Description
These Air Fryer BBQ Chicken Thighs are crispy, juicy, and packed with smoky barbecue flavor. Perfectly seasoned with garlic, onion, and chili powders, then air fried to create a deliciously charred skin without the mess of grilling.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken
- 6 chicken thighs bone-in, with skin
Spices
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
- 1/2 tsp onion powder
- 1/2 tsp red chili powder or cayenne pepper
- 1/4 tsp black pepper
- 1/2 tsp salt
Sauce
- 1/2 cup barbecue sauce
Instructions
- Prepare the Chicken: Trim excess fat from the chicken thighs and pat them dry with paper towels for a crispier skin. Score the skin side of each thigh by making a few shallow cuts down to the bone; this helps the seasoning penetrate deeper.
- Season the Chicken: In a small bowl, mix together the onion powder, garlic powder, black pepper, and red chili powder. In a large bowl, toss the chicken thighs with the spice mixture and salt until evenly coated.
- Preheat Air Fryer: Preheat your air fryer to 400°F (204°C) to ensure the chicken cooks evenly and the skin crisps properly.
- Initial Cooking: Place the chicken thighs skin-side down in the air fryer basket and cook for 10 minutes. This allows the skin to start rendering and crisping.
- First Sauce Application: Brush the chicken generously with barbecue sauce after the first 10 minutes and continue cooking for another 5 minutes.
- Flip and Finish Cooking: Turn the chicken thighs skin-side up, brush again with barbecue sauce, and air fry for an additional 3 to 5 minutes. Cook until the skin is crispy, lightly charred, and the internal temperature reaches 170°F (77°C).
- Serve: Optionally brush with more barbecue sauce to taste, then serve the chicken warm and enjoy!
Notes
- Make sure not to overcrowd the air fryer basket to allow proper air circulation for even cooking.
- Internal temperature of 170°F ensures the chicken is safely cooked and juicy.
- You can customize the spice level by adjusting the amount of red chili powder or cayenne pepper.
- Use a meat thermometer to check doneness for best results.
- Reheat leftovers in the air fryer to retain crispiness.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 chicken thigh
- Calories: 320
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 600mg
- Fat: 20g
- Saturated Fat: 5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 8g
- Fiber: 0.5g
- Protein: 26g
- Cholesterol: 110mg
