Easy BBQ Boneless Chicken Thighs in Air Fryer or Oven
This is the best recipe for BBQ boneless chicken thighs—tender, juicy, and packed with flavor! Made with paprika, garlic powder, and your favorite BBQ sauce, it’s a quick weeknight dinner. Cook these boneless skinless thighs in the air fryer or oven for a sticky, smoky, and delicious meal!
If you need a fast, flavorful dinner, these BBQ boneless chicken thighs are always a win. They turn out tender and juicy, coated in that sticky, smoky barbecue sauce we all love. I keep it simple with paprika, garlic powder, salt, pepper, and whatever BBQ sauce I have on hand — but they’re extra good with my healthy honey barbecue sauce, naturally sweetened and easy to adjust.
Yes, I know chicken thighs are pretty hard to mess up, but this method turns out perfect every single time, with tons of flavor from the simple seasonings you probably already have in your pantry. I’ll never go back to store-bought sauce after making my own — it’s so nice to control the ingredients and sweetness level.
You can bake these, but I love using the air fryer for that quick, caramelized finish without heating up the whole kitchen. It’s a no-brainer recipe I make on repeat when I want big flavor without the fuss.
Why is it quicker to cook boneless skinless chicken thighs in the air fryer than in the oven?
The air fryer uses a fan to circulate hot air all around the chicken, so it cooks faster and more evenly than the oven. No need to preheat or wait forever—your BBQ chicken thighs are ready in about 15–18 minutes, which makes them perfect for busy nights.
Why You’ll Love This Barbecue Chicken Thighs Recipe
- Quick and Easy Prep: Just season, brush on the sauce, and let the air fryer or oven do the work.
- Family-Friendly Favorite: Everyone loves the sticky BBQ flavor—kids and adults alike.
- Perfect Texture: The thighs stay juicy while the BBQ sauce caramelizes for a smoky finish.
- Versatile Cooking Methods: Use your air fryer or oven, whichever you prefer.
Ingredients & Substitutions
Here is everything you need to make the best boneless skinless bbq chicken thighs:
Boneless Skinless Chicken Thighs: The star of the recipe, these stay juicy and tender while soaking up the smoky BBQ flavors. Perfect for air fryer or oven cooking. You can also use boneless chicken breasts instead of boneless skinless thighs. But you will need to reduce the cook time by about 25%.
Light Olive Oil: Helps the seasonings stick and adds a light, smooth base for cooking without overpowering the BBQ sauce. You can also use extra virgin olive oil or avocado oil.
Paprika: Adds a subtle smoky flavor and enhances the color for that picture-perfect BBQ chicken look.
Garlic Powder: Brings a savory depth to the seasoning blend, making every bite more flavorful.
Salt: Enhances all the flavors, ensuring the perfect balance between seasoning and BBQ sauce.
Dash Black Pepper: Adds just a hint of spice to balance the sweetness of the BBQ sauce.
Barbecue Sauce: The ultimate finishing touch, it caramelizes beautifully in the air fryer or oven, giving the chicken that sticky, smoky goodness we all love. Here is a link to my homemade honey barbecue sauce.
How to Make My Air Fryer Barbecue Boneless Skinless Chicken Thighs Recipe
Here are easy, detailed, step-by-step instructions for making my easy bbq dark meat. The instructions are also repeated in the recipe card at the bottom of this blog post.
Step 1: Prepare the Chicken
Cut any excess fat from 4 boneless, skinless chicken thighs and pat dry with paper towels. In a small bowl, 1/2 teaspoon paprika, 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and a dash of black pepper. Sprinkle this mixture evenly over both sides of the chicken thighs. Brush both sides of the chicken with light olive oil.
Step 2: Cook in Air Fryer or Oven
AIR FRYER METHOD: Place chicken thighs in a single layer in the air fryer basket and cook at 375°F for 8 minutes. Flip, brush with 1/3 cup BBQ sauce, and cook for another 4 minutes or until the internal temperature reaches 165°F.
OVEN METHOD: Preheat to 400°F. Place chicken thighs on a lined baking sheet. Bake for 15 minutes, brush with BBQ sauce, and bake another 10-12 minutes or until the internal temperature reaches 165°F..
