This air fryer bbq chicken is seasoned to perfection and covered in tangy barbecue sauce. Make this crispy, crunchy chicken in under 30 minutes!
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💛 Why You'll Love This Recipe
- Quick and simple main dish. Just throw a few spices together and roast your chicken to perfection in under 30 minutes!
- Great to pre-prep. Season your chicken in the morning...when you get home from work, throw it in the air fryer for a great meal in no time.
- Versatile main dish that's full of flavor. This chicken pairs well with so many different sides. Add a couple of easy side dishes (more on that below) and you've got a complete meal!
🍗 Ingredients & Substitutions
(See recipe card at the bottom of this post for exact ingredient measurements.)
- chicken - The only rule about the chicken pieces you use for this recipe is that it has to be bone-in chicken. Boneless chicken breasts or thighs dry out really quickly in the air fryer...you don't want to serve a piece of rubber for dinner. You can use chicken drumsticks, thighs, or wings for this recipe.
- spices - We'll coat the chicken with salt, pepper, chili powder, garlic powder, and onion powder before cooking.
- brown sugar - This is going to give the chicken a little bit of sweetness (not too much!) and a browned, caramelized crunch on the outside.
- olive oil - This helps all of those yummy seasonings stick to the chicken. It's totally fine to use whatever oil you like - vegetable oil, avocado oil, or butter will work.
- your favorite bbq sauce - We love Stubb's - it has a tomato-y, vinegary thing going. If you love a sweeter sauce, go for it!
Variations & Additions
- Add ½ teaspoon of cayenne pepper to your spice mix for a little bit of a kick.
- Skip the bbq sauce if you want more of a dry-rubbed chicken.
If you love this recipe, you'll also want to try my French Onion Chicken Bake!
🔥 How to Make Air Fryer Barbecue Chicken
Step 1: Season chicken.
Pat chicken pieces dry with a paper towel. Cover them in olive oil.
Mix spices & brown sugar together in a small bowl. Sprinkle seasonings all over chicken, lightly patting into the chicken to make sure it sticks well.
Step 2: Air fry to golden brown.
Place seasoned chicken in a single layer in the air fryer. Cook at 425 degrees for 10-12 minutes, flip the chicken, and cook for another 5-6 minutes.
Cover chicken in BBQ sauce of your choice and cook for another 5-6 minutes, until the outside of the chicken is golden brown and the sauce is sizzling.
🍽️ How to Serve
One of the great things about this recipe is that it pairs with so many different side items! Find a starchy side and a veggie, and boom - you've got yourself a full meal.
A few side item ideas...
- Simple salad
- Twice-baked potato casserole
- Roasted veggies, like broccoli, green beans, or asparagus
- Pressure cooker mac and cheese
- Crispy air fryer okra
- Instapot black-eyed peas
- Creamy Corn Casserole
- Air fried sweet potatoes
❄️ Leftovers & Storage
I recommend storing this chicken in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Make sure to enjoy it within 3-4 days of originally cooking.
When you're ready to enjoy it again, warm in an air fryer set to about 300 degrees for 5-6 minutes.
Can I freeze this chicken?
Yes, it freezes well! Just cook your chicken as directed and place cooked pieces in a gallon-sized freezer bag.
When you're ready to serve, thaw it in the refrigerator overnight and, when ready to serve, throw it in an air fryer for a few minutes to get that outside crunchy.
📝 More Helpful Tips & Tricks
- To make sure everything gets nice and crispy, make sure the chicken pieces are in a single layer in the air fryer. If you have the type of air fryer that has two levels, rotate the chicken halfway through cooking.
- Whether or not you remove the skin before baking is entirely up to you. Leaving the skin on is going to result in juicier chicken, but taking it off will cut some of the fat from your finished dish.
❓Air Fryer BBQ Chicken: FAQs
I can't wait to see what you think of this easy chicken! If you try it out, make sure to rate ⭐️ and review 💭 in the comments below. And, before you go, follow along for the latest recipes from the blog!
Air Fryer BBQ Chicken
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Equipment
Ingredients
- 3 lbs bone-in chicken legs, thighs, or wings
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar
- ⅔ cup favorite bbq sauce
Instructions
- Pat the chicken pieces dry with a paper towel. Lightly cover the chicken in olive oil.
- Mix all spices & brown sugar together in a small bowl. Sprinkle the seasonings all over the chicken pieces, lightly patting into the chicken to make sure the seasonings stick well.
- Place seasoned chicken in a single layer in the air fryer. Cook at 425 degrees for 10-12 minutes, flip the chicken, and cook for another 5-6 minutes.
- Brush chicken with the barbecue sauce of your choice and cook for another 5-6 minutes, until the outside of the chicken is golden brown and the sauce is sizzling.
Notes
- To make sure everything gets nice and crispy, make sure the chicken pieces are in a single layer in the air fryer. If you have the type of air fryer that has two levels, rotate the chicken halfway through cooking.
- Whether or not you remove the skin before baking is entirely up to you. Leaving the skin on is going to result in juicier chicken, but taking it off will cut some of the fat from your finished dish.
- To freeze: Cook your chicken as directed and place cooked pieces in a gallon-sized freezer bag. When you're ready to serve it, thaw it in the refrigerator overnight.
- Store this chicken in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Make sure to enjoy it within 3-4 days of originally cooking. When you're ready to serve it again, warm in an air fryer set to about 250 degrees for 5-6 minutes.
Nutrition Facts
Leslie Lambert is a lifestyle writer and content creator specializing in home organization, family recipes, and intentional living. With 16 years of experience in blogging and digital storytelling, she helps busy women create calm, purposeful homes they love.
