This Shrimp Pasta Salad is my all-time favorite salad, and I don't care what anyone says. It's essentially a macaroni salad with shrimp added. It's tangy, sweet, creamy, and has so many fun textures from celery and red onion to the bouncy shrimp.
Looking for more summer salad recipes? Try my Quinoa Salad next!
About This Recipe
My wife loves a good, creamy macaroni salad. She doesn't usually like mayo-y things, but she makes an exception for macaroni salad! This shrimp pasta salad is essentially a macaroni salad with shrimp added to it.
I made it this weekend for my father-in-law's birthday barbeque, and it was a huge hit with everyone. We ate it with smash burgers, grilled veggies, and more. Even though the salad is pretty creamy, the tanginess makes it very refreshing and not overly heavy. I highly recommend it if you're looking for a delicious side dish for your next cookout.
Another great thing about this shrimp pasta salad is that it tastes even better the next day after the flavors have had a chance to meld. Great for making ahead! Also, it keeps well in the refrigerator for up to 5 days, so it's a good meal prep option as well.
Key Ingredients
Macaroni: This is probably the only time you'll hear this, but overcooking the pasta actually tastes better in pasta salad. I usually go about 1 minute over the recommended time on the package.
Shrimp: Today, I'm using size 90-120 shrimp, which means there are 90-120 shrimp per pound. I like smaller shrimp because it means you will have more shrimp pieces dispersed through the salad. If you only have large shrimp, I recommend chopping them beforehand.
Celery, red bell pepper, and red onion: These provide flavor, a crunchy texture, and a beautiful color. I would not omit any of these.
Dressing: For the creamy dressing, you'll need mayonnaise, apple cider vinegar, sugar, sweet relish, Dijon mustard, salt, and black pepper.
Instructions
STEP 1: Cook the pasta according to the package directions, then drain in a colander.
STEP 2: In a small bowl, combine the dressing ingredients.
STEP 3: Add all the ingredients to a large bowl.
STEP 4: Toss to combine.
๐ Recipe
Shrimp Pasta Salad
Ingredients
- 8 ounces elbow macaroni
- 12 ounces small shrimp (peeled, deveined, and cooked)
- 4 ribs celery (chopped small)
- ยฝ medium red bell pepper (diced)
- ยผ small red onion (finely diced)
Dressing
- 1 cup mayonnaise
- 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar (or white vinegar)
- 2 teaspoons sugar
- 2 tablespoons sweet relish
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- ยผ teaspoon salt
- ยผ teaspoon ground black pepper
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Cook the macaroni according the package directions. Drain then rinse under cold water. Set aside in a colander.
- Combine the dressing ingredients in a small bowl and set aside.
- To a large bowl, add the cooked macaroni, cooked shrimp, celery, red pepper, red onion, and dressing. Gently fold to combine. Serve immediately over refrigerate for up to 5 days.
Leigh
Delicious!! I was just hoping for a good shrimp salad recipe. This is the first one I picked and itโs very good !!! Thank you
BettyL
One of my favorite Seafood Salads. Keeping Recipe Thk you
Renee
Made this for my Birthday Party. Everyone loved it