Air Fryer BBQ Chicken Thighs (Boneless or Bone-in)

BBQ chicken thighs in the air fryer are the perfect option when you're craving BBQ chicken, but it's too hot to turn on the oven or stand by a flaming grill.

Or you're hungry NOW!

In the time it takes to get the grill going, you can be well on your way to diving into a delicious dinner of succulent, saucy BBQ air fryer chicken thighs and a cool salad.

These boneless skinless chicken thighs are lightly seasoned with a simple dry rub, brushed with an easy no-boil BBQ sauce (or your favorite BBQ sauce), and air fried for about 15 minutes until perfectly charred.

You can also use bone-in skin-on chicken thighs, just add a little more cook time. I'll show you.

Now, let's talk about the BBQ sauce for a quick sec.

For this air fryer BBQ chicken recipe, we love this quick BBQ sauce that's included with this recipe.

It comes together quickly with simple things you might already have, and you don't even have to boil it. Just stir it together and brush it on.

You can also use store-bought BBQ sauce or your favorite barbecue sauce recipe -- we love Sweet Baby Ray's and homemade Jack Daniel's BBQ sauce.

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Fast and easy main dish you can make in under 30 minutes

Easy homemade BBQ sauce from simple ingredients

Juicy, succulent BBQ chicken charred to perfection right in your air fryer!

Please refer to the printable recipe card at the bottom of the post for the full list of ingredient measurements.

Worcestershire sauce. You can use soy sauce if you're don't usually have Worcestershire sauce on hand. Since soy sauce is saltier, you may want to reduce or skip the salt.

Apple cider vinegar. You can use white vinegar, red wine vinegar, or one of these other substitutes for apple cider vinegar.

Dijon mustard. Yellow mustard will also work well. Or check out these other substitutions for Dijon mustard.

Liquid smoke. Not a biggie if you don't have it. But if you happen to have smoked paprika, use that instead of regular paprika to add a little smokiness.

Chicken thighs. I like using chicken thighs because the dark meat is so juicy and doesn't dry out as easily as boneless skinless chicken breasts. You can make this recipe with skinless boneless thighs or skin-on bone-in thighs. Both cooking methods are described below.

Chicken spice rub recipe. A simple seasoning blend flavors the chicken and enhances the zesty BBQ sauce. For extra kick, add a dash of cayenne pepper.

BBQ sauce. Use my easy BBQ sauce recipe or ½ cup of your favorite sauce.

1. Make the BBQ sauce.

Stir the BBQ sauce ingredients together in a small bowl. Set aside.

2. Prepare the chicken.

Pat the chicken dry with paper towels.

Sprinkle both sides of the chicken with the paprika, garlic powder, salt, and black pepper.

3. Air fry the chicken.

Preheat the air fryer to 400 degrees.

Place the seasoned chicken in a single layer in the air fryer basket.

For easy cleanup, line the basket with parchment paper or aluminum foil. You can also spray the basket with olive oil or avocado oil. Avoid nonstick cooking spray that comes in an aerosol can -- it can damage the air fryer basket.

Air fry for 7 minutes.

Brush ¼ cup BBQ sauce onto the chicken. Flip the chicken and brush the other side with ¼ cup of sauce.

Air fry for 7-9 more minutes* or until it reaches an internal temperature of at least 165 degrees F. But it's actually more tender and juicy at about 180.

You can even take it as far as 195 and the chicken will still be juicy and moist.

4. Serve and enjoy!

Let the chicken rest for about 5 minutes. Serve and enjoy!

*Exact cooking time will vary depending on your air fryer and the the thickness of the chicken.

1. Season both sides of the chicken thighs with the spice mixture.

2. Place the chicken thighs in a single layer, skin side down in the air fryer basket.

3. Air fry for 10 minutes. Brush with sauce and air fry for 5 more minutes.

4. Flip the chicken, brush the skin side with sauce, and air fry for 5 more minutes or to an internal temperature of at least 165. Cook to 175 - 195 for the most flavorful chicken.

5. Let the chicken rest for 5 minutes and enjoy!

According to the USDA, chicken need to be cooked to a minimum safe internal temperature of at least 165.

But it's okay to go over when cooking dark chicken meat like thighs or drumsticks. In fact, America's Test Kitchen recommends it.

Chicken thighs will stay tender, juicy, and get even more flavorful when cooked to 175 to 195.

So don't fret about overcooking dark meat, it's pretty hard to do!

Store leftover cooked chicken thighs in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days.

Reheat in the air fryer at 350 degrees until warmed through to 165 degrees, about 7 minutes for boneless chicken thighs or 9 minutes for bone-in chicken thighs. For best results, let the chicken sit at room temperature for about 30 minutes before reheating. I like to brush on a little more BBQ sauce halfway through.

Cook chicken thighs to an internal temperature of at least 165, but take it up to175-195 for the most flavorful, juicy chicken!

Check for doneness early, especially if you have smaller pieces of chicken.

Cooking times will vary depending on the thickness of the chicken and your air fryer. I use a 6-quart Instant Pot Vortex Plus Air Fryer.

Arrange the chicken in a single layer in the air fryer basket to allow the air to circulate around the chicken and cook it evenly.

For crispy skin in the air fryer, finish with the skin-side up.

It depends on the size of the chicken thighs. Generally, it takes 14-16 minutes at 400°F to cook boneless skinless chicken thighs in an air fryer. Make sure to check the internal temperature with a meat thermometer to ensure it's fully cooked to 165 degrees.

Yes, it's recommended to preheat your air fryer before cooking chicken thighs to ensure even cooking. Preheat the air fryer to 400 degrees, the same temperature you'll use to cook the chicken thighs.

This BBQ chicken thigh recipe starts with a simple spice rub of paprika, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. You can adapt the recipe to include onion powder, chili powder, cumin, or cayenne pepper.

This Waterproof Instant Read Thermometer is magnetized, so I keep it stuck to the side of my fridge for easy access.

My 6-Quart Instant Pot Fryer has a roomy basket -- perfect for making a big batch of air fryer frozen French fries!

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