Air Fryer BBQ Chicken (Healthy, Juicy, 20 Minutes!)

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: American

Prep Time: 10

Cook Time: 10

Total Time: 20

Servings:

Calories: 176kcal

Author: Lauren

Make this super easy BBQ Chicken in the air fryer or on the grill in just 20 minutes! Perfectly juicy and insanely flavorful, it makes the perfect protein to whip up for meal prep or for an easy weeknight dinner! Use it for sandwiches, wraps, salads, or pair it with your favorite sides!

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Equipment

Ingredients

2 lbs. boneless, skinless chicken breast ~3 large breasts
cooking spray or olive oil
1.5 tsp paprika
1.5 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp black pepper
1/3 cup BBQ sauce (80g) I used G Hugh’s sugar free

Instructions

Preheat the air fryer to 350 degrees F.
In a small bowl, whisk the paprika, garlic powder, salt and pepper.
Pound the chicken to an even thickness if needed. Then go to butterfly chicken, but cut in half completely down the middle to make two thinner breasts from each breast (i.e. my 3 large breasts made 6 breasts).
Spray both sides of the chicken with cooking spray. Then season both sides with the seasoning mix, pressing down with your fingers to get it to stay on.
Once the air fryer is preheated, spray the basket with cooking spray and add the chicken in a single layer so it’s not overlapping (you may have to do a couple of batches). Air fry for 5 minutes, then flip and cook for another 3-4 minutes.
Brush chicken with BBQ sauce and cook for another 1-2 minutes or internal temp is 155F (carryover cooking will ensure chicken reaches 165F).
Transfer chicken to a plate or cutting board and let rest for at least 5 minutes before cutting (this will help keep it juicy). Serve with more BBQ sauce if desired and enjoy!

Notes

You can use any BBQ sauce you want for this recipe! You can also switch it up and use buffalo, honey mustard, teriyaki, etc.

Helpful Tips

Allow chicken to come to room temperature - allowing chicken to come to room temperature helps you to cook the chicken faster which helps it not to overcook. When you put cold raw chicken in the air fryer, it can take longer for the middle to heat all the way through, potentially leading to overcooking and drying the chicken out.
Don't overcrowd or overlap chicken - air fryers can dramatically range in size and overcrowding the chicken can lead to uneven cooking. If you have a smaller air fryer, make sure to do a couple of batches so that you don't have to overlap your chicken.
Pound chicken to an even thickness - if you're using large chicken breasts, be sure to pound them to an even thickness. This will help cook them evenly through and also ensure they all cook at the same speed.
Don't overcook! - be sure to pull your chicken out at 155F. Yes, that's right! Carryover cooking while the chicken rests will ensure that the chicken reaches 165F and keep the chicken juicy and moist. Be sure to note that cook time may need to be adjusted based on individual air fryers. That's why checking the internal temperature is a great way to make sure not to overcook.

Nutrition