Air Fryer Shrimp Po’Boys

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Looking for an easy seafood recipe without having to leave your house? Make the BEST Air Fryer Shrimp Po Boys in just 30 minutes! 

Is it just me or do you sometimes forget about the dinner options you have with shrimp? Recently I had a hankering for a po boy that I just couldn’t shake.

Air fried shrimp made into a po boy on toasted hoagie with tomato and a drizzle of sauce.

So what did I do? I decided to test these out in the air fryer, and I’m so glad I did! 

While shrimp is super nutritious, many people enjoy eating them fried and then we feel guilty because of the whole “deep fried is bad for your health” issue.

But when you use the air fryer, you still can get the crispy, crunchy outside without overcooking the shrimp on the inside. And because we’re skipping the oil, these tasty Cajun shrimp sandwiches are healthier than their deep-fried counterpart.

And that means you can dress up your sandwich with a little sauce. You don’t want to skip the homemade Cajun sauce, because it truly makes this sandwich delicious! 

Ingredients with text labels to make shrimp po boys in the air fryer.

Air Fryer Shrimp Po Boys Ingredients 

Sauce Ingredients:

  • Tony Chachere’s Creole seasoning – this is our fave, but if you can’t find it feel free to use your favorite brand of Cajun seasoning.
  • Mayonnaise – please, whatever you do, DO NOT USE Miracle Whip! I know some people don’t like the thought of mayo, but in this case substitutions aren’t an option 🙂

Po’Boy Ingredients:

  • Raw shrimp – save time by grabbing the ones that are already peeled and deveined. 
  • Cornstarch – this is the secret ingredient for the super crispy outside. 
  • Nature’s SeasonsI love using this blend! It has a little salt, pepper, onion, and garlic powder, and a couple of other ingredients all wrapped into one versatile seasoning. 
  • Eggs
  • Panko crumbs – gives the coating a nice crunch.
  • Cornmeal
  • Lettuce – iceberg is traditional but you can use mixed greens if that’s what you have on hand.
  • Tomatoes – I like to use thin slices for this sandwich.
  • Hoagie rolls – You can swap hoagie rolls for a baguette – look for bread with a crisp, chewy outside and soft interior. 

How To Make Shrimp Po Boys in the Air Fryer

Before you bread the shrimp, make the sauce by mixing the mayo and Cajun seasoning in a small bowl and setting aside. You can refrigerate the sauce until you’re ready to use it.

Rinse the shrimp and pat them dry, removing all of the moisture. This step helps to keep the shrimp crispy.

Prepare your dredging station by setting up 3 medium bowls. The first one will contain the cornstarch and Nature’s Seasoning. Beat the eggs in the second bowl. Add the panko breadcrumbs and cornmeal to the third bowl. 

Two photo collage of dredging station with the shrimp being breaded and then placed in the air fryer basket with text overlay.

Dredge the shrimp in the cornstarch mixture, then the egg wash, followed by a dip in the panko and cornmeal. 

Set the breaded shrimp on a rack or plate while the air fryer preheats. 

Spray the basket with a thin layer of oil. If you are going to use parchment paper liners, do not preheat with the liner in the basket. Instead place it in the bottom of the basket just before you add the shrimp. 

Add the shrimp to the air fryer basket in a single layer, making sure to leave room in between for the air to circulate. Spritz shrimps with a little oil. 

Cook for 6 minutes, turning the shrimp or shaking the basket at the 4 minute mark. Continue cooking until done.

Top shot of two shrimp po boys drizzled with Cajun sauce on a white plate.

Assembling the Sandwiches 

Open the rolls and add the shredded lettuce to the bottom bun. Next add your shrimp and then the tomatoes. 

Drizzle with the delicious Cajun sauce or a homemade remoulade sauce before serving. 

DON’T KNOW WHERE TO START?

Grab the free guide to Air Fryer Cooking Times Cheat Sheet & say goodbye to the guesswork.


Tips for Making Air Fried Shrimp Po Boys

  • Don’t overload your air fryer basket. A crowded basket means your shrimp won’t get crispy. 
  • If you have time, toast the cut sides of the rolls before building the sandwiches.
  • You can prepare the sauce and prep the veggies up to a day ahead. Store both in the refrigerator until you’re ready to fry the shrimp.
  • Shrimp po boys are best eaten immediately after cooking. You can reheat the shrimp later, but they won’t be as crispy. 
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New to air frying? Get the low down on maximizing your usage of this amazing small appliance, including easy clean up tips, with our best air fryer tips for beginners.




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Two Cajun shrimp po boy sandwiches on a white plate.

Air Fryer Shrimp Po’Boys

Bring the bold flavors of a classic Shrimp Po Boy to your table with ease! This Air Fryer version delivers crispy shrimp, fresh fixings, and a zesty sauce for a mouthwatering meal in no time.
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Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 16 minutes
Total Time: 36 minutes
Servings: 4
Calories: 682kcal
Author: Lori

Ingredients

Cajun Sauce Ingredients:

Po’Boy Ingredients:

  • 1 pound raw shrimp, 16-20 size, tails off, peeled & deveined
  • 1/2 cup cornstarch
  • 1 tablespoon Nature’s Season
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 cup panko crumbs
  • 1 cup cornmeal
  • 4 hoagie rolls
  • 2 cups shredded iceberg lettuce
  • 2 tomatoes, thinly sliced

Instructions

Sauce instructions

  • Make the sauce: place Creole seasoning & mayonnaise in a small bow & mix to combine. Set aside.
    1 tablespoon Tony Chachere’s Creole seasoning, 1/2 cup mayonnaise

Shrimp Instructions

  • Rinse the shrimp and pat dry.
    1 pound raw shrimp
  • Make a dredging station using 3 bowls: #1 mix the cornstarch and Nature’s Seasoning, #2 beat the eggs and #3 mix the cornmeal and panko crumbs.
    1/2 cup cornstarch, 1 tablespoon Nature’s Season, 2 eggs, 1 cup panko crumbs, 1 cup cornmeal
  • Dredge each shrimp first in the cornstarch, then the egg wash and ending with the cornmeal panko blend.
  • Preheat the air fryer to 390 degrees F.
  • Spray the air fryer basket with oil. Add breaded shrimp in a single layer, making sure they aren’t touching. Spritz with oil.
  • Cook for 4 minutes, then shake the basket or turn the shrimps with tongs. Cook for an additional 2 minutes.
  • To make sandwiches: open the rolls and place shredded lettuce on the bottom piece. Add 8-10 pieces of shrimp, then the tomato slices and drizzle with the Cajun sauce if using.
    2 cups shredded iceberg lettuce, 4 hoagie rolls, 2 tomatoes

Notes

  • We do not recommend using Miracle Whip in this recipe.
  • Toast the cut sides of the buns if you have time.
  • Sauce and veggies can be prepped ahead of time & stored in the refrigerator.
  • Best eaten immediately.
  • Nutritional information will vary based on the amount of Cajun sauce you use and the hoagie roll selection.
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Nutritional Estimate

Serving: 1sandwich | Calories: 682kcal | Carbohydrates: 95g | Protein: 31g | Fat: 19g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 8g | Monounsaturated Fat: 4g | Trans Fat: 0.04g | Cholesterol: 231mg | Sodium: 1176mg | Potassium: 582mg | Fiber: 9g | Sugar: 9g | Vitamin A: 1519IU | Vitamin C: 10mg | Calcium: 185mg | Iron: 15mg

Nutritional information is provided as a reference, using an online calculator. We recommend verifying the information independently for accuracy.

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