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You will love how quick and easy it is to whip up Air Fryer BBQ Chicken Breast that is smothered in thick and sticky BBQ sauce. Ready in just 20 minutes with a crispy outside and so juicy. A simple dinner recipe the whole family will love!
If you have an air fryer, then you know how amazing it makes all the things you cook in it. We have done everything from hamburgers to French Toast and plenty in between.
This Air Fryer BBQ Chicken Breast quickly became a family favorite and may be the only way we make BBQ chicken from hear on out!
Why you will love this recipe:
- So simple to prep. No firing up the grill, no waiting for the oven to pre-heat. My Air Fryer doesn't require preheating and most preheat so quickly. Rub the chicken and pop it in the fryer basket. Cook and flip, not much else!
- A great option for weekly meal prepping. If you are a Sunday meal prepper and you are already using your oven, stove top and everything in between, you can make the most of this time by adding this chicken into the air fryer. Make the most of your food prep time, and then eat off of them during the week.
- An easy meal to pair with any side. BBQ chicken is a great dinner to pair with just about anything. Mac and cheese and street corn are two of our favorites. But a salad, pasta salad, potatoes, and just about anything you have in the fridge will go well with this Air Fryer Chicken Breast!
Ingredients and Substitutions:
- Use your favorite BBQ sauce to make this air fryer barbecue chicken breast the easiest, but if you are feeling like having some fun, you can always make your own sauce.
- Cayenne pepper is optional. Check to see how spicy the barbecue sauce is that you are using before adding it so you don't end up with chicken that is way too spicy.
How to make Air Fryer BBQ Chicken Breast:
The key with making chicken in the air fryer is getting the spices to stay on the chicken. Adding some cooking spray directly onto the chicken before adding the seasoning will do this.
- Stir together the garlic, salt, pepper, paprika and cayenne pepper (if using). Spray one side of your chicken with oil and then sprinkle the seasoning all over and gently press it into the chicken. Repeat on the other side. (step 1)
- Spray the basket of the air fryer and then add the chicken top side/presentation side down into the air fryer. Heat at 360°F for 10 minutes. (step 2)
- After ten minutes is up, flip the chicken. Place back into the air fryer and cook for another 8-10 minutes or until the barbecue chicken just reaches 165°F internal temperature in the thickest part. (steps 3-4)
Once the chicken reaches 165°F, generously spread the BBQ sauce over the top and sides of the chicken. Place back in the air fryer for about 1-2 minutes. The BBQ sauce will cook really fast so you really don't need to put it in for too long at all.
Remove the chicken and allow to rest for about 5 minutes before cutting and serving.
Notes and Tips:
- For best results, pound the chicken to make it as even as possible. If you have chicken that is very thick on one side and thin on the other, it can cause one side to be over cooked while the other is under cooked.
- Chicken breasts certainly come in all shapes and sizes. If you have very large, thick (over an inch and a half) chicken, it will take a bit longer to cook for sure. If your breasts are small, you may want to check in after less time. A meat thermometer is key for this.
- You do not want to cook the chicken the entire time with the BBQ sauce. Only add it to the air fryer barbecue chicken breasts in the end. You will end up with very black chicken if not!
- Switch up the regular paprika for smoked paprika to bring out the smoky BBQ flavor in this air fryer BBQ chicken!
Other air fryer recipes to check out:
- Air Fryer Broccoli
- Buffalo Air Fryer Baby Potatoes
- Air Fryer Buffalo Cauliflower
- BBQ Ranch Chicken Flatbread
- Parmesan Air Fried Potato Wedges
- 3 Cheese Air Fryer Zucchini
- Pan Seared White Wine Chicken
- Spinach Ricotta Chicken
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Air Fryer BBQ Chicken Breast
You will love how quick and easy it is to whip up Air Fryer Chicken Breast that is smothered in thick and sticky BBQ sauce. Ready in just 20 minutes with a crispy outside and so juicy. A simple dinner recipe the whole family will love!
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Servings: 4
Calories: 238kcal
Ingredients
- 1 ½ - 2 lb chicken breast (3-4 chicken breasts) boneless, skinless
- ½ teaspoon paprika
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon cracked pepper
- ½ teaspoon sea salt
- ⅛ - ¼ cayenne pepper optional
- spray oil
- ⅓ c BBQ sauce
Instructions
- Stir the paprika, garlic, cayenne, salt and pepper together and set aside. Pound chicken if needed to make the thickness as even as possible. Pat the chicken breasts dry and then spray with oil. Spread the spice rub over the oil sprayed chicken and gently press into help it stay. Repeat on the other side of the chicken.
