medium chicken breasts Note 1
- ½ cup BBQ sauce
Instructions
- In a small bowl, combine brown sugar, salt, black pepper, smoked paprika, chili powder, onion, and garlic powder.
- Rub the seasoning all over the chicken. You can prepare this step up to 24 hours in advance. Store in the fridge.
- Place the chicken in the air fryer basket in a single layer.
- Air fry at 375°F for 10 minutes. Brush some barbecue sauce, flip, and brush more sauce. Cook for another 8-10 minutes or until the inserted thermometer reads 160°C on the thickest part.
- Remove the chicken onto a cutting board, cover with foil, and rest for 5 minutes before slicing and serving.
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Notes
– Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. Reheat in the air fryer or microwave until warmed through.
– This chicken also freezes well in an airtight container for up to 2 months. Just thaw in the fridge overnight and reheat according to the instructions above.
Nutrition
* Disclaimer: All nutrition information are estimates only. Read full nutrition disclosure.
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