• Recipe Box
    • All Recipes
    • Low Carb & Keto
    • Whole30
    • Paleo
    • 30 Minutes or Less
    • Ninja Foodi
    • Air Fryer Recipes
    • Copycat Recipes
    • Appetizers
    • Breakfast & Brunch
    • Desserts
    • Side Dish Recipes
    • Drinks
    • Dips, Salad Dressings & Sauces
    • Web Stories
  • Cooking Tips
  • About
    • Work With Dr. Davinah’s Eats
    • Contact
  • Keto Blog
    • Product Reviews & Guides
    • Recipe Collections
    • Keto Guide for Dummies: A Introduction to Keto
    • Get Exclusive Discounts
    • 360 Cookware
    • Amazon Favorites
    • Shop

↑

Dr. Davinah's Eats

Keto, Low Carb & Air Fryer Recipes for Foodies

  • Recipes
    • Recipe Index
    • Air Fryer Recipes
    • Cast Iron Skillet Recipes
    • Cauliflower Recipes
    • Chicken Recipes
      • Chicken Breast Recipes
      • Chicken Leg Recipes
      • Chicken Thigh Recipes
      • Chicken Wing Recipes
    • Copycat Recipes
    • Sauce Recipes
    • Beef Recipes
    • Five Ingredient Recipes or Less
    • Keto & Low Carb Recipes
      • 30 Minutes or Less
      • Dessert Recipes
      • Pizza Recipes
      • Breakfast Recipes
      • Game Day Recipes
      • Lunch & Dinner Recipes
      • Drink Recipes
    • Holiday Recipes
      • Christmas Recipes
      • Thanksgiving Recipes
    • Spice Mixes & Blends
    • Ninja Foodi Recipes
    • Paleo Recipes
    • Pork Recipes
    • Seafood Recipes
      • Salmon Recipes
      • Scallops Recipes
      • Shrimp Recipes
    • Side Dish Recipes
    • Whole30 Recipes
    • Web Stories
  • Keto Blog
    • Product Reviews & Guides
    • Recipe Meal Idea Lists
  • Shop
    • Exclusive Coupon Codes
    • 360 Cookware
    • Amazon Shop
  • Cooking Tips
  • About
    • Work with Us
    • Contact Us
Home » Healthy Recipes » Air Fryer BBQ Chicken Breasts

Air Fryer BBQ Chicken Breasts

Last Updated September 1, 2022. Published February 13, 2022 By Davinah Cenou Montezuma

94 shares
  • Share
Jump to Recipe
pinterest image for air fryer bbq chicken breasts

This post may contain affiliate links to products I use and highly recommend. You can read my full disclosure .

If you have a taste for grilled BBQ chicken breasts, you can get char-grilled flavor in your air fryer with this easy Ninja Foodi Air Fryer BBQ Chicken Breast recipe. I’m using my homemade keto BBQ sauce, but this tastes great with any hickory or Kansas City-style BBQ sauce you prefer. Enjoy this with my keto coleslaw, air fryer broccoli or air fryer green beans.

air fryer bbq chicken breasts on a plate with caulilini

Why Make This

  • Char-grilled flavor in your air fryer: I like making BBQ foods in the air fryer because it chars the sauce like it was on the grill, but it doesn’t require you to have a grill or even step outside.
  • Quick & easy: this air fryer chicken breast recipe requires just a few ingredients and comes together in less than 20 minutes

Ingredients Needed

  • Chicken Breasts: I’m using raw, boneless chicken breasts with the skin off.
  • Avocado Oil: this helps to brown the meat and allows the spices to stick to the meat.
  • Spices: This includes common pantry spices like smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, salt and pepper, and Italian seasoning. You could use this, but an alternative (if you have it already made), is to use 1 tablespoon of my homemade chicken dry rub.
  • BBQ Sauce: I’m using homemade keto bbq sauce, but you could use any hickory or Kansas-city style BBQ sauce that you prefer. It tastes great on these chicken breasts and other recipes like my fall off the bone ribs.
raw boneless chicken breasts, avocado oil, bbq sauce, and spices in separate bowls

How to Make BBQ Chicken Breasts in an air fryer

  1. Combine the spices, chicken breasts, and oil in a bowl
  2. Add the chicken breast to the air fryer cooking basket
  3. Air Fry on 400 degrees for 8-9 minutes. Flip the meat.
  4. Continue cooking for 7-9 more minutes. Add bbq sauce to both sides of the meat during the last 5 minutes.
photo collage for how to make bbq chicken breasts in the ninja foodi air fryer

Top Cooking Tips & FAQs

  • Use any hickory or mesquite BBQ sauce you prefer: my keto bbq sauce option tastes closest to those; it even includes liquid smoke.
  • Add sauce near the end: you can use sauce in an air fryer, but save it until the last 5-10 minutes of cooking. It’ll char the sauce, but not burn it.
  • Use air fryer parchment paper for a mess-free clean-up.

