This Air Fryer Shrimp Po Boy Sandwich is perfect for those who love seafood. I took my craving for this classic and made it easy. Crispy, golden shrimp, perfectly seasoned and piled high on a soft roll. Bring a taste of New Orleans home without all the fuss.
My family loves shrimp, so I have created some delicious recipes using them. For example, my spicy thai noodle with shrimp and my shrimp rice dish.
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Why this Shrimp Po Boy Sandwich Recipe is a Keeper
My Air Fryer Shrimp Po Boy is the perfect way to recreate this traditional New Orleans street sandwich. The air fryer allows all those seasonings to adhere to the shrimp without all the fat and calories of traditional deep frying.
- 30 Minute Meal: This recipe is super easy to make and in 30 minutes.
- Easy Ingredients: Making a po boy with crispy shrimp uses common ingredients you often have on hand.
- Family Favorite: Everyone in the family loves it, making it a go-to meal.
- Delicious Flavor: The dish tastes amazing and is a hit every time.
- Balances Flavors: The recipe achieves a perfect balance of sweet, salty, sour, and savory.
What Kind of Shrimp Should I Use for the Shrimp Po’ Boy Sandwich?
Shrimp is classified by how many you get per pound. Therefore, for this recipe, I like to use 50 – 60 count.
Pro Tip New Orleans Shrimp Sandwich
Pat the shrimp dry: Before breading, pat the shrimp dry with paper towels to help the breading adhere better.
Ingredient Notes and Variation Suggestions for the Best Shrimp Po Boy Recipe
All of the required ingredients are easy to find at the store, but there may even be some of them in the kitchen already. Feel free to use different ingredients to substitute or experiment with flavors.
Get the full printable recipe with specific measurements and directions in the recipe card below.
- Shrimp: I like to use medium to medium-large shrimp since they are the star of the best sandwich ever.
- Panko Bread Crumbs: Feel free to use seasoned breadcrumbs for another layer of flavor.
- Different Breading: You can experiment with different breading options, such as panko breadcrumbs, cornmeal, or even crushed potato chips.
- Hoagie Rolls: I like to use my favorite large hoagie rolls.
- Spicy Shrimp: Add cayenne pepper, hot sauce, or jalapeño to the breading or the sauce.
- Cajun Shrimp: Use Cajun seasoning in the breading and consider adding Andouille sausage to the sandwich.
- Shrimp Salad Po’ Boy: Use cooked shrimp tossed in a creamy dressing instead of fried shrimp.
- Oyster Po’ Boy: Substitute oysters for shrimp for a different seafood option, or roast beef for a beef option.
- Po’ Boy Sauce: Instead of mayonnaise or creamy remoulade sauce, try a chipotle aioli, Worcestershire sauce, mustard, lemon-herb mayo, or even a simple sriracha mayo.
Special Equipment Needed for this Shrimp Recipe
Sometimes a specific piece of equipment is needed to make a recipe just right. In this case, all that’s needed is an air fryer.
- Air Fryer: An air fryer will effectively fry your battered shrimp until golden brown without any extra oil.
How to Make Shrimp Po Boy Sandwich
This classic New Orleans-style French bread po’ boy sandwich comes together in 4 easy to follow steps. This shrimp po’ boy sandwich is so good, it’s in my meal rotation.
Get the full printable recipe with specific measurements and directions in the recipe card below.
- Prepare Breading Station: In 3 separate bowls, beat the eggs, mix the corn meal and breadcrumbs, and mix the cornstarch and seasoning.
- Bread the Shrimp: Dredge each piece of shrimp in the cornstarch, then the egg wash and then the breadcrumbs.
- Air Fry the Shrimp: Spray air fryer basket with oil and add the shrimp in. Spray with oil and cook at 390℉; Fry the shrimp until golden brown, then remove shrimp.
4. Assemble Sandwiches: Open rolls and place lettuce on bottom with 8-10 pieces of shrimp, tomato slices and Cajun aioli.
Prep Ahead Suggestions to Make this Shrimp Po Boy
When I prepare ingredients or steps ahead of time, it can help save me time and kitchen space when it comes to making everything for dinner.
- Bread the Shrimp: You can bread the shrimp ahead of time and store them (unbaked) in the refrigerator for a few hours.
- Make the Sauce: As mentioned above, the sauce can be made ahead of time.
