These air fryer BBQ chicken breasts are a perfect way to get that juicy chicken and caramelized sauce you're craving. The best part? It's done in just 20 minutes!
Making BBQ chicken breast in the air fryer is not only a great way to get consistently good chicken but it's a faster way to get your meal on the table. I LOVE to use our 7-quart air fryer to cook up enough chicken for the 4 of us.
Making this air fryer barbecue chicken breast recipe is super simple and only takes 4 ingredients, including your favorite BBQ sauce. Although, you can make this Easy Homemade Barbecue Sauce if you truly wanted to have more prep to do.
Want to cook a different cut of chicken, like legs or thighs? Check out the variations tab for cooking instructions.
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🥘 Ingredients
- Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts
- Salt
- Pepper
- Olive Oil
- BBQ Sauce
For specific quantities, see the recipe card below.
🍽 Equipment Needed
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- Measuring Spoons
- Measuring Cups
- 4 quart Air Fryer
- Metal Tongs
🔪 Instructions
Check out how to make Air Fryer BBQ chicken breasts with these simple step-by-step instructions:
- Brush chicken breasts with olive oil.
- Sprinkle salt and pepper over the chicken.
- Place chicken into your preheated air fryer.
- Air fryer 400 degrees F for 8 minutes.
- Flip over and cook another 10 minutes.
- Brush with BBQ sauce and then cook for additional 2 minutes.
- Let rest 5 minutes before serving.
📖 Variations (Different Chicken Cuts)
Air Fryer BBQ Boneless Chicken Thighs
Boneless chicken thighs are one of the faster cooking chicken pieces because they're thinner and there's no bone to warm up and workaround. To cook boneless chicken thighs, cook them for 15 minutes, flipping at the halfway mark. Then add the sauce and cook for another 2 minutes to warm up the sauce.
Air Fryer BBQ Chicken Quarters
These are one of the lengthier cooking pieces. To do this you will cook at 400 degrees F for 20 minutes and then flip over to cook the other side for 10 minutes. Then apply sauce and cook for an additional 2 minutes.
All Other Cuts of Chicken
For any of these cuts:
- Bone-in Chicken Thighs
- Chicken Drumsticks
- Fresh (not frozen) Chicken Wings
You will cook the same exact way as the air fryer BBQ boneless chicken breasts in the recipe card below. 10 minutes, flip, 10 more minutes. then add sauce and warm up to 2 minutes.
🍴 Recipe Tips
When making your air fry BBQ chicken breast I recommend checking on the internal temp when you flip the breast over at the halfway point. This will help to give you a good indication of how fast it is heating up and if it's really close to being done cooking or if it can actually last the final 10 minutes without becoming overcooked.
You can keep your leftover air fryer barbecue chicken breast stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 or 4 days. Reheat again before eating.
Some great side dishes to serve with this recipe include Creamy Orange Fluff Salad, Dill Pickle Potato Salad, or Steamed Corn On The Cob.
💭 FAQs
Yes, there's nothing wrong with placing the raw chicken in the air fryer because it will become cooked, similarly to cooking raw chicken in your oven but on a smaller scale. Just make sure that it reaches proper temp before serving.
Absolutely! the chicken is crisp on the outside with a juicy tender chicken on the inside. It's truly a delicious way to enjoy your next meal.
You can place up to 3 pounds of chicken into your air fryer depending on its size. This is roughly 2-4 chicken breasts depending on their size and the size of your air fryer.
More great air fryer recipes to check out soon
- Air Fryer Pizza Rolls
- Air Fryer Biscuit Donuts
- Air Fryer Grilled Ham and Cheese
- Air Fryer Chicken Breasts
📖 Recipe
Air Fryer BBQ Chicken Breasts
Ingredients
- 2 pounds Boneless & Skinless Chicken Breasts ($7.96)
- 1 tablespoon Olive Oil ($0.13)
- ½ teaspoon Salt ($0.05)
- ¼ teaspoon Ground Black Pepper ($0.02)
- ½ cup BBQ Sauce ($0.32)
Instructions
- Brush chicken breasts with olive oil.
- Sprinkle salt and pepper over the chicken.
- Place chicken into your preheated air fryer.
- Air fryer 400 degrees F for 8 minutes.
- Flip over and cook another 10 minutes.
- Brush with BBQ sauce and then cook for additional 2 minutes.
- Let rest 5 minutes before serving.
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