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Air Fryer Barbecue Chicken Recipe

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Air Fryer Barbecue Chicken is succulent, juicy, and has the right amount of sticky sauce! It comes together in less than 30 minutes and it’s a dish you will want to make over and over again.

If you are in the mood for some tender chicken with lots of flavors, this is your chance. It’s perfect for the entire family and is ideal for a night in! One taste and I bet you will be hooked.

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Air fryer bbq chicken will have you smacking your lips and reaching for more! Made with a few simple ingredients it’s a dish you are going to want to remember.

It goes great with my Garlic Parmesan Pull Apart Bread. Or if you are having a night of entertaining, it’s fun to serve with my Bacon Wrapped Jalapeno Poppers. And for dessert, don’t forget to make some Marshmallow Ice Cream…YUM!

Why You Will Want To Make This Recipe

  • Minimal Ingredients
  • Family Favorite
  • Simple Recipe
  • Sweet with a Touch of Spice
  • Easy to Add Variety
  • Quick to Make
  • Very Little Prep

Ingredients Needed

  • Chicken Breasts
  • Garlic Powder
  • Onion Powder
  • Smoked Paprika
  • Salt
  • Pepper
  • Red Pepper Flakes
  • Barbecue Sauce
  • Olive Oil
  • Maple Syrup

How To Make

Print the directions for this air fryer barbecue chicken below. Enjoy!

Step 1: Add some olive or avocado oil to the air fryer basket to prevent sticking.

Step 2: Gently dry the chicken breasts with paper towels. Set aside.

Step 3: Mix together the spices and seasonings in a small bowl.

Step 4: Coat the chicken in the spices evenly. Make sure to coat both sides.

Step 5: Add the chicken to the air fryer basket. Make sure not to overcrowd the basket and leave some space for air flow.

Step 6: Cook for 10 minutes at 380 degrees. Then turn the chicken over. Cook for 7 more minutes.

Step 7: Combine the maple syrup, olive oil and barbecue sauce, then brush on the chicken. Cook for 2 minutes at 380 degrees.

Step 8: Serve and enjoy!

What To Serve With Air Fryer Barbecue Chicken

We tend to make our air fryer bbq chicken breast with some broccoli, warm bread, and a helping of fluffy white rice.

It also goes great with traditional barbecue food like fries, chips, or cornbread!

Storage

Keep leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge. They will last up to 4 days. Reheat in the microwave or for a few minutes in the air fryer.

Expert Tips and Variations

  • You can use chicken thighs instead of breasts!
  • Add extra red pepper flakes for more heat or omit it all together, the choice is yours.
  • Any variety of barbecue sauce will work, but we prefer Sweet Baby Ray’s.

FAQs

Can I use different seasonings?

Sure! It’s more than fine to swap the seasonings for any of your favorite. You could even use a dry rub that is made for chicken.

Do I need to add oil to air fryer?

No, the way the food is cooked is from the air heating up and circulating around the food. It’s a good idea to add a little bit of oil to the barbecue sauce and to add oil to the air fryer basket lightly. I don’t recommend using sprays because they can gum up, but basting a little oil prevents sticking.

Related Recipes

Yield: 4

Air Fryer Barbecue Chicken

chicken on plate

Air Fryer Barbecue Chicken is succulent, juicy, and has the right amount of sticky sauce! It comes together in less than 30 minutes and it’s a dish you will want to make over and over again.

Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 25 minutes

Ingredients

  • 4 chicken breasts
  • 1/4 tsp garlic powder
  • 1/4 tsp onion powder
  • 1/2 tsp smoked paprika
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • Red pepper flakes, to taste (optional)
  • 1/2 cup barbecue sauce
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 tablespoon maple syrup (optional)

Instructions

Step 1: Add some olive or avocado oil to the air fryer basket to prevent sticking.

Step 2: Gently dry the chicken breasts with paper towels. Set aside.

Step 3: Mix together the spices and seasonings in a small bowl.

Step 4: Coat the chicken in the spices evenly. Make sure to coat both sides.

Step 5: Add the chicken to the air fryer basket. Make sure not to overcrowd the basket and leave some space for air flow.

Step 6: Cook for 10 minutes at 380 degrees. Then turn the chicken over. Cook for 7 more minutes.

Step 7: Combine the maple syrup, olive oil and barbecue sauce, then brush on the chicken. Cook for 2 minutes at 380 degrees.

Step 8: Serve and enjoy!

Notes

You can use chicken thighs instead of chicken breasts.

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Nutrition Information:

Yield:

4

Serving Size:

1

Amount Per Serving: Calories: 305Total Fat: 8gSaturated Fat: 2gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 5gCholesterol: 102mgSodium: 743mgCarbohydrates: 18gFiber: 1gSugar: 15gProtein: 38g

I am not a dietician and this nutritional information can change based on the ingredients you use. This is an estimate based off of what I used to prepare the dish. It's here for your convenience.

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