Best Seafood Pasta Salad Recipe (2024)

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A simple, yet delicious, Pasta Seafood Salad with big chunks of Crab Meat and Large Shrimp! Add in hard-boiled eggs, chopped celery, green onion, with a delicious creamy dressing. It’s a fantastic side or a great main course on a hot summer day!

Anyone else love a great summer Pasta Salad loaded with all the seafood your fish loving heart can handle?

For years, I’ve been trying to come up with the Ultimate Seafood Pasta Salad Recipe. One that is loaded with flavor and icy cold! Perfect on a hot summer day!

A few weeks ago on Father’s Day I made the “men folk” at this Nest their favorite summer dish…Crab and Shrimp Boil! It’s SO good! A must-try recipe if you haven’t yet!

I also made a grilled Tri-tip for the “non-fish” loving son, so he’d have something to nibble on while we all gorged ourselves on baby red potatoes, corn, sausage, crab legs, and big jumbo shrimp. There is nothing better than sitting around a big table, laden down with all that seafaring goodness… dunking in carafes of melted lemon butter. Throw in big thick slices of crispy sour dough bread…sigh…we ate till we nearly exploded! (It was like that scene in Willy Wonka…only an entire family sitting around, blowing up like big ol’ balloons!)

When dinner was over, besides all the waddling going on…there was a LOT of left over seafood! So the next day I sat down and removed all the leftover crab from the remaining crab legs, and chopped up the giant shrimp and got to work making this Amazing seafood salad!

This is the perfect Seafood Macaroni salad for your summer holiday celebrations, Memorial Day, Labor Day, and of course…the 4th of July!

How to Make Cold Seafood Pasta Salad

Start off by cooking 1 pound of pasta according to the directions on the package. Rinse and cool.

In a large bowl place the cooled pasta, add 1 cup finely chopped celery, 3 green onions, chopped finely, 1 cup flaked crab meat. (Honestly…that crab meat gets me every. Single. Time. YUM!)

You can use any size shrimp you want, since I was using the leftover shrimp from the seafood boil, they were very large, ginormous! I didn’t want any choking on a shrimp…so I cut them into bite size pieces! Whatever size you use, make sure the shrimp is bite size for this salad. It’s always a good rule of thumb when it comes to cold serve pot luck friendly salads!

Add salt and pepper to taste.

TIP: I recommend going light on the salt in the beginning. You can always add more, but ya can’t take it out! (Have you ever tried to pick grains of salt out of a pasta salad? It can be really time-consuming! Lol)

Dressing ingredients for Pasta Salad

Now this may seem strange…but I add the dressing ingredients at this point and then add the chopped hard-boiled eggs. It makes mixing everything together easier! That’s just me though…you can toss it all in the bowl and then just busy combining things. It’s all about personal preference.

Add in 1 cup Mayonnaise…raise your right hand, place it over your heart, and repeat after me… “I will add Mayonnaise and stay far, far, far, away from the evil Miracle Whip”! (That step is crucial to the success of this dish!)

Add one cup of sour cream. I know, this seems so strange…but the combination of the two is AMAZING! You just have to trust me. Add 1 tablespoon sweet relish, and 2 teaspoons sugar.

Mix, carefully, so you do not break up the crab meat too much, but be sure everything is well combined. (It’s like walking and chewing gum! I sound like I’m contradicting myself…but if I can do this… You can do this!)

Finishing Touches for Pasta Salad

Now that you have everything but the eggs mixed together…add in the 8 diced hard-boiled eggs. Mix until well combined.

TIP: If you want perfect hard-boiled eggs, try cooking them in your instant pot. I have the perfect step-by-step instructions for making hard boiled eggs in your instant pot. They turn out beautiful every single time! Cook a few extra and make deviled eggs. Your family will love you!

That’s a lot of YUM in that bowl! Don’t ya just love a cold creamy pasta salad? I know I do! Cover the bowl, and place the Seafood Salad in the refrigerator. Chill for 4 hours or overnight. (The salad! Not you! You have things to do! Like the dishes!)

This pasta salad is not over powering with “fishy” flavors. It’s the perfect blend of seafood, creamy eggs, and crunchy veggies! It’s a great mayonnaise based seafood salad and keeps well in your refrigerator for days. I store it up to 6 days and eat off it all week! Best Lunch EVER!

I love that this salad can be made ahead of time and is ready to go on Party day! It’s perfect for potlucks, backyard BBQ’s, and Summer Holiday get togethers!

Your family, friends, and guests will really enjoy this yummy summer side dish…but honestly it’s good anytime! All ya really need is a fork and a love of seafood!

Here are some other great Summer Salad Recipes

Broccoli, Pomegranate, and Cranberry Salad
Raspberry Layered Jello Salad
Grandma’s Pea Salad with Peanuts
Classic Red Potato Salad Recipe
BLT salad with fresh basil dressing
Muffuletta Olive Pasta Salad
Blackberry Feta Spring Salad

Thanks so much for stopping by and visiting with me today! I hope y’all have a wonderful 4th of July and make a big ol’ heaping bowl of this delicious Seafood Salad!

