Air Fryer BBQ Chicken Breast

Air fryer barbecue chicken breast on plate with sides.

4.96 from 49 votes

Air Fryer BBQ Chicken Breast

This air fryer bbq chicken breast is a quick and easy way to get dinner on the table. Ready in under 30 minutes and pairs so well with a variety of side dishes. No need to fire up the grill to get the juiciest barbecue chicken!

Prep Time5

Cook Time20

Total Time25

Course: air fryer, Main Course

Cuisine: American

Servings:

Author: Lorie Yarro

Ingredients

1 ½ - 2 lb chicken breast (3-4 chicken breasts) boneless, skinless
½ tsp paprika
½ tsp garlic powder
½ tsp cracked pepper
½ tsp sea salt
⅛ - ¼ cayenne pepper optional
olive oil/oil spray
⅓ cup BBQ sauce use your favorite!

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 or rub with olive 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 or brush the basket of the air fryer with olive oil and lay the chicken top side down (presentation side). Close the airfryer, 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 about 160°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. It should reach 165°F at this time. Remove and allow the chicken to rest for 5 minutes before cutting and serving.

Video

Notes

Pound the chicken to make it as even as possible. If your chicken breasts are fairly thick, it will add extra cooking time, or cause the outside of the chicken to burn.

Storage: Wrap chicken in aluminum foil or place in an airtight container. Refrigerate for 3-4 days. You can air fry to reheat for about 3-4 minutes at 375°F, or until cooked through. To freeze cooked chicken, allow it to cool completely first and then double wrap it and store in the freezer for up to 3 months.

Nutrition