Description
Enjoy juicy, flavorful boneless chicken thighs cooked to perfection in the air fryer with a smoky barbecue glaze. This easy and quick recipe delivers tender chicken with a caramelized BBQ sauce finish that’s perfect for a delightful American main course.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken and Seasonings
- 1 1/2 pounds boneless skinless chicken thighs
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
Sauce
- 1/2 cup barbecue sauce
Instructions
- Preheat the air fryer: Set your air fryer to 380°F and allow it to preheat for 3 minutes to ensure even cooking.
- Prepare the chicken: Pat the chicken thighs dry with paper towels. Place them in a bowl and drizzle with olive oil. Sprinkle smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and black pepper over the chicken. Toss well to coat all pieces evenly with the seasoning.
- Arrange in air fryer: Place the seasoned chicken thighs in a single layer in the air fryer basket, making sure they aren’t overcrowded to allow proper air circulation and cooking.
- Cook first side: Cook the chicken for 10 minutes at 380°F in the air fryer.
- Flip the chicken: Turn the chicken thighs over to cook the other side evenly.
- Cook second side: Continue cooking for another 6 to 8 minutes until the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F, ensuring it is fully cooked and safe to eat.
- Apply BBQ sauce: Brush a generous layer of barbecue sauce over each piece of chicken.
- Caramelize the sauce: Return the chicken to the air fryer and cook for an additional 2 to 3 minutes, allowing the barbecue sauce to caramelize and add a delicious glaze.
- Rest and serve: Remove the chicken from the air fryer and let it rest for a few minutes to retain juices before serving.
Notes
- Avoid overcrowding the air fryer basket to ensure even cooking and crispy edges.
- Feel free to use your favorite barbecue sauce to customize the flavor to your preference.
- For an extra charred finish, brush the chicken with additional barbecue sauce and cook for 1 more minute after caramelizing.
