The classic Po’ Boy sandwich originates from Louisiana and is one of my all time favourites. This Air Fryer Shrimp Po’ Boy while not 100% authentic is close and it’s a really tasty sandwich no matter what you call it. A popular weeknight dinner that’s ready in 30 minutes using an Air Fryer, and fresh, easily accessible ingredients. You’re going to make this make this often once you see how easy it is. I mean just look at how good this looks!
There’s nothing really complicated about a Po’ Boy, it’s just a perfectly balanced bite of really good ingredients. Sweet shrimp coated and cooked until crispy, paired with classic toppings, crunchy shredded lettuce, ripe sliced tomatoes, and mayo, remoulade sauce or melted butter. Yes, you read that right! Some of the best Po’ Boys I’ve had are drizzled with melted butter. Definitely rich, decadent, and oh so delicious.
Now we need to talk about what we do with all those delicious ingredients and learn how to create an amazing sandwich.
What kind of Bread is used for a Po’ Boy?
Traditional Po’ Boy bread is hard to find outside of Louisiana. It’s a cross between a French Baguette and a Sausage or hot dog bun. It’s got a slightly crusty exterior similar to Baguette, providing structure to the sandwich. Anything too soft, won’t hold up and you definitely don’t want to skimp on the filling. The inside of the bread is softer, and fluffier than a baguette, the perfect texture to absorb all the delicious flavours from the filling, not to mention the sauces!
Since we can’t find an authentic Po’ Boy Bread locally, and I’m not wanting to make the buns from scratch on a busy weeknight, I use any of the following breads. However, if you have the time, and like to bake, try this recipe for homemade Po Boy Bread.
- French bread, wider than a baguette
- French Roll
- Ciabatta Bread
- White Submarine or Hoagie Rolls
- Crusty Italian roll
- Sesame Sausage Buns, in a pinch
Why this Air Fryer Shrimp Po’ Boy recipe works
There are a few reasons this recipe works really well.
- Using a combination of cornstarch, cornmeal and flour makes for a really crispy coating
- Using the Air Fryer cooks the shrimp evenly and in half the time of frying
- No deep frying required, so that means less mess, and less calories
- Various sauces all work well, and allow for different tastes and picky eaters.
What size shrimp should I use?
Since shrimp is the star of the show here, I like to use a larger shrimp, 31/35 if I can find it. Shrimp size is determined by weighing the number of shrimp per pound. So this means, 31-35 shrimp per pound or roughly 8 per Po’ Boy. Look on the outside of the packages if you are buying frozen shrimp. Anything too small will dry out, and have too much coating vs. shrimp. However, bigger isn’t always better and anything too large, may take too long to cook through, and the coating can burn.
Fine Cooking has an excellent article with pictures if you’re new to cooking with shrimp. I’m a visual learner and the article includes a great photo labelled with the different sizes and the corresponding number per pound.
Po’ Boy Filling variations
A Po’ Boy is basically a sandwich that includes a protein and some fresh vegetables, on a Po Boy roll, it’s really quite flexible, but there are some “traditional” combinations that are most often associated with Po’ Boys.
- Crispy Fried Shrimp
- Cornmeal Crusted Oysters
- Fried Catfish
- Popcorn chicken bites
- Alligator Bites! A great recipe from Went Here 8 this!
- Roast beef or ham, thick sliced
What to serve with a Shrimp Po’ Boy?
While you can eat just the Po’ Boy as is, it’s got all the food groups, I do have a couple of suggestions for sides that I really enjoy. Choose one or two of these sides and you’ve got a complete dinner that will leave you feeling full and satisfied.
Sauces and Sides for Po' Boys
A really good sandwich, with a few special sides makes for a delicious and easy weeknight dinner meal.
The Best Remoulade Sauce - House of Nash Eats
Another fabulous recipe from the House of Nash Eats, this is Classic Remoulade. Good on Po Boys, or for dipping fries, or chips in.
Zesty Creole Style R�moulade
A classic Louisiana recipe, with a twist. This zesty version is excellent drizzled over any fillings in a Po Boy. Also a great dipping sauce for chips or fries, if you go for that kind of thing!
