How long to slow cook chicken in an air fryer?

While air fryers aren't designed for true slow cooking, you can simulate a slow-cooked texture with a lower temperature and longer cooking time. For a juicy, tender result, cook your fake BBQ chicken in air fryer slow cooker at 300°F to 320°F for about 20 to 25 minutes, flipping halfway through. However, for truly slow-cooked chicken, a traditional slow cooker is more effective. If you want slow-cooked flavor with crispy edges, use the slow cooker first, then transfer your chicken to the air fryer for 2 to 3 minutes to finish.

How long does barbecue chicken take in a slow cooker?

Barbecue chicken in a slow cooker takes about 4 to 5 hours on the LOW setting or 2 to 3 hours on HIGH. When making fake BBQ chicken in air fryer slow cooker meals, it’s best to slow cook the chicken first to infuse deep barbecue flavor, then crisp the outside in the air fryer at the end. Be sure the chicken reaches 165°F internally before serving.

How long does it take to make barbecue chicken in the air fryer?

To make fake BBQ chicken in air fryer slow cooker style using just the air fryer, you’ll need about 18 to 20 minutes. Preheat your air fryer to 360°F, cook for 10 minutes, flip, then cook another 8 minutes. Add the BBQ sauce in the last 2 to 3 minutes to avoid burning and to allow it to caramelize beautifully.

Can you use barbecue sauce in an air fryer?

Yes, but timing is everything. When cooking fake BBQ chicken in air fryer slow cooker meals, never start with BBQ sauce in the air fryer. It burns quickly due to the high heat and sugar content. Instead, cook the chicken first with a dry rub, then brush on your BBQ sauce during the last few minutes. This gives you a sticky, flavorful glaze without burning. For best results, choose a thick BBQ sauce that clings well and doesn’t drip too much during cooking.

Fake BBQ Chicken in Air Fryer Slow Cooker – The Best 2-in-1 Method

Name: How to Make Fake BBQ Chicken in Air Fryer Slow Cooker – The Ultimate Weeknight Hack
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 25 min
Yield: 4
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: ▢1 ½ – 2 lb chicken breast (3-4 chicken breasts), boneless, skinless; ▢½ tsp paprika; ▢½ tsp garlic powder; ▢½ tsp cracked pepper; ▢½ tsp sea salt; ▢⅛ – ¼ cayenne pepper, optional; ▢olive oil/oil spray; ▢⅓ c BBQ sauce

Description

You will love how quick and easy it is to whip up fake bbq chicken in air fryer slow cooker Breast that is smothered in thick and sticky BBQ sauce. Ready in just 20 minutes with a crispy outside and so juicy. A simple dinner recipe the whole family will love!

Ingredients

▢1 ½ – 2 lb chicken breast (3-4 chicken breasts), boneless, skinless

▢½ tsp paprika

▢½ tsp garlic powder

▢½ tsp cracked pepper

▢½ tsp sea salt

▢⅛ – ¼ cayenne pepper, optional

▢olive oil/oil spray

▢⅓ c BBQ sauce

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Instructions

Stir the paprika, garlic, cayenne, salt and pepper together and set aside. Pound chicken if needed to make the thickness as even as possible. Pat the chicken breasts dry and then spray or rub with olive oil. Spread the spice rub over the oil sprayed chicken and gently press into help it stay. Repeat on the other side of the chicken.

Spray or brush the basket of the air fryer with olive oil and lay the chicken top side down (presentation side). Close the airfryer, set it 360°F and heat for 10 minutes. Flip the chicken after 10 minutes and cook for another 8-10 minutes or until the chicken is about 160°F internal temperature.

Spread the BBQ sauce generously on top of the chicken and return to the air fryer for another 1-2 minutes to heat the BBQ sauce. It should reach 165°F at this time. Remove and allow the chicken to rest for 5 minutes before cutting and serving.

Notes

For best results, pound the chicken to make it as even as possible. If you have chicken that is very thick on one side and thin on the other, it can cause one side to be over cooked while the other is under cooked.

Chicken breasts certainly come in all shapes and sizes. If you have very large, thick (over an inch and a half) chicken, it will take a bit longer to cook for sure. If your breasts are small, you may want to check in after less time. A meat thermometer is key for this.

You do not want to cook the chicken the entire time with the BBQ sauce. Only add it to the air fryer chicken breasts in the end. You will end up with very black chicken if not!

Switch up the regular paprika for smoked paprika to bring out the smoky BBQ flavor in this air fryer chicken!

Nutrition

Serving Size: 4
Calories: 238kcal
Sugar: 8g
Sodium: 733mg
Fat: 5g
Saturated Fat: 1g
Trans Fat: 1g
Carbohydrates: 10g
Fiber: 1g
Protein: 36g
Cholesterol: 109mg