- Chop the Vegetables: You can chop the lettuce, tomatoes, and dill pickles ahead of time and store them in separate containers in the refrigerator.
How to Store, Reheat and Use Leftover Fried Shrimp
- Storing: Store this great recipe separately in the fridge. Shrimp in the refrigerator is good for up to 3 days.
- Reheating: Reheat this shrimp fry in the air fryer.
- Using Leftovers: Enjoy leftovers with Cream Cheese Corn Casserole with Bacon.
Common Questions About This Classic Shrimp Recipe
The way to achieve fried shrimp sandwiches is to use breaded shrimp.
For this recipe we used corn meal and breadcrumbs, but you can also try a flour mixture.
Some of the classic toppings include pickles, lettuce, tomatoes and mayonnaise or remoulade, however you can really add whatever you want.
Sure. While fresh is always best, you can use frozen shrimp. Get them shelled, deveined and ready to go. Make sure that you thaw them and pat dry before starting the breading process so it will stick to the shrimp.
Expert Tips for Making Shrimp Po Boy Recipes Recipe
- Season the Breading: Add spices to the breading for extra flavor. Cajun seasoning, paprika, garlic powder, and onion powder are great options.
- Don’t Overcrowd: Cook the shrimp in a single layer to ensure even cooking and crispiness.
- Toast the Bread: Lightly toasting the bread adds texture and prevents it from getting soggy.
- Make the Sauce Ahead: The remoulade or mayonnaise can be made ahead of time and stored in the refrigerator.
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Air Fryer Shrimp Po Boy
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Ingredients
- 1 pound Raw shrimp, peeled
- 2 Eggs
- 1 cup Panko breadcrumbs
- 1 cup Corn meal
- ½ cup Cornstarch
- 1 tablespoon All Purpose Seasoning
- 1 tablespoon Tony Chicheme’s Cajun seasoning
- ½ cup Mayonnaise
- 2 cups Shredded lettuce
- 2 Tomatoes, sliced
- 4 Hoagie rolls
Instructions
- In 3 separate bowls, beat the eggs, mix the corn meal and breadcrumbs, and mix the cornstarch and All Purpose Seasoning.
- Dredge each piece of shrimp in the cornstarch, then the egg wash and then the corn meal panko.
- Spray air fryer basket with oil and place breaded shrimp in. Spray with oil and cook at 390℉ for 5 minutes.
- In a mixing bowl, combine the Tony's with the mayonnaise to create a Cajun aioli.
- Open rolls and place lettuce on bottom and add 8-10 pieces of shrimp. Then, add tomato slices and top with Cajun aioli.
Christina’s Notes
- Season the Breading: Add spices to the breading for extra flavor. Cajun seasoning, paprika, garlic powder, and onion powder are great options.
- Don’t Overcrowd: Cook the shrimp in a single layer to ensure even cooking and crispiness.
- Toast the Bread: Lightly toasting the bread adds texture and prevents it from getting soggy.
- Make the Sauce Ahead: The remoulade or mayonnaise can be made ahead of time and stored in the refrigerator.
- Scale the recipe: Simply adjust the serving size in the recipe card and the ingredients will update automatically.
- Make your own All Purpose Seasoning: When a recipe calls for All Purpose Seasoning, you can use my homemade All Purpose Seasoning recipe or substitute salt and pepper to taste.
- Meat doneness: I always use a meat thermometer to test for doneness when cooking meat.
- Use unsalted butter: I use unsalted butter so I can control the salt level in the recipe.
- Preheat the oven: Unless otherwise noted, always preheat your oven before baking.
For more helpful information about this recipe, such as variations, substitutions and other pro-tips, check out the blog post.
Nutrition
The nutritional information provided are estimates. It is recommended that you verify this information with your own trusted resource.
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This recipe is my personal adaption of an ethnic-inspired recipe. It is not intended to be an authentic recipe. I’ve recreated this recipe because I enjoy the flavors and I want to encourage my readers to expand their tastes and try new flavor combinations. The recipe, ingredients, and processes may have been adapted to make the recipe accessible to the average American. I have provided links to authentic versions of the recipe in the post above. I encourage you to visit these pages and learn more about the traditional version(s) of this recipe.
Delicious! I love these spicy shrimp sandwiches. They remind me of trips to New Orleans.