Seafood Pasta Salad
The Best Seafood Pasta Salad is light, creamy, and full of fresh flavor. This easy cold pasta salad with shrimp and crab is perfect for warm weather, family gatherings, and quick make-ahead meals.
- Prep Time: 25 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Total Time: 25 minutes plus 30 minutes chilling
- Yield: 4 servings
- Category: Salad
- Method: Boiling, Mixing, Chilling
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Seafood Pasta Salad
Ingredients:
8 ounces rotini, penne, or preferred pasta shape
1 cup cooked shrimp, peeled
1 cup fresh crab meat, shell-checked
1/2 cup celery, finely chopped
1/2 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
1/4 cup red onion, finely diced
1/2 cup high-quality mayonnaise
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
Salt, to taste
Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
1 tablespoon fresh dill, finely chopped
Lemon wedges, for serving
Instructions
Cook the pasta according to package instructions until al dente.
Drain and rinse under cold water to stop the cooking and cool the pasta completely.
In a large mixing bowl, combine the cooled pasta, cooked shrimp, crab meat, celery, cherry tomatoes, and red onion.
In a separate small bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, lemon juice, Dijon mustard, salt, and black pepper until smooth.
Pour the dressing over the pasta mixture.
Add the fresh dill and toss gently until everything is evenly coated.
Cover and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes to allow the flavors to meld.
Serve chilled with lemon wedges on the side.
Notes
Use fully cooled pasta so the dressing stays creamy and does not become oily.
Gently fold the crab meat into the salad to keep the texture intact.
This salad tastes even better after chilling, making it a great make-ahead dish.
You can substitute imitation crab if needed, though fresh crab gives the best flavor.
For extra brightness, add a little more lemon juice just before serving.
Find it online: http://elladishes.com/seafood-pasta-salad/
