BBQ Boneless Chicken Thighs

Name: BBQ Boneless Chicken Thighs
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 25 min
Total time: 30 min
Ingredients: 1 lb chicken thighs (boneless and skinless); 2 tbsp bbq chicken rub; 2 tbsp Avocado Oil (or olive oil); ½ cup BBQ Sauce

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This bbq boneless chicken thighs recipe is a great way to have bbq chicken when it isn’t grilling season or your don’t have a grill. It takes less than 30 minutes from prep to plate and uses 4 simple ingredients. Perfect for a busy weeknight.

BBQ Boneless Chicken Thighs with slices of parsley on top

Why Make This?

Simple & Quick: These air fryer bbq boneless chicken thighs come together in under 30 minutes and require a few basic ingredients.
Saucy & Smoky Delicious: This recipe delivers your favorite smoky barbecue flavors from the comfort of your house using an air fryer, so you don’t have to turn on the grill.
Great for meal prep: pair these air fryer bbq boneless chicken thighs with any of these delicious sides for bbq chicken to make a quick meal.

Ingredients Needed

You need a few ingredients to make these air fryer bbq chicken thighs.

Check the recipe card at the end for exact ingredient amounts.

Chicken thighs: I’m using raw, boneless skinless chicken thighs
BBQ chicken dry rub: this simple seasoning blend includes brown sugar and common spices like garlic powder, chili powder, cayenne pepper and more.
Avocado oil or olive oil: I’m using the oil to help the spices stick to the chicken, but you can also use an avocado oil or olive oil cooking spray.
BBQ sauce: I prefer any hickory or Kansas City style bbq sauce. You can also use homemade bbq sauce since it takes about 15 minutes with common ingredients like ketchup, hot sauce, and Worcestershire sauce.

bbq chicken rub, bbq sauce, avocado oil and chicken thighs on separate bowls

How To Make BBQ Boneless Chicken Thighs

Pat the chicken dry with a paper towel and add it to a large bowl or ziploc bag. Add the bbq chicken rub and oil to the bowl with the chicken, then evenly coat the meat with the seasoning and oil (you may need to unravel the chicken to ensure it’s coated on all sides).
Add the chicken to the air fryer cooking basket in a flat single layer and air fry the thighs at 400 degrees for 16 minutes (flip the chicken halfway through).
Use a basting brush to coat all sides of the chicken with about half of the bbq sauce.
Air fry at 400 degrees for 5-7 minutes more to cook the chicken through and char the sauce a bit. Brush with additional sauce before serving.

step-by-step instructions for how to make air fryer BBQ Boneless Chicken Thighs

Recipe Tips & FAQs

Save the sauce until the end: Save the sauce until the last 5-10 minutes of your bbq boneless chicken thighs’ cook time. If you apply it at the beginning, it’ll burn.
Unfold the chicken: You may need to unravel the chicken thighs when applying the bbq chicken rub to ensure even coating.
Remove the chicken from the fridge 30 minutes before cooking: Cooking meat from room temperature ensures the chicken cooks quickly and evenly
Adjust the cook time for bone-in chicken thighs: as you’ll see from my bone-in air fryer bbq chicken thighs recipe, it takes about 5 minutes more.
Use aluminum foil or parchment paper for easy clean-up

Keeping Chicken Thighs Moist

Whether you are using an air fryer, oven or gas grills, here are some tips to keeping your chicken thighs moist as they cook:

Brine the chicken thighs
When grilling, grill them with the bone in and skin on.
Avoid overcooking them

Storage & Leftovers

Store your leftover chicken in an airtight container for 3-4 days. You can also use these in some leftover bbq chicken recipes.

How long does it take to barbecue boneless skinless thighs?

It takes 20-25 minutes to barbecue boneless skinless thighs at 350-400 degrees, depending on the size of the thighs.

BBQ Boneless Chicken Thighs with slices of lemon, bbq sauce, and parsley on the side

Best Side Dishes

This bbq chicken recipe works great with a variety of side dishes. Here are some great options:

More BBQ Boneless Chicken Thigh Recipes

Here are some different ways to make and use bbq chicken thighs:

BBQ Chicken Nachos: use cooked chicken thighs to make this 15 minute main dish or appetizer to share.
Instant Pot Shredded BBQ Chicken: this pressure cooker recipe uses chicken broth, your favorite bbq sauce, and dry rub.
Baked BBQ Chicken Thighs: make juicy chicken thighs using a baking sheet in the oven.
Slow Cooker BBQ Chicken Thighs: make bone-in or boneless chicken thighs with included tips on the cooking process