Crispy-edged air fryer BBQ chicken delivers smoky, caramelized flavor with juicy, tender meat – without heating the whole kitchen. A quick rub of spices and a sticky layer of your favorite barbecue sauce forms a glossy, charred coating as the air fryer crisps the skin and seals in juices. Each bite balances sweet, tangy sauce with a hint of smoke and warm spices, finished with a sprinkle of chopped parsley or scallions for freshness. Perfect for weeknight dinners, sliders, or tossed into salads, it’s speedy comfort food that tastes like it came off the grill.
Air Fryer BBQ Chicken
Ingredients
- 1 tbsp light brown sugar
- 2 tsp kosher salt
- 1 tsp smoked paprika
- 1 tsp black pepper
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
- 1/2 tsp onion powder
- 1/2 tsp dry mustard
- 1/4 tsp cayenne pepper
- 1-1/2 tbsp olive oil
- 8 chicken drumsticks
- 1/3 cup barbecue sauce
Instructions
- Make seasoning mix: Preheat air fryer to 400°F for 5 minutes. Meanwhile, stir together sugar, salt, smoked paprika, black pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, dry mustard, and cayenne pepper in a large bowl. Stir in oil, and make a paste.
- Toss chicken in seasoning: Add drumsticks, and toss to coat evenly with spice mixture.
- Cook chicken in air fryer: Carefully line the air fryer basket with aluminum foil. (The basket will be hot from preheating.) Place drumsticks in an even layer in fryer basket, and cook until chicken skin is rendered and charred in spots and a thermometer inserted in thickest portion registers at least 165°F, about 20 minutes, flipping drumsticks halfway through cook time.
- Add barbecue sauce: Brush drumsticks all over with barbecue sauce.
- Finish cooking chicken: Continue to cook until drumsticks are glazed, about 3 minutes.
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