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–+ servings
BBQ chicken breasts on a white plate after cooking
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4.66 from 44 votes

Air Fryer BBQ Chicken Breast Recipe

Smothered in your favorite BBQ sauce, these finger licking Air Fryer BBQ Chicken Breasts will be a smash hit with the whole family! Dinner will be ready in 30 minutes!
Prep Time10 minutes
Cook Time20 minutes
Total Time30 minutes
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American
Servings: 4
Calories: 355kcal
Author: Becky Hardin

Equipment

  • Air Fryer

Ingredients

  • 1½-2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts *
  • 1 teaspoon chili powder
  • ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
  • ½ teaspoon kosher salt
  • ½ teaspoon onion powder
  • ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • ½ cup BBQ sauce **plus more for serving

Instructions

  • Preheat the Air Fryer to 370°F.
  • For best results, use thin chicken breasts. If needed, slice the chicken breasts in half to create thinner pieces; or place the breasts between parchment paper, plastic wrap, or in a zip-top bag and pound them thin.
    1½-2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts
    Thinly-sliced chicken breasts on a cutting board.
  • Combine the chili powder, smoked paprika, salt, onion powder, and garlic powder in a small dish.
    1 teaspoon chili powder, ½ teaspoon smoked paprika, ½ teaspoon kosher salt, ½ teaspoon onion powder, ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
    Combining seasoning mix in a small bowl.
  • Coat each chicken breast with the oil and seasoning mix.
    1 tablespoon olive oil
    Thin chicken breasts coated in BBQ rub.
  • Place the chicken breasts in the air fryer basket in a single layer. If needed, cook the chicken in batches.
    Seasoned chicken breasts in the basket of an Air Fryer.
  • Cook for 9 minutes, flip the chicken breasts, and cook for 8 more minutes.
    Flipping chicken breasts over.
  • Brush each chicken breast with BBQ sauce.
    ½ cup BBQ sauce
    Brushing BBQ sauce onto chicken breasts in an Air Fryer.
  • Cook for another 2 minutes until the internal temperature reaches 165°F. Slice and serve with additional BBQ sauce.
    Air Fryer with text overlay "cook".

Video

Notes

*Thinner chicken breasts work best, so slice larger breasts in half if needed.
**Use your preferred barbecue sauce--sweet, smoky, tangy, or spicy!
Tips:
  • Be sure to use a preheated Air Fryer for best results.
  • Use similar-sized chicken breasts so they cook evenly.
  • Thicker or bone-in breasts will require a longer cooking time.
  • If you want to give the chicken a smokier taste, swap the paprika for smoked paprika.
Oven Instructions: Season chicken breasts, then bake in the oven for 15 minutes at 350℉. Flip and bake another 10 minutes. Brush with BBQ sauce, and continue cooking for 5-10 minutes, or until fully cooked to 165℉. 
Storage: Store air fryer BBQ chicken in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days, or in the freezer for up to 2 months.

Nutrition

Calories: 355kcal | Carbohydrates: 15g | Protein: 49g | Fat: 10g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 4g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 145mg | Sodium: 931mg | Potassium: 942mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 12g | Vitamin A: 420IU | Vitamin C: 3mg | Calcium: 27mg | Iron: 1mg