Caramelize the Sauce: For extra stickiness, broil the chicken for 2-3 minutes after brushing with BBQ sauce.
Let the chicken rest for at least ten minutes before serving.
My Expert Recipe Tips
Use a meat thermometer: Always check for 165°F with an instant-read thermometer in the thickest part of the meat to ensure perfectly cooked chicken.
Avoid overcrowding: In the air fryer, leave space between the thighs for even cooking.
Marinate if you have time: Let the chicken sit with the seasoning for 30 minutes to intensify the flavor.
Delicious Serving Suggestions
- Classic Pairing: Serve with coleslaw or potato salad and cornbread for a BBQ-inspired meal. Add a dash of BBQ seasoning to the coleslaw for an extra flavor boost.
- Fresh Side: Pair with a crisp green salad to balance the smoky flavors. Drizzle with a dressing made from lemon juice and olive oil for a refreshing touch.
- On Rice or Quinoa: Spoon the chicken and extra sauce over white or brown rice or quinoa for a simple dinner. A sprinkle of onion powder on the rice adds depth to the meal.
- In a Wrap: Slice the chicken and wrap it in a tortilla with lettuce, tomatoes, and ranch dressing. Mix in a splash of soy sauce or Worcestershire sauce to the chicken for an extra punch of flavor.
- As a Sandwich: Make BBQ chicken sliders with brioche buns and pickles. Add a pinch of chili powder to the BBQ sauce for a spicy twist.
- Over Grilled Veggies: Serve on top of grilled zucchini, peppers, or asparagus. Brush the veggies with a mix of olive oil and BBQ seasoning before grilling for a cohesive BBQ vibe.
- Taco Night: Chop the chicken and use it as a filling for BBQ chicken tacos. Add a squeeze of lemon juice and sprinkle with onion powder for a zesty, smoky flavor.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you love chicken? Check out more of my easy and gluten-free chicken recipes:
- Dutch Oven Shredded Chicken on Stovetop
- Greek Sheet Pan Chicken with Greek Yogurt Tzatziki
- Easy Garlic Herb Sheet Pan Chicken Thighs with Veggies
- Easy Sous Vide BBQ Pulled Chicken Juicy and Shredded
- Gluten-Free Chicken Tenders Baked Light and Crispy
- Lighter Juicy Air Fryer Chicken Burgers High-Protein Recipe
- Oven Baked Homemade Ground Chicken Nuggets
Easy BBQ Boneless Chicken Thighs in Air Fryer or Oven
Ingredients
- 4 boneless skinless chicken thighs
- 1 tablespoon light olive oil
- 1/2 teaspoon paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- dash black pepper
- 1/3 cup barbecue sauce
Instructions
- Cut any excess fat from 4 boneless, skinless chicken thighs and pat dry with paper towels. In a small bowl, 1/2 teaspoon paprika, 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and a dash of black pepper. Sprinkle this mixture evenly over both sides of the chicken thighs. Brush both sides of the chicken with light olive oil.
- AIR FRYER METHOD: Place chicken thighs in a single layer in the air fryer basket and cook at 375°F for 8 minutes. Flip, brush with 1/3 cup BBQ sauce, and cook for another 4 minutes or until the internal temperature reaches 165°F.OVEN METHOD: Preheat to 400°F. Place chicken thighs on a lined baking sheet. Bake for 15 minutes, brush with BBQ sauce, and bake another 10-12 minutes or until the internal temperature reaches 165°F..Caramelize the Sauce: For extra stickiness, broil the chicken for 2-3 minutes after brushing with BBQ sauce.Let the chicken rest for at least ten minutes before serving.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
This recipe has been reviewed by a healthcare professional for its nutritional balance and alignment with healthy eating principles.
I love how juicy mine came out!
Thank you for the review, Tilly! 🙂
Very juicy chicken! Nicole’s bbq sauce is a winner, too!
Thank you for the review, Alex!
This chicken only takes a few minutes to prep and cooks in the less than 15 minutes in an air fryer! I hope you enjoy making it 🙂