Description
Delicious Seafood Pasta Salad with Shrimp and Crab is a refreshing and creamy dish perfect for summer gatherings. Loaded with tender pasta, juicy shrimp, sweet crab, and crunchy vegetables, it’s tossed in a flavorful, tangy dressing that brings it all together.
Ingredients
Scale
- 8 oz elbow macaroni or small pasta shells
- 1/2 lb cooked shrimp, peeled and deveined
- 1/2 lb imitation crab meat or real crab, chopped
- 1/2 cup celery, diced
- 1/4 cup red onion, finely chopped
- 1/2 cup red bell pepper, diced
- 1/2 cup mayonnaise
- 1/4 cup sour cream or Greek yogurt
- 1 tbsp lemon juice
- 1 tsp Dijon mustard
- 1/2 tsp Old Bay seasoning (optional)
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Chopped fresh dill or parsley, for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- Cook the pasta according to package directions until al dente. Drain and rinse under cold water to stop cooking. Set aside.
- In a large bowl, combine the shrimp, crab meat, celery, red onion, and bell pepper.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, sour cream, lemon juice, Dijon mustard, Old Bay seasoning (if using), salt, and pepper.
- Add the cooked pasta to the seafood and vegetables, then pour the dressing over everything. Toss gently to combine.
- Cover and chill in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour before serving to let the flavors meld.
- Garnish with chopped fresh dill or parsley before serving if desired.
Notes
- Use small shell pasta or rotini for better texture and sauce cling.
- Adjust the amount of dressing to your preference—add more mayo for extra creaminess.
- For a lighter version, use Greek yogurt instead of sour cream and low-fat mayo.
- Make ahead and refrigerate overnight for deeper flavor.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 320
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 580mg
- Fat: 20g
- Saturated Fat: 4g
- Unsaturated Fat: 14g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 22g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 14g
- Cholesterol: 95mg
Keywords: seafood pasta salad, shrimp and crab salad, cold pasta salad, summer seafood recipe, creamy pasta salad