Quick and easy Air Fryer BBQ Chicken breast recipe from a dietitian! Make this delicious dish from start to finish with only 2 ingredients in 15 minutes for an easy weeknight meal!
Is there even such a thing as having too many easy recipes that take just 15 minutes to make? I mean, whether it's a simple pasta meal made with tuna, tortellini tossed with chicken, or this super easy BBQ chicken recipe, to know that I can have dinner made from start to finish in such a short amount of time is a life saver!
And a great thing about barbecue chicken is that it can be served as a stand-alone main entree, tossed in a salad, or use it to make barbecue chicken pizza. It's so versatile and kids love it no matter how it's served!
Although this recipe can be made in the oven, using an air fryer saves time because it heats up quickly and cooks much faster. It will quickly top your list of easy chicken recipes!
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😍Why You'll Love This Recipe
What's not to love about BBQ Chicken?! Just like my pork chop recipe, this barbecue chicken recipe uses just a few ingredients and cooks up in no time!
- Quick and Easy This makes such an easy weeknight dinner! No need to preheat the oven or start your grill. Plus, clean up is a breeze!
- Meal Prep Put this in the air fryer while other foods are cooking in your oven or on the stovetop. This recipe has a classic barbecue chicken flavor so it can be served as a 'main dish' or cut up and used to top pizza or salads. Also, it pairs well with any side, like rice, farro, or pretty much any veggie.
- Two ingredients You only need 2 simple ingredients! Just thin sliced chicken breasts and your favorite barbecue sauce.
- 15-minute recipe Can never have too many of these!
- Kid-friendly Thin-sliced chicken breast is more appealing to most kids simply because smaller pieces require less chewing than larger pieces from standard-sized chicken breasts.
💁♀️Dietitian Tips
While raising kids, I've discovered that their pallets are pretty simple. While many other recipes will suggest that you add a dry rub or spice mix to the chicken before adding barbecue sauce, I have found that it's really not necessary.
Another thing about kids is that many prefer to have foods served separately. Serving a few different foods isn't always easy to do on busy weeknights, but it is when making this air fryer bbq chicken recipe. Since this recipe uses an air fryer, you can use your microwave, oven, or stovetop to make easy side dishes to serve with it while the chicken cooks.
Also, Did you know it's illegal to give chickens hormones? That's right! Whether you buy conventional or organic chicken, no hormones are used in the raising of chickens.
🍗Ingredient Notes
- Chicken Good source of protein. Thin-sliced boneless skinless chicken breasts can be purchased from most grocery stores. It does cost a little more than standard-sized chicken breast, so you may want to slice your own by carefully cutting a standard-sized chicken breast through the center horizontally.
- Barbecue sauce Use your family favorite barbecue sauce. I usually use a sweet barbecue sauce from Trader Joe's or Sweet Baby Rays brand. Fun note to add, it's barbecue sauce, not barbeque sauce 😉
👩🍳Step-by-Step Instructions
- Line the bottom of your air fryer basket with parchment paper and pour bbq sauce into a small bowl or ramekin. If you don't have parchment paper, coat your air fryer basket with a high-heat oil, like avocado oil, to prevent food from sticking.
- Place chicken pieces in a single layer on the air fryer basket. Then brush a light layer of barbecue sauce on the top sides of the thinly sliced chicken breast and air fry at 375 degrees f for ten minutes.
- Brush a thicker layer of barbeque sauce on both sides of the chicken pieces. Return to air fryer basket.
- Air fry for another four minutes. Chicken is done when the internal temperature reaches 165 degrees.
- Serve and enjoy.
⭐How to Serve Leftover Barbecue Chicken
- Simply reheat leftover barbecue chicken and serve it as is with various sides dishes. Barbecue chicken is so versatile.
- Cut up barbecue chicken into small pieces and it to a salad or use it as a pizza topping. Barbecue chicken pizza, anyone? 🙂
- Use it to make a chicken wrap, barbecue chicken sandwich, or chicken salad.
😋What to Serve with BBQ Chicken
- Rice, farro, or mashed potatoes
- Pasta Salad
- Fresh pineapple or fruit salad.
- Homemade chips and guacamole
- Air-fried sweet potato chunks or fries.
- Air-fried asparagus and carrots or broccoli
- A simple lettuce or homemade Caesar salad
- A roasted veggie, like Brussels sprouts.