Crab Cake Sauce {Crab Cake Recipe}
This tangy lemon tarragon mayonnaise pairs perfectly with fish and seafood. While not traditional, it is a great option for shmearing on a Shrimp or Fish Po Boy
Air fryer Parmesan Dill Fried Pickle ChipsÂ
Just 5 ingredients and a little prep, and you have delicious crispy pickle chips. The tart pickles with a crisp, salty crust pair perfectly with any sandwich
Air Fryer Carrot Fries
Looking for a variation on the regular french fries, or sweet potato fries? Look no further! Air Fried Carrot fries.... sweet and delicious.
Air Fryer Potato Chips
Crispy, crunchy, easy homemade in the Air Fryer Potato Chips. A decadent easy side to serve with your favorite sandwich.
Homemade French Fries
Take the time to make home made fries, it's a little extra work, but the results are worth it.
Summer Sides - Sweet & Spicy Coleslaw
Easy Sweet and Spicy Coleslaw in a homemade vinaigrette dressing. You can make this in just minutes. Great side for sandwiches, pulled pork, or any grilled meat.
Kohlrabi Slaw with Creamy Cilantro Dressing Recipe
Crisp and fresh with a big pop of cilantro flavour, this Kohlrabi Slaw cuts through the richness of the fried shrimp creating a perfect balanced meal.
Cilantro Lime Taco Slaw Recipe
Easy and full of flavor, this slaw is fresh and bright with a delicious cilantro dressing.
Air Fryer Shrimp Po Boy
Ingredients
- 1 lb. large raw shrimp peeled
- 2 whole eggs
- 1 cup panko crumbs
- 1 cup fine corn meal
- 1/2 cup cornstarch
- 1 tsp onion powder
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp pepper
- 1 tsp parsley flakes
- CAJUN MAYO:
- 1 tablespoon Cajun seasoning
- 1/2 cup of mayonnaise
- 2 cups shredded lettuce
- 2 tomatoes sliced
- 4 hoagie rolls
Instructions
- Gather 3 bowls. I like to use cereal bowls. In the first bowl beat the eggs, in the second bowl mix the together the corn meal and panko crumbs. In the last bowl mix together the cornstarch and seasonings.
- Dredge each piece of shrimp first in the cornstarch, then the egg wash and then the corn meal panko mixture.
- Spray air fryer basket or tray lightly with oil and place breaded shrimp in a single layer. Lightly spray the top of the shrimp with oil and Cook on 390 for 5 minutes
- In a mixing bowl, combine the Cajun seasoning and the mayonnaise. Mix well.
- Open rolls and place lettuce on bottom, the add 8-10 pieces of shrimp, next add tomato slices and top with Cajun Mayonnaise
Want to make a Shrimp Po’ Boy and don’t have an Air Fryer? Not to worry, I have an excellent, easy to prepare Shrimp Po’ Boy recipe you can make instead. The breading is different, slightly less crispy as it doesn’t have any cornmeal in the coating, but frying in oil ensures you still get the required crunch.
Now, this is my kind of sandwich. I always have shrimp in the freezer. I happen to love my air fryer too.
This is one of those amazing restaurant style meals that are easy enough to make at home! I made these Po’ Boys and they actually tasted better than what I would get in a restaurant. This is an excellent recipe and I highly recommend!
I’m loving this easy, air fryer, shrimp recipe! Such a great recipe for dinner to whip up quick and still enjoy!
The cajun mayo is to die for!
Such a delicious shrimp recipe! I can’t wait to give it a try!
This po’ boy looks amazing and perfectly crispy! I love cooking in my air fryer so I’ll have to give this a try!
I had my share of Po Boys in Nola so I am glad to find your recipe for the Shrimp Po Boy, it looks amazing and drool-worthy.
This recipe was super delicious and the Mayo is amazing! Thanks for sharing 😋
So there are 2 things I really love, hot dogs and fish tacos. This was the perfect combination of both! OMG, this Shrimp Po’ Boy was truly addictive!