Air Fryer BBQ Chicken Thighs
These Air Fryer BBQ Chicken Thighs come out nice and crisp every time! Plus, they take less than 20 minutes to cook. Everyone will be asking for more. You don’t have to break out the grill to get crispy chicken with our air fryer BBQ chicken thighs recipe, making BBQ weeknight dinners easier.
Air Fryer BBQ Chicken Thighs
Do you love the taste of juicy and flavorful BBQ chicken thighs but hate the hassle of cooking them? We’ve got a game-changer for you – the air fryer! This machine makes your chicken thighs super delicious without deep-frying or using lots of oil.
The air fryer gives them a yummy, crispy outside and keeps them juicy and tender on the inside. Plus, it’s healthier because you use less oil, so you can enjoy your favorite BBQ chicken thighs guilt-free!
I swear I bought my air fryer forever ago, and I let it sit on the top of the refrigerator the first year of owning it, collecting dust. Now I use it for EVERYTHING!
It’s perfect for the summer months, so you don’t have to turn on the stove/oven and make the house even hotter.
Making BBQ Chicken means making my Homemade Ranch Seasoning to serve with these chicken thighs.
If you enjoy BBQ sauce, check out these other delicious recipes: Air Fryer BBQ Chicken Legs and Air Fryer BBQ Chicken Breast.
Bone-in chicken thighs are my favorite for this air fryer BBQ chicken thighs recipe! The skin comes out perfect every single time. If you love crispy skin as I do, make sure to check out these other fantastic chicken thigh recipes: Air Fryer Lemon Pepper Chicken Thighs, Air Fryer Buffalo Chicken Thighs, Air Fryer Shake N Bake Chicken Thighs, and Air Fryer Blackened Chicken Thighs.
❤️ Why you’ll love this easy air fryer recipe
- Budget-friendly – I bought these chicken thighs at my local meat market—50 lb for $20.00. Buying in bulk is a great way to decrease the cost per serving.
- Easy Recipe – With only two ingredients, this recipe is super easy; you can find all the ingredients at your local grocery store.
- Meal Prep – These BBQ chicken thighs are excellent for meal prep! Whip up some of your favorite vegetables or rice to serve with them.
Ingredients
- Bone-In Chicken Thighs – I got these at a local meat market, but you can buy them at any local grocery store.
- BBQ Sauce – My go-to is always Sweet Baby Ray’s BBQ. You can use any store-bought BBQ sauce. OR you can make your own. Look out for my homemade BBQ Sauce soon.
✳️ Tips & Tricks
- If needed, pull the chicken skin to cover the whole thigh.
- Once the timer goes off on the air fryer, ensure the internal temperature is 165F.
- You always want to remove the chicken immediately to ensure you don’t dry out the chicken.
Tools to make this BBQ Chicken Thighs in Air Fryer
- Air Fryer – this is my favorite air fryer. The large air fryer basket makes it so easy to cook your favorite recipes.
- Tongs – tongs are easiest to remove and flip the chicken tenders
- Meat thermometer – You always want to ensure the internal temperature of ANY chicken is 165F.
How to Make Air Fryer BBQ Chicken Thighs
- Brush the BBQ sauce on the top of the chicken thighs.
- Flip the chicken thighs over and brush the BBQ sauce on the backside of the chicken.
- Transfer the chicken thighs to the air fryer basket and cook for 16 minutes or until the internal temperature is 165F. Flip the chicken halfway through.
- Remove from the air fryer basket and serve.
Oven Directions
- Preheat oven to 400F.
- Brush the BBQ sauce on top of the chicken thighs.
- Flip the chicken thighs over and brush the BBQ sauce on the chicken’s backside.
- Place chicken in a baking pan and cook for 20 minutes or until the internal temperature is 165F.
- Remove from the oven and serve.
Substitutions
You can use boneless, skinless chicken thighs or chicken leg quarters if you don’t like or have bone-in chicken thighs.
Sugar-free BBQ sauce is always a great option if you’re trying to reduce your carb intake or follow a keto diet.
What to serve with BBQ Chicken Thighs
I’ve been trying to eat better, and pairing this with frozen vegetables was a delicious idea. You can also pair these with sweet potatoes — the options are endless with sweet potatoes!
How to store
Store leftovers in an airtight glass container for up to 5 days.
♨️ How to reheat
Remove the lid from the container and microwave on high for 1 to 1.5 minutes or until the chicken is warm. Alternatively, you can transfer to a microwave-safe plate to warm up.
To warm this up in your air fryer, cook it for 2-3 minutes at 400F.
❓FAQs
How long do you cook thighs in an air fryer?
Cook the chicken thighs at 390F for 12-16 minutes, depending on if the chicken thighs are bone-in or boneless.
Can you BBQ in an air fryer?
Yes, you can put bbq sauce in the air fryer.
Can you put foil in an air fryer?
Yes, you can. It’s not necessary, but you can put still use it for a more effortless clean up process.
More Air Fryer Chicken Thigh Recipes
Chicken thighs are one of my favorite things to cook in my air fryer. Check out these other mouthwatering chicken thigh recipes.
- Air Fryer Buffalo Chicken Thighs
- Air Fryer Chicken Thighs and Potatoes
- Air Fryer Shake N Bake Chicken Thighs
- Air Fryer Blackened Chicken Thighs
- Air Fryer Breaded Chicken Thighs
- Air Fryer Keto Chicken Thighs
- Air Fryer Boneless Skinless Chicken Thighs
- Air Fryer Bacon Wrapped Chicken Thighs
- Air Fryer Katsu Chicken Thighs
- Air Fryer Teriyaki Chicken Thighs
Air Fryer BBQ Chicken Thighs
Equipment
- Air Fryer
Ingredients
- 1 lb bone-in chicken thighs
- ½ cup bbq sauce
Instructions
- Brush the bbq sauce on the top of the chicken thighs.
- Flip the chicken thighs over and brush the bbq sauce on the backside of the chicken.
- Transfer the chicken thighs to the air fryer basket and cook for 16 minutes or until the internal temperature is 165F. Flipping the chicken halfway through.
- Remove from the air fryer basket and serve.
Nutrition
Pin this recipe for later
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You never said what temperature to put the airfryer on!!
The directions say 400 degrees – it should turn out so well!