These air fryer BBQ chicken breasts are one of the easiest air fryer recipes! If you're looking for a quick and easy weeknight meal, or even a simple meal prep recipe, you have to make these.

You'll love these air fryer BBQ chicken breasts

It's such an easy dinner. If you're looking for a chicken recipe done in 20 minutes or less, including prep time, you will love this recipe. It's perfect for an easy family dinner or if you're looking for a quick meal prep recipe with chicken breast, this stores and reheats great.

It's so flavorful. Grab a few simple ingredients and your favorite barbecue sauce, and you have such a delicious air fryer chicken recipe.

It's a great meal prep recipe. If you're looking for easy meal prep recipes, you'll love this air fryer BBQ chicken recipe! It's great hot with roasted veggies, or it's delicious as a salad topper.

Air Fryer BBQ Chicken is such an easy way to prepare chicken for an easy weeknight dinner, or meal prepping recipe. You'll love this quick air fryer chicken recipe!

Ingredients

Chicken Breasts. I opt for skinless and boneless chicken breast. I personally prefer them to be thinly sliced, it lets them cook even quicker!

BBQ Sauce. Grab your favorite BBQ sauce for this recipe! Mine is Sweet Baby Ray's, or the ALDI alternative, but you can use whatever one you prefer.

Dry Rub: Garlic Powder, Onion Powder + Chili Powder. I season by chicken with this simple dry rub before putting it in the air fryer. You don't want your BBQ sauce to burn while the chicken is cooking in the air fryer, this dry rub adds an extra level of flavor. You'll seriously have the most flavorful chicken breast.

How to make air fryer BBQ chicken breasts

Preheat your air fryer to 400F. If your air fryer doesn't have a preheat option, let it run at 400F for 5 minutes.
While your air fryer is preheating, spread your spice mix (garlic, chipotle powder and salt) on both sides of your chicken breasts. If you need more, feel free to sprinkle on additional seasoning to your liking.
Spray your air fryer basket with non-stick spray and place your chicken in the basket. You do not want your chicken overlapping. If they are slightly touching in some areas, that's fine, but do not overlap or overstuff your air fryer basket.
Air fry at 400F for 8 minutes. Flip the chicken and air fry at 400F for an additional 3 minutes.
Next, keep your chicken in the air fryer basket and generously spread BBQ sauce on top of the chicken. You don't want to flip the chicken and spread it on the bottom half, it'll get too sticky in the air fryer.
Air fry the chicken with the BBQ sauce on top at 400F for an additional 3-4 minutes of cooking.
Allow to cool for 3-5 minutes and enjoy!

Note: The cook time may vary based on the size of your chicken breasts, the size of your air fryer, and the type of air fryer you have. I recommend using a meat thermometer to ensure the chicken is cooked to 160F. This will give you the best results.

tips for making the best BBQ chicken in the air fryer

Don't overcrowd the basket. You want your chicken to cook evenly and cook thoroughly. To ensure that happens, do not overcrowd your air fryer basket.

Don't forget to spray the basket. The last thing you want is to be scraping the chicken off the air fryer basket. Don't forget to spray!

Flip your chicken after 8 minutes. This, similar to the non-overcrowding of the basket, ensures that the chicken cooks evenly and thoroughly.

When in doubt, use a meat thermometer! If you're ever in doubt whether or not your chicken is cooked, don't be afraid to use a meat thermometer!

Air Fryer BBQ Chicken is so easy to make! It's such a quick air fryer dinner recipe.

Why is my chicken dry in the air fryer?

You're overcooking your chicken breasts! I recommend sticking a meat thermometer in the thickest part of the chicken and monitoring that when air frying your chicken. This will ensure you get a juicy chicken breast recipe every time.

Best BBQ sauce for chicken

That is totally up to you! I always like Staub's barbeque sauce or the generic BBQ sauce from ALDI if you're looking for an affordable option.

What to serve with air fryer BBQ chicken breasts

You can make any of your favorite sides, some of mine are carrot fries, this sun-dried tomato pasta salad, or this broccoli crunch salad. Other great side dishes would be potato salad, a bbq chicken salad, or corn bread.

Storing and reheating

Store any leftover air fryer barbeque chicken in an airtight container in your fridge for 3-4 days. To reheat this air fryer bbq chicken breast, preheat your air fryer to 350F and air fry your leftover chicken for 3-5 minutes, or until heated through.

how to make air fryer bbq chicken breasts.

FAQs

How do you keep chicken breast from drying out in an air fryer?

I recommend using a meat thermometer to be sure that you are cooking chicken to 160F. If your chicken is too dry that means you're over cooking it, so using a meat thermometer will give you the perfectly cooked chicken breasts.

Should I put oil on chicken before air frying?

I don't put oil on chicken before air frying. However, I do spray the air fryer basket with a non-stick cooking spray before making these air fryer BBQ chicken breasts.

Can I put raw chicken in my air fryer?

Yes, you can totally put raw chicken in the air fryer. As with any recipe with raw chicken, just be sure to wash everything it touches super well.

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