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!
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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 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, with a few more ingredients you can make this Easy Homemade Barbecue Sauce. This is one of our favorite Air Fryer Recipes for Beginners.
For more air fryer chicken recipes make sure to check out our Air Fryer Chicken Leg Quarters, Air Fryer Chicken Thighs and Potatoes, Air Fryer BBQ Chicken Thighs, and Air Fryer Chicken Breasts.
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💛 Why You'll Love This Recipe
- You can adapt it to other cuts. Want to cook a different cut of chicken, like legs or thighs? Check out the variations section for cooking instructions.
- It's quick. Just toss the chicken in and let the air fryer do its thing. In less than 30 minutes you'll have a main dish ready for your plate. That's about half the time it takes in the oven!
- BBQ chicken tastes great with anything. We like serving it up with Cheddar Bacon Ranch Pasta Salad, but you're sure to find numerous side dishes to pair with your saucy chicken.
🛒 Ingredients
Chicken breasts- You will need boneless skinless chicken breasts for this recipe. Make sure to trim the fat off before using.
Seasonings- Because BBQ sauce is already so well flavored, we only need some salt and pepper to season the breasts with.
BBQ Sauce- Use your favorite homemade sauce or store-bought.
See the recipe card below for full ingredients and instructions.
🔀 Substitutions & Variations
Different Chicken Cuts:
- Chicken Quarters: Air fry at 400°F for 10 minutes, flip, cook 10 minutes, then sauce and cook 2 minutes more.
- Bone-In Chicken Thighs, Drumsticks, or Fresh Wings: Cook using the same method as Air Fryer Chicken Leg Quarters, 400°F for 8 minutes, flip, cook another 10 minutes, then sauce and cook 2 more minutes.
- Boneless Chicken Thighs: Cook at 400°F for 15 minutes, flipping halfway. Add sauce and cook 2 minutes longer.
💰 Budget-Friendly Tips
Use cheaper cuts. Bone-in thighs and drumsticks are usually far cheaper than breasts, and stay just as juicy in the air fryer.
Buy chicken in bulk. Freeze individually in bags for quick meals later.
Stretch the meal. Serve BBQ chicken over rice, baked potatoes, or chopped in sandwiches to make smaller portions go further.
🥄 Instructions for Air Fryer BBQ Chicken Breasts
Step 1: Brush chicken breasts with olive oil.
Step 2: Sprinkle salt and pepper over the chicken.
Step 3: Place chicken into your preheated air fryer.
Step 4: Air fry at 400 degrees F for 8 minutes.
Step 5: Flip over and cook for another 10 minutes.
Step 6: Brush with BBQ sauce and then cook for an additional 2 minutes.
Step 7: Let rest 5 minutes before serving.
👩🏻🍳 Expert Tips
- Chicken Safety Guidelines. Make sure your chicken is thoroughly cooked by using a meat thermometer. It should register at least 165°F. Even if the chicken looks slightly pink, it's safe to eat as long as it's reached the right temperature.
- Checking Doneness. When cooking BBQ chicken breasts in the air fryer, check the internal temperature halfway through. This helps you see how quickly it's cooking and prevents it from getting overdone.
❄️ Storage, Reheating & Make Ahead
Storage: Keep leftover Air Fryer BBQ Chicken Breasts in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-4 days.
Reheating: Warm in the air fryer at 350°F for 3-5 minutes until heated through. Microwave 1-2 minutes if you're in a rush.
Make Ahead: Season the chicken up to 24 hours in advance and refrigerate. Air fry and sauce just before serving for best texture.
🥗 Side Dishes or Pairing Ideas
Air Fryer BBQ Chicken Breasts pair well with pasta salads, baked potatoes, mac and cheese, corn on the cob, Orange Creamsicle Fluff, Dill Pickle Potato Salad, or Bacon Ranch Brussel Sprouts.
- Orange Creamsicle FluffRecipe $4.39 / Serving $0.44
- Dill Pickle Potato SaladRecipe $3.68 / Serving $0.37
- Bacon Ranch Brussel SproutsRecipe $7.35 / Serving $1.23
- 5 Ingredient Mac and CheeseRecipe $3.64 / Serving $0.36
❓ Recipe 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 the 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 Recipes You'll Love
- Air Fryer Biscuit DonutsRecipe $1.82
- Air Fryer Grilled Ham and CheeseRecipe $2.47 / Serving $1.24
- Air Fryer Peanut Butter and JellyRecipe $0.94 / Serving $0.47
- Air Fried Oreo CookiesRecipe $2.94 / Serving $0.74
🐝 If you tried these Air Fryer BBQ Chicken Breasts, please leave a ⭐️ star rating and share your buzz in the 💬 comments below. I'd truly appreciate it!
📖 Recipe
Air Fryer BBQ Chicken Breasts
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon olive oil - ($0.14)
- 2 pounds boneless skinless chicken breasts - ($5.94)
- ½ teaspoon salt - ($0.01)
- ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper - ($0.02)
- ½ cup BBQ sauce - ($0.52)
Instructions
- Prep. Preheat the air fryer to 400°F. Brush the chicken breasts on all sides with olive oil.
- Season. Sprinkle the salt and black pepper evenly over both sides of the chicken.
- Air fry. Place the chicken into the air fryer basket in a single layer. Cook at 400°F for 8 minutes.
- Flip. Turn the chicken over and continue cooking for 10 minutes, or until nearly cooked through.
- Sauce. Brush the chicken generously with BBQ sauce, then return to the air fryer and cook for 2 more minutes.
- Rest. Remove the chicken from the air fryer and let it rest for 5 minutes before serving.
Notes
- Other chicken cuts. Bone-in thighs and drumsticks cook similarly but may need slightly longer. Boneless skinless thighs cook in about 15 minutes total, flipping halfway.
- Doneness. Chicken is done when the internal temperature reaches 165°F.
- Storage. Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3 to 4 days. Reheat before serving.
Nutritional Information
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