Crispy, juicy shrimp nestled in a soft French roll – that’s the magic of Air Fryer Shrimp Po Boys! This New Orleans-inspired sandwich delivers restaurant-quality results in just 20 minutes.
With perfectly seasoned shrimp cooked to golden perfection in your air fryer, these po’ boys offer a healthier twist on the classic while keeping all the authentic flavors. The best part? Each satisfying serving packs 25g of protein while cutting down on the traditional deep-fried fat, making it a smarter choice for seafood lovers.
Ingredients for Crispy Shrimp Po Boys
- Shrimp: 1 pound raw and peeled, perfect for even cooking
- Coating Essentials: 2 eggs, 1 cup each of panko breadcrumbs and cornmeal for extra crunch
- Seasoning Base: 1/2 cup cornstarch, 1 tbsp each of Nature’s Seasoning and Tony’s Creole seasoning
- Assembly Components: 1/2 cup mayo, 2 cups shredded lettuce, 2 sliced tomatoes
- Bread: 4 fresh hoagie rolls for the perfect vessel
Step-by-Step Instructions
- Prep Station: Create three stations – beaten eggs, cornmeal-panko mix, and cornstarch-seasoning blend
- Coating Process: Dredge shrimp through cornstarch, then egg wash, finishing with cornmeal-panko mixture
- Air Frying: Spray basket with oil, arrange shrimp, and spritz them lightly. Air fry at 390°F for 5 minutes
- Sauce Making: Mix mayonnaise with Tony’s seasoning for a zesty Cajun aioli
- Assembly: Layer rolls with lettuce, add 8-10 crispy shrimp, top with tomato slices and Cajun aioli
Air Fryer Tips
Want super crispy shrimp? Leave some space between each piece in your air fryer basket – don’t overlap them! A light spray of oil makes a big difference in getting that golden-brown coating. If you need to cook more shrimp than fits in a single layer, it’s better to do multiple batches than to stack them.
Make it Your Way
This po boy is so flexible! Don’t have cornmeal? Use all panko instead. You can swap the Nature’s Seasoning with any seasoned salt you like. For a spicier sandwich, add extra Tony’s to your breading mix or aioli. Want it lighter? Try Greek yogurt instead of mayo for the sauce.
Serving Ideas
These po boys taste amazing with some classic sides! Try french fries, coleslaw, or potato chips. Add some pickles or hot sauce on top for extra zing. Cut your sandwiches in half – they’re pretty big! Want to make it fancy? Serve with a cold beer and some remoulade sauce on the side for dipping.
Storage Tips
The breaded shrimp stays crispy for about 2-3 hours after cooking. If you need to store leftovers, keep the shrimp separate from the bread and toppings in an airtight container. Warm the shrimp in the air fryer at 350°F for 2-3 minutes to crisp them up again. The sauce will keep in the fridge for up to 3 days.
Air Fryer Shrimp Po Boys
Equipment
- Air Fryer
- Mixing Bowls
Ingredients
- 1 lb Shrimp raw and peeled
- 2 Eggs
- 1 cup Panko Bread Crumbs
- 1 cup Cornmeal
- 1/2 cup Cornstarch
- 1 tbsp Nature’s Seasoning or other seasoned salt
- 1 tbsp Tony Chichere’s Creole Seasoning or other Cajun seasoning
- 1/2 cup Mayonnaise
- 2 cups Shredded Lettuce
- 2 Tomatoes sliced
- 4 Hoagie Rolls
Instructions
- Setup a breading station. In one bowl, beat the eggs. In another bowl, mix the corn meal and panko. In a third bowl, mix the cornstarch and natures 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 the shrimp with oil and Cook on 390 for 5 minutes
- In a mixing bowl, combine mayonnaise with Tony’s seasoning to create a Cajun Aioli.
- Open rolls and place lettuce on the bottom. Then add 8-10 pieces of shrimp. Next add tomato slices, and top with Cajun Aioli.
