Air Fryer BBQ Chicken Breast
Juicy, flavorful BBQ chicken breast made in the air fryer in just 15 minutes.
Perfect weeknight dinner with that authentic BBQ flavor without firing up the grill.
Tender, moist chicken with a caramelized BBQ glaze that’s sure to please the whole family.
- Prep Time: 5
- Cook Time: 15
- Total Time: 20 minutes
- Yield: 2 servings 1x
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Air Fryer
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
- 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (about 8 oz each)
- 1/4 cup BBQ sauce
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- Optional: 1 teaspoon brown sugar
- Optional: 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
- Optional: 1 tablespoon honey
- Optional: Fresh herbs for garnish (parsley or cilantro)
Instructions
- Remove chicken from refrigerator 20 minutes before cooking and pat dry with paper towels.
- Preheat air fryer to 380°F (193°C) for 3-5 minutes.
- Brush chicken breasts with olive oil on all sides.
- In a small bowl, combine salt, pepper, garlic powder, and paprika. Sprinkle evenly over both sides of chicken.
- Brush half of the BBQ sauce over both sides of the seasoned chicken breasts.
- Place chicken breasts in the air fryer basket, ensuring they don’t touch.
- Air fry for 6 minutes at 380°F (193°C).
- Flip chicken and brush with half of the remaining BBQ sauce.
- Continue air frying for 6-7 more minutes.
- Brush with the last of the BBQ sauce and air fry for a final 2 minutes until internal temperature reaches 165°F (74°C).
- Transfer to a cutting board and let rest for 3-5 minutes before slicing.
- Garnish with fresh herbs if desired and serve hot.
Notes
For extra juicy chicken, consider brining the breasts in a salt solution (2 tablespoons kosher salt dissolved in 4 cups water) for 30 minutes before cooking.
If your chicken breasts are very thick or uneven, gently pound them to an even thickness of about 3/4 inch for more consistent cooking.
The BBQ sauce will caramelize during cooking – if it’s darkening too quickly, lower the temperature slightly.
Nutrition facts are estimates and may vary based on ingredients used, portion sizes, and preparation methods.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 chicken breast
- Calories: 287
- Sugar: 8
- Sodium: 614
- Fat: 11
- Saturated Fat: 2
- Unsaturated Fat: 8
- Carbohydrates: 10
- Protein: 35
- Cholesterol: 96
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