💡Helpful Tips
- Cooking time may vary depending on the thickness of the chicken pieces as well as the air fryer you are using. If the chicken hasn't reached an internal temperature of 165, continue cooking in 1-2 minute increments until the desired temperature is reached.
- To save on cost, buy standard chicken breasts and slice them in half yourself using a good quality, sharp kitchen knife. Try to make sure each piece has even thickness.
- Use an instant read thermometer (meat thermometer) to confirm the thickest part of the chicken has reached an internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Barbecue sauce cooks fast and will overcook if it's in the air fryer for too long. This is why more is added toward the end of the cooking process.
- Place the drip pan under your air fryer basket or use parchment paper safe for your air fryer basket.
- Never use aerosol non-stick sprays in your air fryer.
- It’s best to use a good quality oil mister or use a silicone basting brush to brush oil on to the air fryer basket to prevent food from sticking.
- There is no need to preheat the air fryer (at least not the air fryer I use).
- I use the Cuisinart Digital Air Fryer Toaster Oven. Love it!
- Different air fryers might require small adjustments in temperature and/or cook time.
- Always follow the manufacturer's instructions for how to properly and safely use your air fryer.
❓Questions You May Have
Let the chicken cool completely. Once cooled, put the leftover barbecue chicken in an airtight container or resealable bag before placing in the refrigerator. Use refrigerated leftovers within 3-4 days.
The answer depends on how thick the chicken pieces are, which air fryer you are using, and whether the chicken is fresh or frozen that you will be air frying. I'd say the range is probably anywhere from seven to twenty minutes for chicken that is not frozen.
If you thaw it first, yes! I have not tried making this using chicken that is still frozen. You would need to cook the chicken longer before adding the first layer barbecue sauce.
You can but I think you will need to cook them for about five minutes longer and hold off on adding the extra layer of barbecue sauce until just a few minutes before they are finished cooking, so the sauce doesn't burn.
More Easy Air Fryer Recipes
Did your kids love this incredible barbecue chicken made in the air fryer? Please let me know by leaving a 5-star rating and review in the comments section. It's the best compliment!
Be sure to follow me on Instagram and Pinterest for more easy recipes and nutrition tips from me, a registered dietitian!
📖 Recipe
15-Minute Air Fryer BBQ Chicken
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 pound chicken breast Thin-sliced boneless, skinless chicken breasts.
- ¼ cup barbecue sauce
Instructions
- Line the bottom of your air fryer basket or coat your air fryer basket with a high heat oil, like avocado oil, to prevent food from sticking.
- Place chicken pieces in a single layer on the air fryer basket.
- Brush a light layer of barbecue sauce on the top side of the thin sliced chicken breast.
- Air fry at 375° for ten minutes.
- Brush a thicker layer of barbecue sauce on both sides of the chicken pieces.
- Return to air fryer basket. Air fry for another three to four minutes.
- Chicken is done when it reaches an internal temperature of 165° F.
- Serve and enjoy!
Notes
- Thin-sliced chicken breasts cook faster than standard-sized chicken breast.
- To save on cost, buy standard chicken breasts and slice them in half horizontally yourself using a good quality, sharp kitchen knife.
- Barbecue sauce cooks fast and will overcook if it's in the air fryer for too long. This is why more is added toward the end of the cooking process.
- Use an instant read thermometer (meat thermometer) to confirm the thickest part of the chicken has reached an internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Place the drip pan under your air fryer basket or use parchment paper safe for your air fryer basket.
- Never use aerosol spray cans in your air fryer.
- It’s best to use a good quality oil mister or use a silicone basting brush to brush oil on to the air fryer basket to prevent food from sticking.
- There is no need to preheat the air fryer (at least not the air fryer I use).
- I use the Cuisinart Digital Air Fryer Toaster Oven. Love it!
- Different air fryers might require small adjustments in temperature and/or cook time.
- Always follow the manufacturer's instructions for how to properly and safely use your air fryer.
Mary Thames says
I just tried this recipe, and it turned out great. I like healthy, quick air fryer dishes like this one. I'll be making it again.
Kristi Ruth RD says
Thank you, Mary! I'm so glad you enjoyed this recipe, and I appreciate you taking the time to leave a review!
Kristi says
So simple!
Mary Kendrick says
My husband liked the tenderness of the chicken and the bbq sauce. I loved the easy recipe. It will be a regular in our house.
Kristi Ruth RD says
I’m so glad you enjoyed this recipe. Thank you for such a kind and detailed review!