This quick and easy boneless chicken thighs 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.
Table of Contents
🗝️ Key takeaways
- Making this inexpensive cut of chicken in the air fryer keeps them juicy and delicious plus it's so quick to make.
- Since this cooks in less than 15 minutes it's a quick, easy weeknight dinner.
- Be sure to read the Things to know section carefully to get tips for getting the best results with your air fryer!
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"!
🧾 Air fryer chicken thighs 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.
📖 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 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 barbecue 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.
🔪 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. Cooking time may vary from air fryer to air fryer.
🥫 How to store leftovers
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.
Need to warm it up? Preheat air fryer to 350F. Air fry chicken for 2 -3 minutes, flip, and air fry a minute or so more.
Check out this guide to reheating leftovers in the air fryer for more types of leftovers you can reheat in your air fryer.
💭 Things to know
Expert Tip: Air fryers are not all the same and may cook at different rates. Be sure to use an Insta-read thermometer to check the temperature of the chicken before removing it 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.
You can but you'll need to increase the cooking time to 20 to 30 minutes. Be sure to check with an Instant-read thermometer. It should read 160F. It will continue to cook to a safe 165F as you let it rest for 5 minutes.
📚 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...
I like to keep it easy with make-ahead sides like Creamy Southern Coleslaw or Potato Salad. If there's time dish up some Easy Drop Biscuits and finish with this easy Lemon Ice Box Pie.
📞 The last word
I love a quick and easy dinner and these air fryer boneless chicken thighs check all the boxes. They're inexpensive and slathered in sticky sweet barbecue sauce.
Finally, they're cooked to juicy perfection.
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.
If you love this recipe please give it 5 star rating! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
📖 Recipe
Air Fryer Boneless Chicken Thighs
Print Pin Recipe Rate RecipeIngredients
- 4 chicken thighs, boneless & skinless
- seasoned salt, or salt and pepper
- ½ cup bbq sauce, your favorite - you may need a little more.
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.
Nutrition Facts
Nutrition information is estimated as a courtesy. If using for medical purposes, please verify information using your own nutritional calculator. Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
This recipe has been tested several times. If you choose to use other ingredients, or change the technique in some way, the results may not be the same.
First published August 10, 2022. Last updated August 7, 2023 for more helpful tips and information.
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