BBQ Sauce for Chicken (or use your favorite storebought BBQ sauce)
Add all the sauce ingredients in a saucepan, and stir to combine.
Bring to simmer on medium-low heat, then reduce heat to low heat. Simmer for 8-10 minutes, until sauce thickens.
Seasoned Chicken Breasts
Preheat air fryer to 360° F (182° C). It takes around 5-10 minutes. If time, bring chicken breasts to room temperature 30 minutes before air frying.
In a small bowl mix together the paprika (½ tsp), garlic powder (½ tsp), onion powder (½ tsp), baking powder (1 tsp), pepper (½ tsp) and kosher salt (½ tsp).
Blot the Chicken Breasts (2 lbs) dry with a paper towel. Slice or pound chicken if needed, to make even thickness. Spray or brush with oil, and set aside.
Spread the spice rub over the oil sprayed Chicken and gently rub it in so it sticks. Repeat on the other side. You can also place the spices and breasts inside a large sealed bag and shake to coat the Chicken. *This may be done up to 30 minutes before air fryer.
Spray the basket of the air fryer with cooking oil (a non-aerosol cooking oil spray). Place the spiced chicken top side down (presentation side) on the basket. Close the air fryer and bake for 10 minutes. Flip chicken and cook for another 8-10 minutes, until it appears golden brown (165°F internal temperature). Repeat if you have a second batch.
When Chicken has baked in the air fryer, during the last few minutes of cooking brush the barbecue sauce generously on top of the chicken and bake for another minute or two.
Remove from air fryer and allow the chicken to rest tented with foil for 5-10 minutes before cutting and serving.If desired, garnish with diced green onions and serve with a side of barbecue sauce.
Notes
I usually remove my chicken when it hits about 163° F internally, as it will continue cooking as it rests. Allow it to rest, covered with foil for 5-10 minutes before slicing.
Only add the BBQ sauce at the very end; if you add it too early or the entire time, you will end up with blackened (burned) chicken.
All chicken breasts are not created equal: if you have some really large breasts (over 1 ½ inches thick), I suggest either butterflying the breasts or pounding with a mallet in a plastic baggie until you reach a similar thickness of around ½-¾ inch.
If you have very small chicken breasts, they may finish sooner, which is why I love this Meater thermometer to determine doneness. It’s wireless and will let you know once the internal temperature reaches 165° F.
Be sure to pat dry your chicken and salt or add dry rub it up to 30-60 minutes ahead for best results. Salt is the only thing that will penetrate the entire breast, so dry brining will add more flavor.
Bring your chicken to room temperature 30 minutes before cooking, pat dry, season with dry rub and cover loosely with paper towel.
Variations and Substitutions
Use your favorite seasonings and spices on the chicken breasts, or keep them simple with just salt and pepper, but please salt them!
BBQ Chicken Thighs: Substitute chicken breast with boneless, skinless chicken thighs if preferred. Preheat air fryer to 400° F (205° C), spray with non-aerosol oil and rub with spices. Cook thighs 12-14 minutes; flipping half way through until internal temperature reaches 165° F.
Low-Carb BBQ Chicken: Replace the barbecue sauce with a sugar-free bbq sauce (my favorite brand!).
Storage Tips
Refrigerate - After the air fryer chicken breast recipe completely cools, store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to four days.How to Freeze - Store the cooled BBQ chicken in an airtight container or freezer-safe bag for up to three months.Reheating - Reheat this recipe in the air fryer for a few minutes or use a microwave as a quicker method. To prevent dry results, sprinkle the chicken with moisture, like water or broth.
How to Cook Air Fryer Bone In Chicken Breast
Preheat the air fryer to 375° F (190° C). Rub bone-in chicken breasts with oil, then coat with dry rub. Place skin side down in the air fryer basket and cook for 25-27 minutes or until chicken reaches 165°F.It's best to use a meat thermometer, insert thermometer in the thickest part of the breast without touching the bones.
Cooking Frozen Chicken Breasts in Air Fryer
Preheat the air fryer to 400° F (205° C) for 5-10 minutes.
Place the frozen chicken breasts in the basket of your air fryer, sprayed with oil.
Air fry for a total of 30 minutes.
After 15 minutes of cooking, flip the breasts.
Cook for another 10-20 minutes until the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165° F in the thickest part of the breast.
In the last few minutes of cooking, brush the sauce on both sides of the breasts.
Brush the BBQ sauce on the last few minutes of air frying; if you do it too soon, it will burn.