• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Crunchy Creamy Sweet

Easy Recipes for Busy Parents

  • All Recipes
  • Air Fryer
  • Asian
  • Dinner
  • Instant Pot
  • Dessert
  • About Us
menu icon
go to homepage
  • All Recipes
  • Subscribe
  • About Me
  • Contact
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • YouTube
  • subscribe
    search icon
    Homepage link
    • All Recipes
    • Subscribe
    • About Me
    • Contact
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • YouTube
  • ×

    You are here: Crunchy Creamy Sweet / Air Fryer / Air Fryer BBQ Chicken Thighs

    Air Fryer BBQ Chicken Thighs

    Published: May 18, 2022 by Anna 3 Comments · This post may contain affiliate links.

    Sharing is caring!

    188 shares
    • Share
    • Tweet
    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    These Air Fryer BBQ Chicken Thighs are juicy, saucy, and delicious but so quick and easy to whip up. This is the best BBQ chicken dish you will make in the air fryer!

    I used a simple seasoning blend and my homemade BBQ sauce but feel free to use your favorite rub and sauce.

    Chicken thighs with BBQ sauce in the air fryer basket.

    BBQ Chicken in the Air Fryer

    Summertime is almost here and BBQ dishes are entering our menu. Well, if you ask my Hubby, it does not have to be summer for us to enjoy a barbecue! Thanks to the air fryer, I can whip up BBQ chicken thighs in no time. It's a great dinner idea for a weekend but so quick and easy, you can enjoy it on busy weekdays too! The caramelized sweet sauce and the perfectly seasoned chicken make this dish irresistible. You will be making it again and again this season!

    My whole family enjoys this dish! The chicken is juicy and so tasty. We always need extra napkins thanks to the sticky, caramelized sauce. It's delicious!

    Ingredients:

    • chicken thighs: I used bone-in skin-on thighs
    • oil: spray cooking oil or grapeseed oil
    • seasoning: salt, pepper, cayenne pepper, paprika, garlic powder, Italian seasoning
    • BBQ sauce: your favorite or make my homemade sauce

    Ingredients for air fryer BBQ chicken thighs on a photography board.

    How to make BBQ chicken thighs in the air fryer?

    • Trim thighs from excess fat.
    • Spray or rub the chicken with oil.
    • Mix seasoning in a small bowl. Sprinkle evenly over each chicken piece (both sides). Rub in.
    • Preheat the air fryer to 380 degrees F.
    • Place chicken thighs in the air fryer and cook for 12 minutes, flip and cook for 8 more minutes.
    • Brush chicken with BBQ sauce and cook for 2 more minutes.
    • Check the internal temperature of the chicken. It should be at least 175 degrees F.

    Seasoned chicken thighs in the air fryer basket and brushed with BBQ sauce.

    Can boneless chicken thighs be used in this recipe?

    Absolutely! Since there is no bone, the chicken will cook quicker. Set the first cook time to 9 minutes, flip the chicken, cook for 5 minutes, then check the internal temperature. Brush with BBQ sauce and finish cooking.

    Best tips:

    • Line the air fryer basket with a sheet of parchment paper for easier clean-up.
    • Choose chicken thighs that are the same size; they will cook evenly at the same time.
    • Use your favorite rub in place of the seasoning in my recipe.
    • Always check the internal temperature of the meat. A good meat thermometer, like ThermaPen, is a great tool to have in the kitchen.
    • If using cooking oil spray, apply it to the chicken while it's still on a cutting board or a plate. If you spray it while it's in the air fryer basket, the oil will leave a hard-to-clean residue on your appliance.

    What to serve with air fryer BBQ chicken thighs?

    • Fresh Corn Salad
    • Instant Pot Corn on the Cob
    • Easy Creamy Coleslaw
    • Baked Beans
    • No-Mayo Potato Salad

    BBQ chicken thighs on white serving platter with fork.

    More air fryer recipes:

    • Air Fryer Chicken Tenders
    • Air Fryer Sausage and Peppers
    • Air Fryer Steak
    • Air Fryer Chicken Wings

    For more recipes like this one, feel free to browse our Air Fryer category.

    If you like this recipe and make it, snap a photo and share it on INSTAGRAM! Tag me @crunchycreamysweet so I can check it out and leave a comment!

    Instagram button.

    Chicken thighs with BBQ sauce in the air fryer basket.

