Ingredients
4 bone-in chicken thighs
1/4 cup olive oil
1 tablespoon smoked paprika
1 tablespoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
3/4 cup sugar-free BBQ sauce
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional)
1/4 cup water or apple cider (for sauce dilution)
Instructions
Preheat air fryer to 375°F (10 minutes)
Season chicken with olive oil, paprika, garlic powder, salt, and pepper
Air fry 10 minutes
Brush with 1/2 cup diluted BBQ sauce
Air fry 10-12 minutes until caramelized
Spoon remaining sauce over thighs before serving
Notes
Use a thin, non-sugar BBQ sauce to prevent burning
Add 1 TBSP honey or maple syrup for extra stickiness
For extra crispy skin, pat thighs dry before oiling
Use air fryer’s “reheat” function on sauce for quicker prep
Adjust Cayenne pepper to control heat level
- Prep Time: 10
- Cook Time: 22
- Category: Cozy Chicken
- Method: Air Fryer
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Flexible (adjust BBQ sauce for low-carb/keto)
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 chicken thigh
- Calories: 320
- Sugar: 2g
- Sodium: 800mg
- Fat: 22g
- Saturated Fat: 5g
- Carbohydrates: 8g
- Fiber: 0g
- Protein: 30g
- Cholesterol: 180mg