Easy BBQ Air Fryer Chicken Thighs

Easy BBQ Air Fryer Chicken Thighs is the perfect way to enjoy juicy, flavor-packed chicken in about a half hour.

Made with a simple coriander and garlic rub paired with a sticky barbecue glaze, these chicken thighs are crispy, sweet, and savory, making them perfect as a quick meal any night of the week.

Why this recipe works

You can easily make your own 'better than takeout' barbecue style chicken with the simplicity and ease of an air fryer.

Here is what else you will like about this recipe.

• This recipe is made with simple ingredients that you may already have on hand.
• The coriander rub is a subtle, citrusy, and earthy balance to the sweet barbecue sauce.
• Using an air fryer to make this recipe means not having to deal with an oven or skillet, making for a quick meal with minimal clean up.
• Personalizing the recipe is a easy as swapping out your barbecue sauce.

Have you tried my recipe for Skillet Buffalo Chicken Thighs?

Those Skillet Buffalo Chicken Thighs are juicy, tender, and full of spicy goodness.
Both this recipe for Air Fryer Chicken Thighs and that recipe for Skillet Buffalo Thighs are easy recipes for chicken thighs that taste amazing.

Choosing the right kind of barbeque sauce to use in this recipe can be the secret to the success of the recipe. You can find a variety of barbecue sauces here.

Ingredients Needed.

• Chicken Thighs Skinless and boneless thighs.
• Olive Oil. Adds flavor and also helps to make the outside skin crisp.
• Ground Coriander A small amount really works in this recipe.
• Seasonings. Garlic Powder and Salt.
• Barbecue Sauce. Use the barbecue sauce of your choice.

How to make the Best BBQ Chicken Thighs

• Prep Time 10 Minutes .
• Air Fry Time 30 minutes .
• Servings 8.
• How to serve : Serve with Blue Cheese or Buttermilk Ranch Dressing and Dip , and Air Fryer Cornbread on the side.
• Notes: You will need a large bowl, small bowl, whisk, and a pastry or similar kind of brush. My chicken thighs were made in a convection oven style air fryer, cooking times may vary depending on the air fryer you use.

1. Prepare. Preheat your air fryer to 375°F. Also, prep your basket as needed for nonstick. My basket was taken out of the air fryer and sprayed with nonstick.
2. Chicken Use a clean paper towel to blot the moisture off of the chicken. This will remove liquid etc. helping the coating to stick to the chicken better . Then place the chicken into a large bowl
3. Coating. In a small bowl, use a whisk to combine together the olive oil, coriander, garlic powder, and salt. Pour half of this mixture over the chicken and then toss to coat the chicken. Repeat this process with the remaining mixture so that all of the chicken has been coated with the oil and seasonings.
4. Air Fry Place the seasoned chicken into your air fryer so that there is room between the thighs for the air to circulate. Depending on the size of your air fryer, you may need to make this recipe in batches. Air fry the chicken for 10 minutes. Flip the chicken over and then continue to air fry for 10 minutes more.
5. Sauce. Carefully remove the chicken from your air fryer and use a pastry or similar brush to brush the sauce on to the chicken. Return the chicken to the air fryer and continue to air fry until done, about eight to 10 minutes, depending on the air fryer and chicken.

Tips for making barbecue chicken in an air fryer.

Do not skip the first step where we blot the chicken with paper towels. This is an important step as it removes the excess moisture from the chicken thighs before adding the olive oil and spices, resulting in perfectly crisp skin.

More helpful tips for you.

1. When placing the chicken into the air fryer, leave enough space between the chicken thighs for the air to circulate. Arrange the thighs in a single layer with space between them. If the chicken overlaps, they will 'steam' instead of getting crisp and also they may not cook uniformly. Depending on the size of your air fryer, you may need to make this recipe in batches.
2. We brush the BBQ sauce on the chicken in the last minutes of air frying to prevent the sugars in the sauce from burning while ensuring a sticky, caramelized finish to the chicken.
3. Your chicken is done cooking when it reaches an internal temperature of 165°F before serving it.

FAQ

• Can I use bone-in, skin-on thighs?
  Absolutely! They will most likely take longer to air fry. Start with the skin-side down and flip the thighs halfway through.
• Do I need to preheat my air fryer?
  I find that preheating the air fryer in a recipe such as this one helps the chicken start searing the moment it hits the basket, leading to better browning. It also helps the warm air circulate for cooking your chicken.
• Can I use frozen chicken thighs?
  I would not do this. It is best to thaw the chicken thighs first for even cooking, to ensure the dry rub sticks properly, and for the chicken to cook evenly. If decide to do this note that cooking from frozen means it will take longer for the chicken to properly cook.

Variations.

• Turn this into a Buffalo Chicken recipe by swapping out your barbecue sauce for Buffalo Sauce and add a bit of honey to the sauce.
• Take this chicken up a notch by stirring in some hot sauce.
• Use chicken breasts instead of thighs (air fry times may vary)

How to store chicken thighs.

Once the chicken thighs have fully cooled, they can be stored in an airtight container. When properly stored, chicken thighs should keep for up to a few days when refrigerated or frozen for up to a few months. Thaw the thighs in the refrigerator overnight before reheating and reheat in a skillet over medium heat or in the microwave until warmed through.

You may also be interested in these air fryer recipes.

• Perfect Air Fryer Cheese Scones
• Air Fryer Lemon Garlic Drumsticks
• Air Fryer Cornbread Recipe
• Air Fryer Chicken Asado Tacos Recipe
• Air Fryer Whole Chicken Recipe
• 15 Things You Didn’t Know You Could Make in an Air Fryer