Air Fryer Barbecue Chicken
User Reviews
5
-
Prep Time
15 mins
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Cook Time
20 mins
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Total Time
35 mins
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Servings
6 -4 servings
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Calories
269 kcal
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Cuisine
American
Air Fryer Barbecue Chicken
Description
This Air Fryer Barbecue Chicken recipe uses evenly sized chicken breasts coated with a spice rub including smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, baking powder, black pepper, and kosher salt. The baking powder helps tenderize and promotes crispiness when air fried. The chicken is patted dry and coated with oil before the dry rub is applied thoroughly. Cooking at 360°F allows the chicken to cook through while developing a lightly crispy outside.
The accompanying barbecue sauce is a balance of ketchup, apple cider vinegar, brown sugar, honey, Worcestershire sauce, liquid smoke, smoked paprika, dry mustard, garlic powder, onion powder, onion flakes, salt, and pepper, simmered to thicken and deepen the flavors. This sauce is brushed on the chicken near the end of cooking to avoid burning and to keep the flavors bright.
This dish is served with the green onion garnish and works well as a main protein for meals. The technique allows quick cooking with less fat and a flavorful crust. It is important to monitor thickness of chicken breasts for even cooking and to use a meat thermometer to check doneness. Leftovers keep well refrigerated, reheat gently, and can be frozen for longer storage.
The notes contain several tips and variations including substituting chicken thighs, using store-bought barbecue sauce, low-carb sauce options, freezing and reheating advice, and best practices for seasoning and cooking for consistent results.
Ingredients
Chicken Breast Rub
- 2 pounds chicken breast similar sizes, or pound with meat mallet until even thickness(3-4 half breasts, boneless, skinless
- 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika may also use regular or hot
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon baking powder optional, but adds tenderizing and crispiness
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
- 3 green onions chopped, for garnish
Simple Stovetop Barbecue Sauce (or use your favorite storebought sauce)
- 1 cup ketchup use sugar-free if making low-carb
- 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
- 3 tablespoons brown sugar use brown sugar substituted if making low-carb
- 2 tablespoons honey substitute Maple Syrup if preferred, or for low-carb use honey substitute
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1-1 ½ teaspoons liquid smoke optional, but so good
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika use regular or hot too
- 1/2 teaspoon dry ground mustard
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/2 teaspoon onion flakes
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
BBQ Sauce for Chicken (or use your favorite storebought BBQ sauce)
- Add all the sauce ingredients in a saucepan, and stir to combine.
- Bring to simmer on medium-low heat, then reduce heat to low heat. Simmer for 8-10 minutes, until sauce thickens.
Seasoned Chicken Breasts
- Preheat air fryer to 360° F (182° C). It takes around 5-10 minutes. If time, bring chicken breasts to room temperature 30 minutes before air frying.
- In a small bowl mix together the paprika (½ tsp), garlic powder (½ tsp), onion powder (½ tsp), baking powder (1 tsp), pepper (½ tsp) and kosher salt (½ tsp).
- Blot the Chicken Breasts (2 lbs) dry with a paper towel. Slice or pound chicken if needed, to make even thickness. Spray or brush with oil, and set aside.
- Spread the spice rub over the oil sprayed Chicken and gently rub it in so it sticks. Repeat on the other side. You can also place the spices and breasts inside a large sealed bag and shake to coat the Chicken. *This may be done up to 30 minutes before air fryer.
- Spray the basket of the air fryer with cooking oil (a non-aerosol cooking oil spray). Place the spiced chicken top side down (presentation side) on the basket. Close the air fryer and bake for 10 minutes. Flip chicken and cook for another 8-10 minutes, until it appears golden brown (165°F internal temperature). Repeat if you have a second batch.
- When Chicken has baked in the air fryer, during the last few minutes of cooking brush the barbecue sauce generously on top of the chicken and bake for another minute or two.
- Remove from air fryer and allow the chicken to rest tented with foil for 5-10 minutes before cutting and serving.If desired, garnish with diced green onions and serve with a side of barbecue sauce.
Notes
- Store cooled leftover chicken in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to four days.
- Freeze cooked barbecue chicken in airtight containers or freezer bags for up to three months.
- Reheat in the air fryer or microwave; add a splash of water or broth to prevent drying.
- For bone-in chicken breasts, cook at 375°F for 25-27 minutes until internal temperature reaches 165°F.
- Use a meat thermometer to check doneness by inserting into the thickest part away from bones.
- Pat chicken dry and salt or season up to 30-60 minutes ahead to improve flavor; dry brining enhances taste.
- Adjust cooking time or pound larger breasts to uniform thickness for even cooking.
- Bone-in or boneless chicken thighs can be used; cook thighs at 400°F for 12-14 minutes, flipping halfway through.
- Use your preferred barbecue sauce, either homemade or store-bought, adapting ingredients for low-carb if desired.
- When cooking from frozen, air fry at 400°F for 30 minutes, flipping halfway; brush with sauce near the end to avoid burning.
Nutrition Information
Show DetailsNutrition Facts
Serving: 6-4 servings
Amount Per Serving
Calories 269 kcal
% Daily Value*
| Serving | 11 serving | |
| Calories | 269kcal | 13% |
| Carbohydrates | 25g | 8% |
| Protein | 33g | 66% |
| Fat | 4g | 6% |
| Saturated Fat | 1g | 5% |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 1g | 6% |
| Monounsaturated Fat | 1g | 5% |
| Trans Fat | 0.02g | 1% |
| Cholesterol | 97mg | 32% |
| Sodium | 1040mg | 43% |
| Potassium | 758mg | 16% |
| Fiber | 1g | 4% |
| Sugar | 21g | 42% |
| Vitamin A | 560IU | 11% |
| Vitamin C | 5mg | 6% |
| Calcium | 71mg | 7% |
| Iron | 1mg | 6% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.
User Reviews
Overall Rating
5
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