Happy Nesting!

Ingredients

1 pound box macaroni pasta
1 cup flaked crab meat
1 cup, cut up, large cooked shrimp
1 cup finely chopped celery
3-4 green onions, finely chopped
8 hard boiled eggs, diced
1 cup mayonnaise
1 cup sour cream
1 Tablespoon sweet relish
2 teaspoons sugar
salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

Cook pasta according to package directions. Rinse and cool.
Boil the eggs, peel, and dice.
In a large bowl, combine cooled pasta, crab, shrimp, celery, onions, slat and pepper, and diced eggs.
Add in sour cream, mayonnaise, relish, and sugar. Mix until well combined. Cover and chill 4 hours or over night.

Notes

This salad will store in the refrigerator for 4-5 days.

FAQs

Is it best to make pasta salad the day before? ›

For storing: After I make this pasta salad, whether making it ahead or storing leftovers, I just pop it in the fridge and it will keep for 2-3 days. For making ahead: I love to make pasta salad 12-24 hours ahead of time. This gives it time to absorb the dressing but not get mushy!

Know More ›

How do you make pasta salad not soggy? ›

Cook the pasta al dente: Al dente pasta is firmer and less likely to become mushy or soggy when mixed with other ingredients. Rinse the pasta with cold water after cooking: This helps to remove excess starch and cool the pasta, which can help to prevent it from becoming soggy.

Explore More ›

Should I rinse pasta when making pasta salad? ›

If you're making a dish that will be served chilled or at room temp—think cold soba, rice noodles, pasta salad—you do want to rinse so that you get toothsome (sorry) individual strands rather than one big gummy clump. Certain types of noodles benefit from a rinse in almost all applications.

Find Out More ›

Does pasta need to cool before making pasta salad? ›

Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Prepare the pasta according to the package directions, or cook slightly more than al dente. Drain pasta, do not rinse, and toss with ½ cup of the prepared dressing in a large shallow bowl. Let cool for at least 15 minutes until pasta reaches room temperature.

Keep Reading ›

Why is my seafood salad watery? ›

The best way to keep your shrimp salad from getting watery is to make sure you pat your shrimp dry with paper towels after cooking. That said, the shrimp salad may still produce some liquid as it sits in the fridge and this is totally normal.

Get More Info Here ›

Is Marie Rose sauce the same as seafood sauce? ›

Marie Rose sauce (known in some areas as co*cktail sauce or seafood sauce) is a British condiment often made from a blend of tomatoes, mayonnaise, Worcestershire sauce, lemon juice and black pepper. A simpler version can be made by merely mixing tomato ketchup with mayonnaise.

See Details ›

Is hoisin sauce same as seafood sauce? ›

Though "hoisin" means "seafood" in Cantonese, hoisin sauce contains no ocean elements and is rarely used with seafood dishes. Chefs incorporate this delicious sauce in authentic Chinese, Vietnamese, and Cantonese dishes, and its versatility has earned it the title "Chinese Barbecue Sauce."

Get More Info Here ›

Why does my pasta salad taste weird? ›

Vinegar and other acidic ingredients do strange things to the flavor of pasta when used in salad-level amounts. Ever notice an irritating acerbic aftertaste just about every time you've eaten pasta salad? That's the vinegar announcing itself, and it's not pleasant.

Find Out More ›

Should you rinse pasta with cold water? ›

Do Not Rinse. Pasta should never, ever be rinsed for a warm dish. The starch in the water is what helps the sauce adhere to your pasta. The only time you should ever rinse your pasta is when you are going to use it in a cold dish like a pasta salad or when you are not going to use it immediately.

Get More Info Here ›

When should you throw out pasta salad? ›

For the most part, pasta salad will last between 4 to 7 days if you store it correctly. Always use sealed containers or freezer-quality storage bags. (You can also freeze it for up to three months – you can read more on freezing pasta salad in the section below.)

Discover More ›

What is the best olive oil for pasta salad? ›

If you prefer an oil-based pasta salad over a mayo-based pasta salad, using quality, flavorful oil is key. You can't go wrong with California Olive Ranch's extra virgin olive oil.

Should you run pasta under cold water for pasta salad? ›

The starch in the water is what helps the sauce adhere to your pasta. The only time you should ever rinse your pasta is when you are going to use it in a cold dish like a pasta salad or when you are not going to use it immediately. In those cases, rinsing the pasta helps to stop the cooking process.

Best Seafood Pasta Salad Recipe (2024)

How to Make Cold Seafood Pasta Salad

Dressing ingredients for Pasta Salad

Finishing Touches for Pasta Salad

Here are some other great Summer Salad Recipes

Ingredients

Instructions

Notes

Recommended Products

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

Serving Size:

FAQs

Is it best to make pasta salad the day before? ›

What is the best olive oil for pasta salad? ›