Description
Seafood Pasta Salad is a creamy, refreshing pasta salad loaded with shrimp, imitation crab, crunchy vegetables, and tender pasta. Tossed in a tangy, creamy dressing, it’s perfect for summer lunches, potlucks, picnics, and make-ahead dinners.
Ingredients
For the Salad:
- 12 oz rotini or bow tie pasta
- 1 lb cooked shrimp, peeled, deveined, and chopped
- 8 oz imitation crab meat, chopped
- 1 cup celery, finely diced
- ½ cup red bell pepper, diced
- ¼ cup red onion, finely diced
- ½ cup cherry tomatoes, halved
- ¼ cup fresh parsley, chopped
- 2 tbsp green onions, sliced
For the Dressing:
- ¾ cup mayonnaise
- ½ cup Greek yogurt or sour cream
- 2 tbsp lemon juice
- 1 tbsp Dijon mustard
- 1 tsp Old Bay seasoning
- ½ tsp garlic powder
- ½ tsp dried dill
- ½ tsp salt
- ¼ tsp black pepper
Instructions
- Cook the pasta: Cook the pasta according to package directions until al dente. Drain and rinse under cold water until completely cooled to stop cooking and to cool the pasta for salad preparation.
- Combine the salad ingredients: In a large bowl, mix the cooked and cooled pasta, chopped shrimp, imitation crab, diced celery, red bell pepper, red onion, halved cherry tomatoes, fresh parsley, and sliced green onions, ensuring an even distribution of all ingredients.
- Prepare the dressing: In a separate bowl, whisk together mayonnaise, Greek yogurt or sour cream, lemon juice, Dijon mustard, Old Bay seasoning, garlic powder, dried dill, salt, and black pepper until smooth and creamy.
- Toss the salad with dressing: Pour the dressing over the pasta mixture and gently toss everything together until the salad is evenly coated with the creamy dressing for balanced flavor.
- Chill the salad: Cover the bowl with plastic wrap or a lid and refrigerate the salad for at least 30 minutes to allow flavors to meld and to serve chilled.
- Final toss and serve: Before serving, toss the salad again to redistribute the dressing. Add a little extra dressing if the pasta has absorbed too much and adjust seasoning if needed.
Notes
- Small cooked shrimp work especially well in this pasta salad.
- Add chopped cucumber, peas, or sweet corn for extra crunch and color.
- Fresh crab can be used instead of imitation crab for a more authentic seafood flavor.
- Keep the salad refrigerated and serve chilled to maintain freshness and texture.
- For the best texture, reserve a little dressing to refresh the salad before serving if it has thickened or dried out slightly.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Salad, Pasta Salad, Seafood, Lunch
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
