This quick and easy recipe gives you the great taste of summer grilling all year long! Best of all, chicken cooks in way less time than when you use other methods.
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❤️ Why you'll love it
- Boneless chicken thighs are less expensive that chicken breast and so delicious when done in the air fryer!
- Cooks in less than 15 minutes for a quick and easy weeknight dinner.
- Air fryer bbq chicken thighs have just 3 ingredients.
I don't normally like chicken thighs, to be honest, but this is one of my favorite ways to make them.
I mean, they are SO budget friendly it's hard to turn them down!
It takes just three simple ingredients! They always come out juicy and tender with a sticky bbq sauce coating that is truly "finger lickin' good"!
🧾 Ingredients
This is an overview of the ingredients. You'll find the full measurements and instructions in the green recipe card (printable) at the bottom of the page.
🔪 Instructions
This is an overview of the instructions. Full instructions are in the green recipe card at the bottom of the page.
- Pat the chicken dry and season it.
- Pour your favorite bbq sauce in a small bowl and coat chicken in it, turning to coat all sides.
- Place the chicken thighs in the air fryer basket.
- Air fry for 12 to 15 minutes or until done.
🥫 Storage
Cover the leftover chicken with plastic wrap or put in an airtight container and refrigerate.
If you spray the plastic wrap with non-stick cooking spray it won't stick to the bbq sauce.
You can freeze it for up to 3 months.
📖 Variations
You can reheat air fryer boneless chicken thighs in it, too. They'll always be delicious!
- Just sprinkle with salt and black pepper instead of using a seasoned salt or a sauce.
- Use your favorite bbq sauce or a thick teriyaki sauce.
- You can use bone-in chicken thighs but your cook time will be longer.
- Try boneless chicken breasts instead.
- Sometimes I use a dry rub instead of my homemade bbq sauce.
- I like to sprinkle the air fryer bbq chicken thighs with slices of green onion or sesame seeds just before serving.
- If you make chicken thighs with the skin on in the air fryer you'll get a nice, golden brown, crispy skin. Just make sure to place chicken thighs in the air fryer basket skin side up.
- For a little extra heat add a pinch of cayenne pepper or chipotle to the seasoning.
💭 Things to know
Expert Tip: Air fryers are not all the same and may cook at different rates. Be sure to use a insta-read thermometer to check the temperature of the chicken before removing from the air fryer. The internal temperature of the chicken should always be 165F.
- Don't overcrowd the air fryer. Make sure there 's enough room between the chicken pieces for the air to flow freely.
- You can use different cuts of chicken but be careful that they always hit 165F on a meat thermometer or instant read thermometer before eating. Cooking time will vary.
- Push the thermometer into the thickest part of the meat to get an accurate temperature.
- Always be careful to wash your hands often when working with raw chicken.
👩🍳 FAQs
About 12 to 15 minutes at 380 degrees F.
Set the temperature and let it heat for about 3 minutes.
No, chicken thighs are dark meat and will be a pinkish brown. Just make sure they register 165F.
📚 Related recipes
- This classic southern fried catfish is even quicker and easier in the air fryer!
- These easy grilled chicken breasts are covered with a bourbon peach compote.
- Try these grilled bbq chicken breasts wrapped in bacon...the bacon keeps the meat moist and juicy!
- Copycat Popeye's blackened chicken is spicy and delish!
🍽️ Serve with...
📞 The last word
I love a quick and easy dinner and it just doesn't get quicker or easier than these air fryer boneless chicken thighs slathered in sticky sweet barbecue sauce!
Add some campfire sauce to dip in or spoon over. YUM!
Try them with this easy Frito corn salad.
If you click on the number of servings in the recipe card you can adjust the measurements up or down for the exact number of servings you need. Don't forget that you can click on "add to collection" to save it to your own, private recipe box!
If you love this recipe please give it 5 star rating! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Air Fryer Boneless Chicken Thighs
Print Pin Recipe SaveEquipment Needed
Ingredients
- 4 chicken thighs, boneless & skinless
- seasoned salt, or salt and pepper
- ½ cup bbq sauce, your favorite - you may need a little more.
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Instructions
- Preheat air fryer 380°F.
- Pat chicken dry with paper towels. This helps the bbq sauce stick.
- Sprinkle with salt and pepper or seasoning salt.
- Add the chicken and the bbq sauce to a bowl and coat the chicken with the sauce.
- Place in the air fryer and cook for 12 to 15 minutes or until the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F
- You may need to do this in 2 batches depending on the size of your air fryer.
Notes
- Always pat the chicken pieces dry with paper towel before adding the sauce.
- Place pieces in a single layer and don't overcrowd.
- If cooking bone in chicken your time will increase.
- Air fryers are not all the same and may cook at different rates. Be sure to use a insta-read thermometer to check the temperature of the chicken before removing from the air fryer. The internal temperature of the chicken should always be 165F.
- Don't overcrowd the air fryer. Make sure there 's enough room between the chicken pieces for the air to flow freely.
- You can use different cuts of chicken but be careful that they always hit 165F on a meat thermometer or instant read thermometer before eating. Cooking time will vary.
- Push the thermometer into the thickest part of the meat to get an accurate temperature.
- Always be careful to wash your hands often when working with raw chicken.
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