BBQ Chicken in Air Fryer is an easy way to satisfy BBQ cravings! This recipe is the juiciest chicken, dripping with finger licking BBQ sauce.

Name: BBQ Chicken in Air Fryer
Prep time: 3 min
Cook time: 20 min
Ingredients: 4-6 pieces chicken (drumsticks); 2 tablespoons brown sugar; 1 teaspoon garlic powder; 1 tablespoon olive oil (or non-stick spray)

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BBQ Chicken in Air Fryer is the easiest way to satisfy your BBQ craving! This recipe makes the juiciest chicken, dripping with finger licking BBQ sauce.

During summer months, it's sweltering hot outside. Dragging the barbecue out to make lunch or dinner is out of the question. During the winter, who wants to be outside freezing over the grill?

Making BBQ chicken in the air fryer is the perfect solution. With very little meal prep time, the chicken comes out even tastier and juicier. This Air Fryer BBQ Chicken recipe is perfect because you only need a few common ingredients and cooking time is only 20 minutes.

When we made Air Fryer BBQ Chicken Wings, they turned out so yummy so we used the same dry rub for these drumsticks. For more simple dinner air fryer recipes, you will love our other delicious meals, Air Fryer Chicken Breast Recipe, or Air Fryer Chicken Parmesan.

Ingredients needed to Make BBQ Chicken

Chicken- I used medium drumsticks so I could fit 4-6 in the basket
Brown sugar
Garlic powder
BBQ Sauce- use your favorite barbecue sauce and flavor. I made these with Kraft Hickory Smoke BBQ Sauce and they were delicious!
Olive oil- brush or use olive oil spray to coat the basket to prevent sticking. You can also use parchment paper liners.

Steps to Make Barbecue Chicken Drumsticks

To prepare the basket or air fryer trays, brush about ½ tablespoon olive oil or spray with cooking spray.
Place the chicken, in a single layer, in the air fryer basket. Avoid stacking or overlapping any pieces of chicken.
To prepare the chicken dry rub, use a small bowl and blend together the brown sugar and teaspoon garlic powder. Sprinkle the spice mix over each piece of chicken on both sides. Pat it down until the chicken is well covered.
Air fry the chicken at 400 degrees Fahrenheit for 20 minutes cooking time. Flip the chicken over halfway through cooking. Use a meat thermometer to confirm internal temperature of 165 degrees F.
Once done cooking, remove chicken pieces from air fryer basket or air fryer trays, and then brush chicken with barbecue sauce on both sides of each piece. Serve immediately.

I use a Cosori air fryer to make these BBQ Chicken Drumsticks. 20 minutes was perfect timing 4-6 pieces of chicken. Cook times may vary depending on size, wattage, and thickness of your chicken. You may need to give chicken extra 1-2 minutes of cooking time.

The safest way to confirm doneness when cooking meat is to use a digital meat thermometer like this one. The thickest part of the chicken should have internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit.

For extra flavor, you can add cayenne pepper or chili powder.

FAQS

What type of BBQ Sauce to Use?

For this tasty dish, you can use your favorite sauce and flavor you like. We think Sweet Baby Ray's is the best barbecue sauce. Flavors like Hickory Smoke, and Honey sauces can really add to the flavor too. It's really up to you!

Do I have to use Chicken Drumsticks for this recipe?

I use family favorite chicken drumsticks because it's a simple meal for a weeknight dinner or picnics. This recipe with the brown sugar and garlic powder rub is delicious on chicken pieces, such as chicken wings, and chicken breast too. Cooking times may vary if using thicker piece of chicken.

Can I remove the skin from the chicken first?

Skinless breast and drumsticks are other ways to make a yummy chicken dinner if you prefer skinless.

How do I store leftover Chicken?

To keep this chicken moist, store leftovers in airtight container in refrigerator for 3-5 days. If you aren't going to eat them right away, seal and freeze for up to 2-3 months. After reheating, brush the chicken with BBQ Sauce before serving.

Do I need to flip the chicken in the air fryer?

I find that by turning the chicken halfway through the cooking process, the chicken cooks more evenly.

What can I serve with BBQ Chicken?

This chicken pairs well with so many things. Salad, potatoes, and pasta salad, are all great side dishes.

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