Air Fryer BBQ Chicken Thighs – Crispy, Juicy, and Finger-Lickin’ Good!

Looking for a quick, delicious, and crowd-pleasing dinner idea? These Air Fryer BBQ Chicken Thighs are crispy on the outside, juicy on the inside, and bursting with smoky-sweet flavor. Whether you’re cooking for family or just yourself, this easy recipe will be your new weeknight favorite!

Ingredients:

4 bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs
1/4 cup barbecue sauce (your fave kind!)
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon onion powder
1 teaspoon smoked paprika
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon black pepper

Step-by-Step Instructions:

1. Preheat the air fryer
Set your air fryer to 400°F (200°C) and let it preheat for about 5 minutes.

2. Prep the chicken
Pat your chicken thighs dry using paper towels. This helps get that deliciously crispy skin!

3. Make your spice mix
In a small bowl, mix together the olive oil, garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, salt, and black pepper.

4. Season the chicken
Rub the spice mixture all over the chicken thighs until they’re nicely coated. Don’t be shy—get in there!

5. First round of cooking
Place the chicken skin-side down in the air fryer basket. Make sure they aren’t overlapping so they cook evenly.
Cook at 400°F (200°C) for 12 minutes.

6. Flip and sauce it up
Open the air fryer, flip the chicken thighs over, and brush on your barbecue sauce generously.

7. Final cook
Cook for another 8–10 minutes, or until the internal temperature hits 165°F (74°C) and the skin is crispy and caramelized. Use a meat thermometer if you’ve got one!