Name: Air Fryer BBQ Chicken Breasts
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 14 min
Total time: 24 min
Ingredients: 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts; 1/2 teaspoon paprika; 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder; 2 tablespoons brown sugar; 1/4 teaspoon salt; 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper; 1 tablespoon olive oil; 1/2 cup BBQ sauce

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Air fryer BBQ chicken breast is rubbed with an easy seasoning blend and slathered in BBQ sauce to make a juicy, delicious meal. This BBQ chicken can be cooked in less than 20 minutes in the air fryer. Serve it with your favorite side dish or on a salad or sandwich.

Chicken is a staple in our house and lately I have been cooking it primarily in the air fryer. There are so many ways to season it, the chicken cooks fast and always comes our tender and juicy.

BBQ chicken in the air fryer is one of our favorites. No need to heat up the grill or oven, just add the chicken right in the air fryer. This chicken is great as a main dish and also perfect to use for meal prep. I like to make a few extra chicken breasts to use throughout the week on salads or in meal prep bowls.

BBQ Chicken Air Fryer Ingredients

Chicken breasts – I like using chicken cutlets because they cook faster but all you need are boneless, skinless breasts. If you have thicker cuts of chicken, try pounding them thinner so they cook evenly.

Paprika – Paprika adds a slightly sweet and smoky flavor along with a beautiful red color.

Garlic powder – Adds a hint of garlic flavor.

Brown sugar – Balances out the salt with a little sweet.

Salt and pepper – The terrific two of most seasoning blends.

BBQ sauce – Use your favorite store bought or homemade BBQ sauce. I used Sweet Baby Ray’s for this recipe.

Olive oil – Used to spray the basket to help prevent sticking. Feel free to substitute with your preferred oil.

Bowl of bbq sauce, spices, plate of chicken and oil mister.

How to make Air Fryer BBQ Chicken

You can find the full ingredients, directions and video below.

Stir together paprika, garlic powder, brown sugar, salt and pepper. Sprinkle of chicken breasts and rub the seasoning all over the chicken.
Spray the air fryer basket with olive oil. I like using an oil mister. Do not use aerosol spray like Pam because it could damage the basket.
Place chicken in the basket. Do not overlap.
Cook at 380 degrees for 7 minutes, flip and cook another 7-8 minutes or until the internal temperature reaches 165 degrees F. Since chicken breasts vary in size, the cook time might vary.
Brush BBQ sauce over chicken and cook another 1-2 minutes to warm up the sauce.
Let chicken rest for 4-5 minutes before slicing.

Chicken breasts with seasoning and in the air fryer.

BBQ Chicken Breast Recipe Tips

If your chicken is thick, I recommend pounding them to a more even thickness so that they cook evenly. Also note that if you have thicker chicken, it might require a few extra minutes of cook time.

Don’t forget to spray the basket with olive oil. I like using this mister. Be sure not to use aerosol spray because it could damage the fryer basket.

I can typically fit 2-4 chicken breasts in my air fryer depending on size. Try not to overlap or stack them so that they cook evenly.

Make sure to cook the chicken until the internal temperature reaches 165 degrees F.

How to serve Air Fryer BBQ Chicken Breast

How to store leftovers

Place leftover BBQ chicken in an airtight container and store it in the refrigerator. Make sure they have completely cooled before storing. The chicken will last for 3-4 days.

More air fryer chicken recipes

Make this air fryer chicken? Let me know how it turned out in the comments.

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4.94 from 16 votes

Air Fryer BBQ Chicken Breasts

Juicy, delicious BBQ chicken breasts made easily in the air fryer.

Prep Time10 mins

Cook Time14 mins

Total Time24 mins

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: American

Keyword: air fryer, chicken

Servings:

Calories: 129kcal

Author: Heather

Ingredients

4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
1/2 teaspoon paprika
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
2 tablespoons brown sugar
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
1 tablespoon olive oil
1/2 cup BBQ sauce

Instructions

Stir together paprika, garlic powder, brown sugar, salt and pepper. Sprinkle of chicken breasts and rub the seasoning all over the chicken.
Spray the air fryer basket with olive oil. I like using an oil mister. Do not use aerosol spray like Pam because it could damage the basket.
Place chicken in the basket. Do not overlap.
Cook at 380 degrees for 7 minutes, flip and cook another 7-8 minutes or until the internal temperature reaches 165 degrees F. Since chicken breasts vary in size, the cook time might vary.
Brush chicken with BBQ sauce and cook another 1-2 minutes to warm up the sauce.
Let chicken rest 4-5 minutes before slicing.

Video

Notes

If your chicken is thick, I recommend pounding them to a more even thickness so that they cook evenly. Also note that if you have thicker chicken, it might require a few extra minutes of cook time.

Don’t forget to spray the basket with olive oil. I like using this mister. Be sure not to use aerosol spray because it could damage the fryer basket.

I can typically fit 2-4 chicken breasts in my air fryer depending on size. Try not to overlap or stack them so that they cook evenly.

Make sure to cook the chicken until the internal temperature reaches 165 degrees F.

Nutrition

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