Air fryer bbq chicken thighs are easy and delicious. The boneless skinless thighs cook in less than 20 minutes in the air fryer. This recipes uses store-bought bbq sauce, but you can make your own if you like!
Recently I bought some boneless skinless chicken thighs at the store with no real plans on how to use them. But I knew I wanted to cook them in my air fryer.
Enter a bottle of bbq sauce I had in my refrigerator and some spices. Suddenly I had a delicious chicken dish that cooked in less than 20 minutes. And rivaled bbq chicken I've had from an outdoor grill.
The sugar in the sauce allows the chicken to get a little charred (but not too much!) as it cooks, allowing for that perfect flavor!
I love using boneless skinless chicken thighs because they just cook so quickly in the air fryer! You can of course make this with bone-in, skin-on thighs, but the cook time will be much longer, depending on the size of your chicken thighs.
Why make these bbq chicken thighs in the air fryer
Easy - This is so easy. You just add your seasonings and oil to a bowl, add your chicken, make sure the chicken is coated, and pop it in your air fryer.
Fast - The bbq chicken in the air fryer cooks in less than 20 minutes. Mine was done at the 16 minute mark. This makes it perfect for an easy and quick lunch or weeknight dinner when you don't want to spend a lot of time or effort making dinner.
Flavorful - The chicken is first seasoned with spices, and then bbq sauce is added halfway through cooking. This allows the flavors to really develop and makes for very flavorful chicken.
Ingredients
- Boneless skinless chicken thighs
- Smoked paprika
- Garlic powder
- Onion powder
- Salt
- Pepper
- Olive oil
- BBQ Sauce (use your favorite)
Customizations and substitutions
Don't have smoked paprika? Use regular paprika or chili powder instead.
Instead of olive oil, you can use your favorite heat-safe oil like canola oil or avocado oil.
I used store bought bbq sauce here, but if you prefer, you can always make your own. It doesn't really matter what kind of bbq sauce you use, just use one with flavors you already love.
How long to cook chicken thighs in the air fryer
For boneless skinless chicken thighs, it typically takes 14-16 minutes to fully cook in the air fryer.
Cook times will depend on your specific air fryer and how big your chicken thighs are.
Chicken thighs should be cooked at minimum to 165 degrees F (when measured with a meat thermometer) to be safe to eat. However, chicken thighs are most delicious and juicy when cooked to 175-195 degrees F.
What to serve with the chicken thighs
I love serving the chicken thighs on a salad, in a grain bowl, and sometimes I even slice them up and put them in pasta!
However, if you're serving them as a main dish, here are several side dishes that pair nicely with the air fryer chicken thighs.
- Chipotle mashed sweet potatoes
- Air fryer green beans and bacon
- Air fryer squash
- Air fryer asparagus
- Air fryer lemon potatoes
- Air fryer broccolini
Recipe tips
- Cooking time may vary based on your air fryer and size of chicken thighs. I recommend using a meat thermometer to test for doneness.
- Let the bbq chicken thighs rest for 5 minutes before slicing. This ensures the chicken remains juicy.
How to make air fryer bbq chicken thighs
First, add your spices to a large bowl.
Add the olive oil and stir until combined.
Add boneless skinless chicken thighs to the bowl and toss until all sides of the chicken thighs are coated in the seasoning.
Preheat the air fryer for 5 minutes. Brush or spray a little oil onto your basket to prevent chicken from sticking.
Add chicken thighs to the air fryer basket and cook at 400 degrees for 6 minutes.
Then, with a spoon or silicone brush, spread bbq sauce onto each chicken thigh. Flip, then add the rest of the bbq sauce to the tops of the chicken thighs.
Return basket to the air fryer and cook for another 8-10 minutes until chicken thighs are cooked to the proper temperature.
Top with parsley or other herbs and enjoy!
Other air fryer chicken recipes to love
Air Fryer BBQ Chicken Thighs - Boneless Skinless
Equipment
Ingredients
- 4 boneless skinless chicken thighs
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- 2 Tablespoons olive oil
- ¼ cup bbq sauce
Instructions
- Preheat your air fryer for 5 minutes.
- Add smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper to a large bowl. Add the olive oil and stir to combine.
- Add chicken thighs and toss until coated in the spice blend.
- Brush or spray air fryer basket with oil to prevent chicken from sticking.
- Add chicken thighs and cook for 6 minutes at 400 degrees F. Open air fryer basket and brush bbq sauce on one side of the thighs. Flip thighs, and brush the other side of the chicken thighs with the remaining bbq sauce.
- Cook for another 8-10 minutes until chicken thighs are cooked through.
Notes
- Cooking time may vary based on your air fryer and size of chicken thighs. I recommend using a meat thermometer to test for doneness.
- Let the bbq chicken thighs rest for 5 minutes before slicing. This ensures the chicken remains juicy.
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