Air-Fryer BBQ Rooster Recipe

When the climate permits, barbecued rooster on the grill is a staple in my weekly out of doors cooking routine. However on these events after I merely can’t run outdoors to grill, this air-fryer BBQ rooster recipe is a superb indoor stand-in. With the assistance of the air fryer’s highly effective convection fan—as a result of an air fryer, as you would possibly already know, is only a supercharged mini convection oven—we’re capable of get juicy, flippantly charred rooster items lined in a sticky candy and tangy barbecue sauce, no grill required. It takes simply 5 minutes of prep and cooks up in about 20 minutes so it’s nice for busy weeknights. Listed here are a couple of ideas for find out how to completely prepare dinner juicy BBQ rooster in your air fryer.

Ideas for Nice Air-Fryer Barbecue Rooster

Rub the rooster with a flavorful spice paste: Use the time whereas the air fryer is preheating to toss the rooster in a basic barbecue rub containing salt, brown sugar, smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, dry mustard, and cayenne. The sugar within the mix helps to advertise browning on the rooster within the air fryer to imitate a chargrilled impact, whereas the smoked paprika provides a nuanced smoky taste. Ensure that to rub the rooster completely with the mix for a good coating. 

Prepare dinner proper after seasoning: Arguably my favourite a part of cooking with my air fryer is how effectively it heats up and cooks, saving me plenty of time. With the aim of saving time in thoughts, we skip a prolonged dry brine session, and as an alternative prepare dinner the rooster proper after rubbing on the seasoning mix. Whereas we at Severe Eats normally really feel strongly that it’s best to dry brine your rooster, on this particular recipe, we didn’t style an enormous distinction between the rooster that was cooked proper after seasoning versus rooster that was dry brined for as much as 24 hours. That is most likely due to the layers of taste the potent spice mix and the thick and candy barbecue sauce add to the rooster. We did discover that letting the rooster relaxation within the fridge made it considerably moister, however actually, it was nonetheless juicy and flavorful with none refrigeration time earlier than cooking. However don’t fear, for the dry brine lovers on the market, we have included an non-obligatory refrigeration time for the rooster, when you have the time.

Preheat the air-fryer basket: Whenever you take the time to barbecue rooster outdoors on the grill, you don’t simply throw it on a chilly grill. You fireplace it up and get it piping scorching so the rooster begins cooking on contact with the grill grates to supply these beautiful char marks that scream summer time BBQ. The identical method is taken when cooking with the air fryer. Ensure that to preheat the air fryer—it takes simply 5 minutes—earlier than nestling the rooster into the basket. The rooster ought to sizzle on contact with the basket. Additionally be sure to go away house between every bit of rooster to encourage correct air move and even cooking.

Smother in a tangy sauce throughout the previous few minutes of cooking: The sauce is arguably one of the best a part of barbecue rooster. Whereas there are such a lot of nice methods to make barbecue sauce, for this rooster our superb sauce clings to the meat in a sticky glaze and has a steadiness of candy, acidic, and smoky flavors, with only a contact of warmth. Our model right here makes use of ketchup and honey for sweetness, tangy apple cider vinegar and Worcestershire sauce to steadiness that sweetness, and smoky chipotle in adobo sauce and cumin to imitate the smoky taste of barbecue rooster recent off of the grill. In the event you prefer it further smoky you’ll be able to add a small quantity of liquid smoke.

Including sugary sauces too early within the cooking time can result in a burnt mess, so for rooster that’s completely smothered in a caramelized and flippantly charred sauce, wait till the rooster items are partially cooked—for rooster thighs 160℉ and for rooster breasts about 125℉—earlier than lacquering them with sauce, then flip and sauce each side for even cooking. You’ll have shiny glazed barbecue rooster that appears and tastes fairly darn near its grilled counterpart.

Select your favourite rooster elements: We’ve written the primary recipe right here for rooster thighs with cooking occasions that work for each boneless, skinless or bone-in skin-on thighs. We love how the thighs’ darkish meat turns tender and juicy within the air fryer, however this recipe additionally works effectively with rooster breasts. For particular directions on find out how to make it with breasts, see the variation under the primary recipe. 

Whether or not you prepare dinner rooster thighs or breasts, I like to recommend pairing this air-fryer BBQ rooster with a simple slaw and savory cornbread for a satisfying meal.