How Long To Cook Raw Chicken Tenders In Air Fryer

Air Fryer BBQ Chicken Thighs are an easy and tasty dinner. There are so good, you can so not go wrong with a perfect BBQ dish, and this one is perfectly cooked up in the Air Fryer!

These are my favorite chicken thigh recipe, and they are so easy to make! If you love a great BBQ flavor. This is the recipe for you!

BBQ chicken is amazing. Whether you grill this or perfectly cook it in your air fryer, this recipe is amazing! And pretty soon, this will be one of your family's favorite meals. It is easy, and it is delicious!

Looking for other Easy Air Fryer Chicken Recipes? Some of my favorites are FROZEN CHICKEN BREAST IN THE AIR FRYER, AIR FRYER CHICKEN BREAST (LEMON GARLIC), AIR FRYER PESTO CHICKEN TENDERS, and AIR FRYER TYSON CHICKEN WINGS.

Air Fryer BBQ Chicken Thighs

I love chicken thighs. I usually stock up on them when they are on sale. Which really makes for a great budget-friendly meal. I usually pair it with a side salad or a rice dish.

My BBQ Chicken Recipe is one of the most popular recipes on my website, so I thought I would sit down and write down my full-proof recipe.

Ingredients Needed For Air Fryer BBQ Chicken Thighs

Smoked Paprika
Garlic Powder
Onion Powder
Salt
Black Pepper
Chicken Thighs
Ketchup
Balsamic Vinegar
Brown Sugar
Olive Oil

For the full recipe, make sure you scroll down to the recipe card below, but here is a brief overview of how to make Air Fryer BBQ Chicken Thighs!

How To Make Air Fryer BBQ Chicken Thighs

Season the Chicken with the BBQ Ingredients

Preheat Air Fryer to 375° F, air fryer setting, and spray the basket with cooking spray

In a small bowl, combine the smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and black pepper to make the dry rub. Reserve 1 tbsp of the dry rub for use later.

Add the rest of the dry rub to the chicken thighs in a large bowl, using your hands to rub the seasoning well into the chicken.

Cook chicken in the Air Fryer for 18-20 mins, turning halfway through the cooking time. Cook until chicken is golden brown and food thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the chicken reads 165°F

Air Fryer BBQ Chicken Thighs Sauce in Bowl

While chicken is cooking, combining the ketchup, balsamic vinegar, brown sugar, olive oil, and reserved 1 tbsp of dry rub to make the barbecue sauce.

Air Fryer BBQ Chicken Thighs in Air Fryer Basket

When chicken is done, transfer to a plate and brush generously with barbecue sauce.

Put chicken back into the Air Fryer, skin side up and cook for another 2-3 minutes.

Serve hot with a side of salad, vegetables, roast potatoes, onion rings, coleslaw etc.

Optional garnish fresh chopped parsley.

PRO Tips For Making The Best Air Fryer BBQ Chicken Thighs

Cooking times may vary depending on the brand of the Air Fryer and the size of the chicken thighs. Be sure to check that your chicken is done by ensuring it gets to an internal temperature of 165°F.
Use similar sized chicken thighs so that they cook at the same time
You could use your favorite store-bought barbecue sauce instead
For extra heat, add some cayenne pepper or red pepper flakes
Keeps for 3 days in an airtight container in the fridge.
Leftover chicken can be shredded/sliced and used in sandwiches, salads, tacos, etc.

Some Common Questions Asked About Making Air Fryer BBQ Chicken Thighs–

Can I Use Different Cuts of Chicken?

Yes, you can make this same recipe with either bone-in or boneless chicken thighs. But you can also make this recipe using either boneless, skinless chicken breast or chicken wings.

The cooking time will vary based on the cut of the chicken, so always use a meat thermometer to check the internal temperature of the chicken to make sure it's fully cooked.

How long does it take to cook chicken thighs in an air fryer?

Chicken thighs will take an average of 18 to 20 minutes for chicken thighs to be fully cooked.

The thickness of the chicken thighs and whether they are bone-in or boneless will determine the cooking time.

What Temperature to Cook BBQ Chicken

The internal temperature of the chicken should be 165 degrees F before removing them from the Air Fryer Basket.

Another way to tell that chicken thighs are done is to cut into the chicken, and once the chicken juice run clear, you can remove it from the Air Fryer.

Can you put raw chicken in an air fryer?

Yes, just like an oven, you can add raw meat to the air fryer, and it will cook perfectly, just like the oven or the grill.

Any raw chicken can be air fried to perfection.

Can you air fry frozen chicken thighs?

You can easily air fry frozen chicken thighs to absolute perfection. However, the cooking time will be increased to about 25 to 35 minutes.

Ensure to check the internal temperature, which should be 165 degrees F, remove it from the Air Fryer.

What to Serve with BBQ Chicken

This chicken dish will go with anything, from traditional Macaroni & Cheese, to Corn on the Cob to Coleslaw.

This is a great dish and leftovers are even better!

What Kind Of BBQ Sauce Should I Use?

It would be best if you used your favorite BBQ sauce since you will taste it. Some of my favorites are :

Sweet Baby Rays, Hickory & Brown Sugar
Guy Fieri Bourbon Brown Sugar BBQ Sauce
Primal BBQ Sauce (KETO Friendly)

Some Of My Other Favorite Air Fryer Chicken Recipes–

AIR FRYER, SOUTHERN FRIED CHICKEN

EASY AIR FRYER, CHINESE SESAME CHICKEN

AIR FRYER, CARIBBEAN RUBBED CHICKEN THIGHS

Prep Time 10 minutes

Cook Time 25 minutes

Total Time 35 minutes

Ingredients

1 tbsp smoked paprika
1 tbsp garlic powder
1 tsp onion powder
1 tsp salt
½ tsp black pepper, freshly ground
3 lbs. chicken thighs, bone-in, skin-on
1 cup ketchup
1/4 cup balsamic vinegar
2 tbsp brown sugar
1 tbsp olive oil

Instructions

Preheat Air Fryer to 375°F and spray the basket with cooking spray
In a small bowl, combine the smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and black pepper to make the dry rub. Reserve 1 tbsp of the dry rub for use later
In a large bowl, add the rest of the dry rub to the chicken thighs, using your hands to rub the seasoning well into the chicken
Cook chicken in the Air Fryer for 18-20mins, turning halfway through the cooking time. Cook until the chicken is golden brown and the food thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the chicken reads 165°F.
While chicken is cooking, combining the ketchup, balsamic vinegar, brown sugar, olive oil, and reserved 1 tbsp of dry rub to make the barbecue sauce.
When chicken is done, transfer to a plate and brush generously with barbecue sauce.
Put chicken back into the Air Fryer, skin side up, and cook for another 2-3mins.
Serve hot with a side of salad, vegetables, roast potatoes, onion rings, coleslaw, etc.
Optional garnish fresh chopped parsley.
Plate, serve, and enjoy!

Notes

Cooking times may vary depending on the brand of the Air Fryer and the size of the chicken thighs. Be sure to check that your chicken is done by making sure it gets to an internal temperature of 165°F

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

Serving Size:

1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 579 Total Fat: 34g Saturated Fat: 10g Trans Fat: 0g Unsaturated Fat: 24g Cholesterol: 290mg Sodium: 1151mg Carbohydrates: 19g Fiber: 1g Sugar: 14g Protein: 54g

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