Air Fryer BBQ Chicken Thighs
Juicy, sticky-glazed chicken thighs cooked to perfection in the air fryer with a simple spice rub and caramelized BBQ sauce — ready in just 30 minutes.
Servings: 6 servings
Ingredients
- 2 lbs chicken thighs bone-in, skin-on preferred
- 4 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 teaspoon coriander
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ cup BBQ sauce plus more for serving
- non-stick cooking spray
Instructions
- Preheat the air fryer to 375°F.
- In a small bowl, combine the olive oil, coriander, salt, and garlic powder. Stir until fully mixed.
- Place the chicken thighs in a large bowl. Drizzle with the oil and spice mixture and toss well to coat. Allow to rest while the air fryer finishes preheating.
- Spray the basket of the air fryer with non-stick spray.
- Place 4–6 thighs in the basket at a time, leaving at least ½ inch between each piece. Work in batches if needed.
- Cook for 10 minutes.
- Remove the basket and flip the thighs. Cook for another 10 minutes.
- Using a pastry brush, coat each thigh generously with BBQ sauce. Cook for another 5 minutes.
- Remove the basket and flip the thighs. Brush the tops with more BBQ sauce. Cook for an additional 5–10 minutes, or until the thighs are cooked through and reach an internal temperature of 165°F.
- Repeat with any remaining thighs if working in batches. Serve hot with extra BBQ sauce on the side.
Notes
Storage: Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 days. Reheat in the air fryer at 350°F for 3–4 minutes to restore the caramelized texture.
Tips: Do not overcrowd the air fryer basket — leave at least ½ inch between each thigh so hot air can circulate properly. Work in batches if needed. For boneless skinless thighs, reduce total cook time to about 20–22 minutes.