How long does it take to cook chicken breasts in the air fryer?

Air Fryer Chicken Breasts take 15-18 minutes to cook. The cook times vary based on the size of the chicken breast.

Can you use sauce in an air fryer?

Yes. But, but most sauces like barbecue sauce need to be added during the last five to 10 minutes of cooking.

BBQ sauce cannot stand the temperature needed to cook and grill most meats. So, if you apply it at the beginning of cooking, it will burn.

How long do you grill with an air fryer?

The cook times to get grilled foods with an air fryer vary by protein. For chicken breasts it takes less than 20 minutes.

What to Serve this With

  • Keto Coleslaw
  • Air Fryer Green Beans
  • Creamed Spinach
  • Pressure Cooker Cabbage
  • Air Fryer Broccoli or Frozen Broccoli in the Air Fryer

More Air Fryer BBQ Recipes

  • Air Fryer BBQ Wings
  • BBQ Chicken Thighs
  • BBQ Chicken Drumsticks
  • Dry Rub Chicken Legs
  • Air Fryer Dry Rub Chicken Wings

If you try this recipe, please stop back and leave it a star rating and/or a review in the comments. Stay connected & share photos of your creations with me & others on Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest! 

two air fryer bbq chicken breasts on a plate with caulilini

Air Fryer BBQ Chicken Breasts

Want the taste of grilled bbq chicken breasts without starting up a grill? These Air Fryer BBQ boneless chicken breasts are smoky, charred & cook in 30 minutes.
Prep: 2 mins
Cook: 16 mins
Ready in: 18 mins
Cuisine: American
Course: Appetizer, Dinner, Main Course
Servings: 3
Calories: 369kcal
Author: Davinah
Pin Rate Print

Use DRDAVINAHS at checkout to save on some equipment & ingredients!

Recommended Equipment

Ninja Foodi
Parchment Paper Liners optional

Ingredients

  • 1.5 lbs Chicken Breasts, raw, boneless
  • 2 tbsp Avocado oil
  • 1/3 cup Keto BBQ Sauce, click for the recipe

BBQ Chicken Spice Mix

  • ½ tsp Black Pepper
  • ½ tsp Smoked Paprika
  • ½ tsp Onion Powder
  • ½ tsp Garlic Powder
  • ½ tsp Natural Ancient Sea Salt
  • ½ tsp Italian Seasoning

Instructions

  • Mix the spice mixture in a small bowl
  • Add the spices, chicken breasts, and avocado oil to a bowl. Toss the chicken until it's coated evenly.
  • Place chicken wings on a flat layer in the air fryer basket.
  • Air Fry the chicken breasts on 400 degrees for 9 minutes.
  • Flip the chicken breasts with tongs. Cook them at 400 degrees for 7-9 more minutes (depending on the chicken's size). Add BBQ sauce to both sides of the meat during the last 5 minutes of cooking.
  • Optional: Serve with additional bbq sauce on the side.

Recipe Notes

You can use a round-parchment paper to line the bottom of the basket, but since the parts are dishwasher safe this is not necessary

Nutrition Details

Calories: 369kcal | Carbohydrates: 4g | Protein: 50g | Fat: 17g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 8g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 145mg | Sodium: 652mg | Potassium: 865mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 240IU | Vitamin C: 3mg | Calcium: 21mg | Iron: 1mg

The nutrition facts come from entering the recipe ingredients into Spoonacular API, a database of food ingredients. They may vary for any recipe based on the exact product used. The keto sweeteners I use have 0g net carbs & are not included because sugar alcohols do not impact most people. This is provided as a courtesy, but you can do your own calculations if you wish!

Share this RecipeIf you enjoy this recipe, share a link to it via email or Facebook, pin it, or leave a rating. Please don’t copy/paste the instructions to other websites. Thanks for helping the website grow!

Related Posts

  • a close-up photo of a garlic parmesan wing on a plate
    Garlic Parmesan Chicken Wings [+VIDEO]
  • close-up of chicken dry rub in a glass jar
    Best Chicken Dry Rub Recipe
  • close up of air fryer dry rub chicken legs on a plate with lemon and a green vegetable
    Air Fryer Dry Rub Chicken Drumsticks
  • air fryer roasted chicken wings close up
    Air Fryer Roasted Chicken Wings

Filed Under: Air Fryer Recipes, BBQ Recipes, Chicken Breast Recipes, Chicken Recipes, Healthy Recipes, Keto Appetizer Recipes, Keto Dinner Recipes, Keto Recipes, Ninja Foodi Recipes

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

close up photo of Davinah - the blogger behind Dr. Davinah\'s Eats welcome text that reads, \"I\'m Davinah\" I'm an educator & hardcore foodie who realized eating "all the things" couldn’t last forever. After getting my PhD in Education, I decided to make eating healthier my next big goal. Here, you'll find my collection of keto, low-carb and whole food comfort food recipes. Read More

Search this Website

Free Keto & Low Carb Recipes Delivered Weekly!

