Making chicken in Air Fryer is really fun and easy. You can also try my Air Fryer Cornish Hen, Frozen Chicken Tenders in Air Fryer, Air Fryer Chicken Cutlets, Frozen Chicken Nuggets Air Fryer, and Air Fryer Whole Chicken Wings. For more quick recipes, check out my Air Fryer Recipes.
Air Fryer BBQ Chicken Thighs
When Chicken thighs are coated generously with BBQ sauce and perfectly seasoned with selected ingredients, the outcome will be succulent and tender Air Fryer BBQ Chicken Thighs. Enjoy the BBQ taste without grilling the chicken.Air Fryer BBQ Chicken Thighs recipe is easy to follow. You can use any of your favorite brand's BBQ sauce for seasoning. This can be a great idea for a delightful dinner. Serving is also very easy. You can use your favorite salad or dipping sauce on the side.
Cool Things About This Recipe
- Minimal Prep Time.
- Easy and clean cooking process.
- It can be cooked with home ingredients.
- Lots of customization.
Ingredients
- Chicken Thighs - 6 Bone-in pieces with skin.
- Onion Powder
- Garlic Powder
- Red Chili Powder
- Oregano
- Salt
- BBQ Sauce - Any of your favorite brand or homemade.
Equipment
- Air Fryer
- Sharp Knife
- Mixing Bowl
- Cooking Spray
How To Make Air Fryer BBQ Chicken Thighs In Air Fryer?
- First, trim any excess fat from meat. Use paper towels to pat dry the chicken. This step will help the chicken to be crispy and tender.
- Now take a sharp knife and make a few cuts in the chicken flesh. These cuts will help seasoning go deeper. Also, it helps in achieving perfectly cooked juicy results.
- Now take a large mixing bowl and mix all the seasoning in it. Next, put chicken thighs in it and make sure that they are evenly coated. Use your hands and coat the spices in every nook and corner of the chicken.
- Use cooking spray to grease the air fryer basket. It will prevent the meat from sticking.
- Next, preheat your air fryer to 400F for 3-4 minutes. After preheating, place the chicken thighs (skin side down) in the air fryer basket. Leave a little room between each piece for hot air circulation.
- Set the time for 12 minutes and let the air fryer do its magic.
- After cooking for 12 minutes, generously brush the BBQ sauce on the chicken thighs and set the air fryer timer for 8 minutes more.
- Flip the chicken thighs after 4 minutes and brush BBQ sauce on the other side. In this way, both sides will be seasoned with BBQ sauce.
- To check the doneness, use an instant-read thermometer and ensure it reads 165F. Now the meat is fully cooked, crispy, tender, and juicy.
- Remove the thighs from the air fryer and serve them as you wish.
Pro Tips For Crispy and Juicy Chicken Thighs
- Always make cuts in the chicken flesh so the seasoning can go deeper inside and the meat can cook perfectly from inside.
- Preheating is necessary for perfect crispy results.
- Place the chicken thighs in a single layer. Overcrowding will result in uneven cooking.
- Cook both sides of the chicken to get the desired crispness.
- Use an Instant read thermometer to check the doneness. It will protect you from overcooking.
Can I Use Boneless Chicken For This Recipe?
Well, my personal preference is bone-in chicken thighs. Because bone provides a more unique texture and flavor while cooked to perfection. But you can also use Boneless chicken thighs. In my case, boneless chicken thighs take approx 16 minutes to fully cook. The rest of the recipe will remain the same. So, just adjust the cooking time accordingly.
Adjusting Air Fryer Temp and Cooking Time
Air Fryer comes in different models from different brands. You can start test cooking first for a small batch. This way, you can determine your air fryer brand's exact cooking temp and time. This will help you protect from getting uneven results.Can I Use Any Other Seasoning Or BBQ Sauce?
Yes, you can use any of your favorite seasoning. You can use cayenne pepper, black pepper or smoked paprika, or any other spices of your choice. There is also plenty of customization with BBQ sauce. You can use the sweet, low-carb, or sugar-free sauce as per your preferences. Experiment with different seasonings and BBQ sauce and make this recipe your own.Side Dishes That Pair Well With Air Fryer BBQ chicken Thighs
- Air Fryer Red Potatoes
- Southwest Corn Salad
- Air Fryer Cauliflower Gnocchi
- Frozen Sweet Potato Fries in Air Fryer
- Air Fryer Cabbage
Having Leftovers?
