Description
When summer rolls around and the days get longer and hotter, there’s nothing more satisfying than a cold, refreshing pasta salad. And when you add tender shrimp, imitation crab, crisp veggies, and a creamy dressing? Magic happens.
Ingredients
- 12 oz small pasta (elbow macaroni, shells, or rotini)
- 1 cup cooked shrimp, peeled and deveined
- 1 cup imitation crab meat, chopped
- 1 cup celery, diced
- 1 red bell pepper, diced
- ½ red onion, finely diced
- ¾ cup mayonnaise
- ¼ cup sour cream
- 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
- 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon Old Bay seasoning
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
- Optional: a pinch of paprika for garnish
Instructions
1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil.
2. Cook pasta according to package directions until al dente.
3. Drain and rinse under cold water to cool completely. Set aside.
4. If using fresh shrimp, cook them until pink and opaque (about 2-3 minutes in boiling water).
5. If using pre-cooked shrimp, simply chop them into bite-sized pieces.
6. Chop imitation crab meat into small chunks.
7. Dice the celery, red bell pepper, and red onion into small pieces.
8. Chop parsley finely for garnishing.
9. In a small bowl, whisk together mayonnaise, sour cream, Dijon mustard, lemon juice, Old Bay seasoning, salt, and pepper until smooth.
10. In a large bowl, combine cooled pasta, shrimp, crab meat, diced vegetables, and dressing.
11. Toss gently until everything is well coated.
12. Cover the bowl and refrigerate for at least 1 hour before serving.
13. Before serving, sprinkle with fresh parsley and a pinch of paprika if desired.
Notes
Use small pasta like shells, elbow macaroni, or rotini to hold the dressing well.
Chilling the salad allows the flavors to meld together for the best taste.
Don’t skip the lemon juice — it adds brightness to the dish.
Feel free to customize with green peas, diced cucumber, or even real crab or lobster for an elevated version.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Mixing
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 320
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 550mg
- Fat: 18g
- Saturated Fat: 4g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 28g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 14g
- Cholesterol: 85mg