Subscribe for amazing recipes, giveaways, discounts and more.

Holiday Favorites

cabbage cooked in a crockpot

Easy Crockpot Cabbage Recipe

getting a slice of strawberry cheesecake

Best Keto Strawberry Cheesecake Recipe

close up of slow cooker turkey tenderloin recipe on a plate with gravy

Crockpot Turkey Tenderloin

Keto Stuffed French Toast topped with blueberries and maple syrup

Healthy Stuffed French Toast with Cream Cheese

a close up of surf and turf with steak and shrimp scampi on a plate

Surf and Turf (Steak & Shrimp) Recipe [+ Video]

close-up shot of Turkey Tenderloin

Air Fryer Turkey Tenderloin [+VIDEO]

Most Popular Recipes

two air fryer salmon filets on a plate topped with garlic butter

Ninja Foodi Air Fryer Herbed Salmon Recipe

crispy air fryer whole chicken wings and sauce on a plate

Ninja Foodi Air Fryer Chicken Wings Recipe [+VIDEO]

air fryer chicken legs recipe on a plate

Ninja Foodi Air Fryer Chicken Legs (Drumsticks) [+VIDEO]

pan seared scallops in a bowl with cauliflower risotto

Seared Scallops and Cauliflower Rice Risotto

a close-up photo of a garlic parmesan wing on a plate

Garlic Parmesan Chicken Wings [+VIDEO]

keto coleslaw in a bowl with a fork

Easy Low Carb & Keto Coleslaw Recipe [+VIDEO]

a close-up of Keto Bang Bang shrimp in a bowl

Low-Carb Bang Bang Shrimp Recipe (Grain-free, No-Added Sugar)

Shrimp Scampi on a white oblong plate

Keto Garlic Shrimp Scampi Recipe [+VIDEO]

close-up of Pressure Cooker Pot Roast in a bowl

Ninja Foodi Pressure Cooker Pot Roast Recipe

Menu Planning Ideas

  • Chicken Recipes
  • 30 Minutes or Less
  • Side Dishes
Close up of a roast chicken on a plate with a lemon slice

Air Fryer Roasted Whole Chicken [4 Ingredients]

air fried chicken sausage on a cutting board

Perfect Air Fryer Chicken Sausages

crispy baked chicken wings on a parchment lined baking sheet

Crispy Oven Baked Chicken Wings Recipe [+VIDEO]

frozen wings cooked in an air fryer on a plate with celery and bbq sauce

Ninja Foodi Air Fryer Frozen Chicken Wings

A plate of baked wings, celery, carrots, and a ramekin of ranch dressing.

Spicy Dry Rub Chicken Wings Recipe [+Video]

keto chicken alfredo bake in a baking dish with broccoli

Keto Chicken Alfredo Bake

cabbage in a pressure cooker cooking pot

Instant Pot Cabbage Recipe [+VIDEO]

air fryer frozen meatballs in a white bowl

How to Cook Frozen Meatballs in an Air Fryer

Halibut on a plate with asparagus and chimichurri sauce

Easy Pan-Seared Halibut Recipe

stacked Cauliflower Hash Browns with green onions

Easy Cauliflower Hash Browns

cabbage in a pressure cooker cooking pot

Instant Pot Cabbage Recipe [+VIDEO]

air fryer mushrooms with roasted garlic butter sauce and roasted garlic

Air Fryer Mushrooms

close up of browned air fryer sausage patties on a plate

Air Fryer Breakfast Sausage Patties [+Video]

cabbage cooked in a crockpot

Easy Crockpot Cabbage Recipe

roasted butternut squash in the air fryer

Air Fryer Butternut Squash

Featured on:

list of magazines and online blogs that feature Dr. Davinah\'s Eats recipes

@DrDavinahs Follow On Instagram

Free Keto & Low Carb Recipes Delivered Weekly!

Subscribe for amazing recipes, giveaways, discounts and more.

By using this website, you agree to our Terms of Use, Privacy Policy, and Disclosures

Browse by Category

Recipes by Course

  • Recipe Index
  • Breakfast
  • Main Course
  • Side Dish Recipes
  • Desserts
  • Drinks
  • Dip, Salad Dressing & Sauces

Recipes by Diet

  • Keto & Low-Carb Recipes
  • Paleo Recipes
  • Whole30 Recipes

About Davinah Policies Work With Us

Search this Website

Copyright ©2023, Dr. Davinah's Eats. All Rights Reserved.
Design by Pixel Me Designs
  • Pin
  • Share