If you have any leftovers, store them in the fridge using an airtight container for 3-5 days. When needed, simply reheat them in the air fryer for a few minutes and serve them again.Conclusion
Air Fryer BBQ Chicken Thighs is a juicy and crispy delight for your whole family. You can cook it with a few ingredients. There is lots of customization that you can do with seasoning. Coat the chicken thighs with your favorite BBQ sauce and enjoy an irresistible protein-rich treat. So grab your Air Fryer and give Air Fryer BBQ Chicken Thighs a try… Happy Eating!
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FAQ’s
Can I Use Frozen Chicken Thighs In The Air Fryer?Yes, you can use frozen chicken thighs. However, you have to slightly increase the cooking time.
How Long Does It Take To Cook Chicken Thighs In The Air Fryer?
Cooking time may vary with bone-in and boneless chicken thighs. For Bone-in chicken thighs, it takes about 20 minutes, and for boneless chicken thighs, it takes approx 16 minutes.
What Temp Should BBQ Chicken Thighs Be Cooked To?
The optimal temp for cooking BBQ Chicken Thighs in Air Fryer is 400F.
Can You BBQ In An Air Fryer?
Yes, it is easy to BBQ using an air fryer. The air fryer uses hot air circulation to cook food. No more grilling. Just use your air fryer to get perfectly cooked and grilled BBQ anywhere, anytime.
How To Get Crispy Skin On BBQ Chicken Thighs?
For perfect crispy skin, start cooking thighs from the skin side down and finish cooking the thighs skin side up. This way, you will get perfectly crispy skin on BBQ Chicken thighs.
Which BBQ Sauce Is Best For Air Fryer BBQ Chicken Thighs?
Not any specific one. It’s up to your taste preferences. You can use sweet, low-carb, sugar-free, or any other of your favorite BBQ sauce for this recipe.
Air Fryer BBQ Chicken Thighs
⏱️Cook Time
- Prep Time: 05 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 25 minutes
🥘Ingredients
- Chicken Thighs - 6 Bone-in pieces with skin.
- Onion Powder - 1/2 teaspoon
- Garlic Powder - 1/2 teaspoon
- Red Chili Powder - 1/2 teaspoon
- Oregano - 1/4 teaspoon
- Salt - 1/2 teaspoon
- BBQ Sauce - Any of your favorite brands or homemade - 1/2 cup
📝Instructions
Early Preps
- First, trim any excess fat from meat. Use paper towels to pat dry the chicken. This step will help the chicken to be crispy and tender.
- Now take a sharp knife and make a few cuts in the chicken flesh. These cuts will help seasoning go deeper. Also, it helps in achieving perfectly cooked juicy results.
- Now take a large mixing bowl and mix all the seasoning in it. Next, put all chicken thighs in it and make sure to evenly coat all chicken thighs. Use your hands and coat the spices in every nook and corner of the chicken.
- Use cooking oil spray to grease the air fryer basket. It will prevent the meat from sticking.
Cooking Instructions
- Next, preheat your air fryer to 400F for 3-4 minutes. After preheating, place the chicken thighs (skin side down) in the air fryer basket. Leave a little room between each piece for hot air circulation.
- Set the time for 12 minutes and let the air fryer do its magic.
- After cooking for 12 minutes, generously brush the BBQ sauce on the chicken thighs and set the air fryer timer for 8 minutes more.
- Flip the chicken thighs after 4 minutes and brush BBQ sauce on the other side. In this way, both sides will be seasoned with BBQ sauce.
- To check the doneness, use an instant-read thermometer and ensure it reads 165F. Now the meat is fully cooked, crispy, tender, and juicy.
- Remove the thighs from the air fryer and serve them as you wish.
📝Recipe Notes
- Always make cuts in the chicken flesh so the seasoning can go deeper inside and the meat can cook perfectly from inside.
- Preheating is necessary for perfect crispy results.
- Place the chicken thighs in a single layer. Overcrowding will result in uneven cooking.
- Cook both sides of the chicken to get the desired crispness.
- Use an Instant read thermometer to check the doneness. It will protect you from overcooking.
🔍Nutrition
Calories: 430kcalProtein: 28gCarbohydrates: 16gFat: 29gPolisaturated Fat: 4gSaturated Fat: 8gSodium: 790mgFiber: 1gSugar: 11gVitamin A: 212IUVitamin C: 1mgIron: 1mgCalcium: 28mgCholestrol: 111mg
These values are approximate and can differ based on the specific recipe and ingredients.
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