- Spray the basket of the air fryer and lay the chicken top side down (presentation side). Close the air fryer, set it 360°F and heat for 10 minutes. Flip the chicken after 10 minutes and cook for another 8-10 minutes or until the chicken is 165°F internal temperature.
- Spread the BBQ sauce generously on top of the chicken and return to the air fryer for another 1-2 minutes to heat the BBQ sauce. Remove and allow the chicken to rest for 5 minutes before cutting and serving.
Notes
- For best results, pound the chicken to make it as even as possible. If you have chicken that is very thick on one side and thin on the other, it can cause one side to be over cooked while the other is under cooked.
- Chicken breasts certainly come in all shapes and sizes. If you have very large, thick (over an inch and a half) chicken, it will take a bit longer to cook for sure. If your breasts are small, you may want to check in after less time. A meat thermometer is key for this.
- You do not want to cook the chicken the entire time with the BBQ sauce. Only add it to the air fryer chicken breasts in the end. You will end up with very black chicken if not!
- Switch up the regular paprika for smoked paprika to bring out the smoky BBQ flavor in this air fryer chicken!
Nutrition
Calories: 238kcal | Carbohydrates: 10g | Protein: 36g | Fat: 5g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 109mg | Sodium: 733mg | Potassium: 700mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 8g | Vitamin A: 260IU | Vitamin C: 2mg | Calcium: 19mg | Iron: 1mg
Did you try this recipe? I would love to see it! Mention @LemonsAndZest or tag #LemonsAndZest!
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Cheryl says
Omg!! Sooooooo good!! Do juicy and done better than if I would've done it on the bbq
Thank you for posting this!
Lorie says
Right? I was so shocked too when I was testing the recipe. Thanks Cheryl!
Sue says
I am also new to the Air Fryer and used an 8-quart IP with Air Fryer lid. The recipe was easy and good! My chicken turned out a little dry, but I didn't pound it first. I'll try that next time. One question - I preheated my Air Fryer. Should I have done that?
Lorie says
Hi there! Glad this recipe worked! If your chicken was a bit dry, then next time, try pulling it out at about 160 degrees and allowing it to reach 165 after that. Preheating the air fryer is just fine though. Every air fryer has a mind of its own—I have two and they don’t cook quite exactly the same. So just keep an eye on the chicken every few minutes after flipping it! Hope that helps!
Ry says
I'm still relatively new to using an air fryer, and this recipe was perfect for what I was looking for! I was worried about using barbeque sauce in mine, and I am glad to see a way I can now use marinades and dressings going forward in future meals. Thank you!
Lorie says
Yay! This is one of our favorites. Enjoy your air fryer—it’s amazing isn’t it?!
Susan M says
Air Fryer Newbie here! This was the first time air frying chicken and it was delicious!
Question though: do you put a pan under the air fryer basket? Half way through cooking my air fryer started smoking. I put the pizza rack underneath with the baking pan on it and this worked.
Lorie says
Hi Susan!! So glad you loved it and welcome to the world of air frying! All air fryers are different for sure. Mine doesn’t have any space to really put anything under but I’d say if yours does, it’s a good call to put something there to help!
Deb says
Made this twice. Only way to cook this!
Lorie says
Yes! Have to agree!
Angel B says
Excellent, quick BBQ Chicken Recipe for the Air Fryer! This is super juicy and oh so tasty! Even my picky 5 year old ate the whole meal. Served with risotto and green beans. Thanks lemons and zest!
Lorie says
Picky 5 year old approval is the absolute BEST! Glad you loved it, Angel!!
Amy says
So its okay to use cooking spray in air fryer? I thought I read online that you couldn't. Could I just rub olive oil on the chicken rather than using a spray? Thanks
Lorie says
Hi! Olive oil will work fine. I have read differing perspectives on the spray oils. Using a mister instead of the aerosol and you are fine too!
Carla says
Followed these directions exactly, and my husband and I both loved it!
Lorie says
So happy to hear Carla!! I make this chicken almost every single week--glad you enjoyed it!
Bridget says
Used this recipe tonight and my whole family loved it! My chicken pieces were thick, so I sliced them each into two and cooked for a couple minutes less. I used a brown sugar barbecue sauce. Turned out juicy and tender, with great flavor. Just enough sweet and spicy. Thanks for sharing!
Lorie says
So happy to hear it Bridget! Good call on cutting them in half, too! Great tip!
Patty Smith says
Awesome recipe. Use Hungarian paprika for sure. It makes a HUGE difference. I could not believe how good this was and I was not even very hungry, I ate the whole chicken breast!
Lorie says
Yum! Sounds like I need to try as well. So glad you loved it!