Description

This Air Fryer BBQ Chicken Thighs recipe offers juicy, flavorful chicken with a perfectly crispy skin coated in delicious barbecue sauce. Using the air fryer ensures a quick and easy cook with minimal mess, making it ideal for a weeknight dinner or casual gathering. The blend of spices creates a balanced, slightly spicy crust that complements the sweet tangy barbecue sauce, delivering a delightful combination of textures and flavors.

Ingredients

Scale

Chicken

6 chicken thighs, bone-in, with skin

Spices

1/2 tsp garlic powder
1/2 tsp onion powder
1/2 tsp red chili powder or cayenne pepper
1/4 tsp black pepper
1/2 tsp salt

Sauce

1/2 cup barbecue sauce

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Instructions

Prepare the chicken: Trim off any excess fat from the chicken thighs and pat them dry thoroughly using paper towels to ensure the skin crisps up nicely. Score the skin side by making a few shallow cuts into the flesh down to the bone to allow the seasoning to penetrate deeply.
Season the chicken: In a small bowl, combine the garlic powder, onion powder, red chili powder, black pepper, and salt. Place the chicken thighs in a large bowl and toss them with the spice mixture until fully coated on all sides.
Preheat the air fryer: Preheat your air fryer to 400°F (200°C) to get it ready for cooking, ensuring the chicken starts cooking at the right temperature for a crispy finish.
Initial cooking: Place the chicken thighs skin-side down in the air fryer basket and cook for 10 minutes. This helps render the fat and start crisping the skin.
First barbecue sauce application: Remove the basket briefly and generously brush the tops (skin side) of the chicken thighs with barbecue sauce. Return the basket to the air fryer and cook for an additional 5 minutes.
Flip and finish cooking: Flip the chicken thighs so they are skin-side up, brush again with barbecue sauce, and air fry for another 3 to 5 minutes. Cook until the skin is crispy, lightly charred, and the internal temperature reaches 170°F (77°C).
Final sauce and serving: Optionally brush with more barbecue sauce before serving. Serve the chicken thighs warm, perfectly crispy with a smoky barbecue flavor.

Notes

Scoring the chicken skin helps seasonings penetrate and improves crispiness.
Adjust the cooking time based on your air fryer model and size of chicken thighs.
Use a meat thermometer to ensure chicken is cooked safely to 170°F.
Choose your favorite barbecue sauce for different flavor profiles, such as sweet, smoky, or spicy.
Let chicken rest a few minutes after cooking for juicier results.

Nutrition

Serving Size: 1 chicken thigh with sauce (approx. 140g)
Calories: 320 kcal
Sugar: 6 g
Sodium: 650 mg
Fat: 20 g
Saturated Fat: 6 g
Unsaturated Fat: 12 g
Trans Fat: 0 g
Carbohydrates: 8 g
Fiber: 0.5 g
Protein: 25 g
Cholesterol: 110 mg