    Air Fryer BBQ Chicken Thighs

    Author: Anna
    These Air Fryer BBQ Chicken Thighs are juicy, saucy and delicious but so quick and easy to whip up. This is the best BBQ chicken dish you will make in the air fryer!
    5 from 3 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 15 mins
    Cook Time 25 mins
    Total Time 40 mins
    Course Main Dish
    Cuisine American
    Servings 4 servings
    Calories 412 kcal

    Ingredients
     
     

    • 4 bone-in skin-on chicken thighs
    • 1 tablespoon grapeseed oil see note
    • ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper
    • ½ teaspoon garlic powder
    • ½ teaspoon paprika
    • ½ teaspoon Italian seasoning
    • ½ teaspoon salt
    • ¼ teaspoon black pepper
    • ½ cup BBQ sauce

    Instructions
     

    • Prepare the chicken: trim any excess fat from each thigh. Pat the chicken dry with paper towel.
    • Preheat air fryer to 380° Fahrenheit for 4 minutes.
    • Rub chicken with oil or spray with cooking oil spray.
    • In a small bowl, mix cayenne, garlic powder, paprika, Italian seasoning, salt and pepper. Sprinkle the seasoning over chicken and rub it in.
    • Once the air fryer is preheated, place a sheet of parchment paper in the air fryer basket (trim it to fit the basket).
    • Arrange chicken on the parchment. Do not overlap or crowd the air fryer.
    • Cook for 12 minutes, then flip the chicken thighs using kitchen tongs. Cook for 8 to 10 more minutes. Check the internal temperature of each piece. It should be at least 175° Fahrenheit. See note below.
    • Brush chicken with BBQ sauce and cook for 2 more minutes to caramelize the sauce.
    • Remove from air fryer and rest chicken for a few minutes, then serve.

    Notes

    • Use your favorite rub in place of the seasoning in my recipe.
    • You can use grapeseed oil or cooking oil spray. If you are using the spray, apply it to the chicken while it's still on the plate or cutting board. If you spray it in the air fryer basket, you will have a residue that is hard to clean.
    • It's always recommended to check the internal temperature of cooked meat. Remember to insert the thermometer into the thickest part of the chicken thigh, not touching the bone.
    • Please note, that the nutrition value can vary depending on what product you use. The information below is an estimate. Always use a calorie counter you are familiar with.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 412kcal | Carbohydrates: 16g | Protein: 24g | Fat: 28g | Saturated Fat: 7g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 8g | Monounsaturated Fat: 11g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 142mg | Sodium: 771mg | Potassium: 397mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 12g | Vitamin A: 373IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 29mg | Iron: 1mg
    Tried this recipe?Leave a comment with rating below!

    More Air Fryer Recipes

    • Seasoned chicken breast with steamed green beans on the side with lemon wedges, set on a dinner plate.
      Air Fryer Chicken Breast
    • Square image of sliced pizza with cheese and pepperoni on a wooden board.
      Air Fryer Pizza from Scratch
    • Close up of cooked chicken pieces and chopped vegetables.
      Air Fryer Chicken and Vegetables
    • Three halves of air fried peaches on a dessert plate.
      Air Fryer Peaches

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

      Did you make this recipe? Let me know! Cancel reply

      Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

      Recipe Rating




    1. Toni says

      May 19, 2022 at 9:05 am

      5 stars
      I love how juicy and tasty this is! Such a huge hit at my house!

      Reply
    2. Allyssa says

      May 19, 2022 at 8:55 am

      5 stars
      Highly recommended! This tasted so amazing! Thanks a lot for sharing this super easy to make recipe! Fam really loves it! Will surely have this again!

      Reply
    3. Cathy Burke says

      May 18, 2022 at 6:33 pm

      5 stars
      This is now the only way I will make chicken thighs! SO yummy! Thank you!

      Reply

    Primary Sidebar

    Crunchy Creamy Sweet Anna

    Hi, I'm Anna! Thank you for stopping by! Here you will find easy and delicious recipes for busy people. My recipes are made with everyday ingredients and all of them are family approved!

    More about me →

    Easy Dinners

    • Square image of chicken in teriyaki sauce, rice and broccoli in a white bowl.
      Quick Teriyaki Chicken Rice Bowls Recipe
    • Asian chicken on rice.
      Easy Sesame Chicken Recipe
    • Square image of creamy garlic chicken in a skillet.
      Creamy Garlic Chicken
    • Lemon garlic chicken in a skillet.
      Creamy Lemon Garlic Chicken Recipe
    • Chicken in mushroom garlic sauce in pan.
      Creamy Mushroom Garlic Chicken
    • Beef noodle casserole in a baking dish.
      Cheesy Beef Noodle Casserole

    Popular Recipes

    • Cooked shrimp on a white plate.
      Air Fryer Shrimp
    • Square image of four Russet potatoes on a rack in the Instant Pot pressure cooker.
      Instant Pot Baked Potatoes Recipe
    • Noodles with peanut sauce and green onions in a white bowl with chopsticks.
      Thai Peanut Noodles Recipe
    • Square image of chicken nuggets with parsley on a white plate.
      Air Fryer Chicken Nuggets Recipe
    • BLT Pasta Salad in large glass bowl.
      BLT Pasta Salad Recipe
    • KFC Coleslaw in a white serving bowl.
      KFC Coleslaw Copycat Recipe

    Featured in

    Logos of publications like yahoo, Parade magazine, MSN.

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    About

    • About Us
    • Privacy Policy
    • Accessibility Policy

    Newsletter

    • Sign Up! for emails and updates

    Contact

    • Contact

    As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Copyright © 2023 Crunchy Creamy Sweet All rights reserved.

    © Copyright 2023 - Crunchy Creamy Sweet - Privacy Policy