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    Home » Dinner

    Air Fryer BBQ Chicken Breast (20 Mins)

    Published: Apr 19, 2021 · Modified: Dec 13, 2022 by heather · This post may contain affiliate links

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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 breasts on cutting board.

    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 Breast in Air Fryer We Love!

    Thanks to the magic of the air fryer, this juicy and flavorful chicken breast can be ready to serve in less than 20 minutes! It’s perfect for busy weeknights when you want to make something easy that you know the whole family will enjoy.

    • The seasoning blend only requires 5 ingredients—paprika, garlic powder, brown sugar, salt, and pepper—but delivers big on taste! Feel free to make extra because once you try it, you’ll want to rub this blend on everything you make.
    • When you brush the BBQ over the chicken at the very end and let it cook for another 1-2 minutes, the sauce will caramelize slightly, adding even more delicious flavor to your chicken.
    • Looking for some easy meal prep? Leftovers can be stored for about 4 days, so you can use this quick recipe to cook up a few healthy, high-protein chicken breasts to enjoy throughout the week!

    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.

    1. Stir together paprika, garlic powder, brown sugar, salt and pepper. Sprinkle of chicken breasts and rub the seasoning all over the chicken.
    2. 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.
    3. Place chicken in the basket. Do not overlap.
    4. 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.
    5. Brush BBQ sauce over chicken and cook another 1-2 minutes to warm up the sauce.
    6. Let chicken rest for 4-5 minutes before slicing.
    Chicken breasts with seasoning and in the air fryer.

    BBQ Chicken in air fryer temperature? How long should you cook chicken in air fryer?

    Cook a small chicken breast at 380 degrees for a total of 18-20 minutes. Larger, thicker chicken might take a little longer to cook through. The key is to make sure the internal temperature of the chicken reaches at least 165 degrees F.

    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.

    BBQ Chicken in Air Fryer FAQ

    Can you stick raw chicken in an air fryer?

    Yes, raw chicken can be placed in the air fryer to cook.

    Can I put sauce in an air fryer?

    I recommend adding the BBQ sauce the last few minutes of cooking so that it doesn’t burn.

    Can you put layers of chicken in an air fryer?

    It’s best to not layer chicken in the air fryer basket. The hot air needs to circulate around each chicken to cook evenly.

    How to serve Air Fryer BBQ Chicken Breast

    • Corn on the cob
    • Corn salad
    • Red cabbage slaw
    • Roasted potatoes
    • Pea salad

    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

    • Air fryer chicken drumsticks
    • Air fryer rotisserie chicken
    • Air fryer chicken strips
    • Air fryer chicken breasts
    • Air fryer chicken thighs

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

    Cooked chicken breast on cutting board.
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe Rate Recipe
    4.96 from 22 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: 4
    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

    Calories: 129kcal | Protein: 24g | Fat: 3g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 72mg | Sodium: 131mg | Potassium: 418mg | Vitamin A: 34IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 6mg | Iron: 1mg
    Tried this recipe?Follow me @foodlovinfamily or tag #foodlovinfamily!

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Pam

      January 09, 2023 at 12:19 am

      5 stars
      My husband & I liked this very much.. we were looking 4 something different.. will definitely be a keeper..

      Reply
    2. Pam Bridges

      July 19, 2022 at 9:06 pm

      I haven’t used my oven since I bought an air fryer
      2 years ago ! I cook everything in it and it all
      Comes out fabulous ! I made barbecued salmon
      In it the other day and it came out perfect !
      I’ve cooked every kind of meat under the sun in it.
      I’ve cooked corn on the cob, Brussels sprouts, broccoli,
      Fresh green beans, cookies, cakes, empanadas, roasted
      Fresh vegetables…..I could probably get rid of my
      Stove !

      Reply
    3. Debra

      June 06, 2022 at 3:23 am

      4 stars
      Everyone loved it! I cooked 10 pieces of chicken thighs in the Air Fryer; 5 on bottom & 5 on upper rack. I needed to cook longer than this recipe called for but I did have more.

      Reply
    4. Teresa

      March 25, 2022 at 12:45 am

      5 stars
      Loved making this for my family to ight! I even made the pea salad to go with as a side. Both were big hits with everyone!

      Reply
    5. Kenna

      January 04, 2022 at 11:18 pm

      5 stars
      I make this at least once a week now! It tastes so good and like it came off the grill. Love this recipe and so does my whole family.

      Reply
    6. Ron

      November 12, 2021 at 1:17 am

      Started using an air fryer. I saved your recipe for barbecue chicken on Pinterest and finally decided to take a stab at it. It was terrific and I’m going to continually make it. Thank you!

      Reply
    7. Catalina

      April 23, 2021 at 3:51 pm

      5 stars
      I love easy and delicious dishes! My family goes crazy over fried chicken breast!

      Reply
    8. katrina m kroeplin

      April 23, 2021 at 3:02 pm

      that chicken looks so amazing! now i’m craving some

      Reply
    9. Kita Bryant

      April 23, 2021 at 4:28 am

      5 stars
      I would totally love to make this! BBQ chicken is such an awesome recipe.

      Reply
    10. Marysa

      April 22, 2021 at 9:38 pm

      I haven’t tried an air fryer yet, but it sounds so convenient. This recipe seems like a great combination of flavors. Air fryers are so versatile!

      Reply
    11. Monica Simpson

      April 22, 2021 at 8:08 pm

      I haven’t used my air fryer in a long time. I need to bust it out for this!

      Reply
    12. Beth

      April 22, 2021 at 6:05 pm

      5 stars
      This looks really good! I don’t have an air fryer (yet) but whenever I see a recipe like this, I really wish I had one.

      Reply
    13. Kathy

      April 22, 2021 at 3:21 pm

      These look really good. I love using my air fryer. I’ll have to try this out next. Looks like it would taste delicious.

      Reply
    14. MELANIE EDJOURIAN

      April 22, 2021 at 12:34 pm

      5 stars
      Oh wow, what a delicious dish. I’d love to give this a try. I do love BBQ chicken. It’s great for a family meal.

      Reply
    15. Gervin Khan

      April 22, 2021 at 11:58 am

      I love this! It looks really good and now I wanna try this at home!

      Reply
    16. Nikki Wayne

      April 22, 2021 at 5:37 am

      5 stars
      Seems so good.. yum! It will be perfect with white rice.

      Reply
    17. Briana Baker

      April 22, 2021 at 1:34 am

      I have been getting into BBQ recently and this looks amazing!! I’ll be trying this soon!

      Reply
    18. Chef Dennis

      April 21, 2021 at 9:34 pm

      5 stars
      This Air Fryer BBQ Chicken Breast is making me hungry! I will definitely have this for meal today. My family will surely enjoy.

      Reply
    19. Mitch

      April 21, 2021 at 5:07 pm

      5 stars
      That looks delicious! I have air fried a whole chicken, this looks even more tasty! Thanks for the info!

      Reply
    20. Amber Myers

      April 21, 2021 at 3:16 pm

      Oh yum, this looks so delicious! I just ned to get an air fryer now.

      Reply
    21. melissa chapman

      April 21, 2021 at 2:10 pm

      5 stars
      My son loves chicke breast but i only make it stir fried or grilled. I have an air fryer so i have to try this method and BBQ.

      Reply

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