Shrimp Pasta Salad

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5 from 8 votes

Creamy, delicious Shrimp Pasta Salad is loaded with peppers, onions, shrimp and pasta in a mayonnaise based dressing!

Prep Time15

Cook Time10

Cooling Time1

Total Time1 25

Course: Side Dish

Cuisine: American

Servings:

Calories: 338kcal

Author: Julie Evink

Ingredients

8 ounces elbow macaroni noodles
2 stalks celery chopped small
½ red bell pepper diced, seeds removed
¼ cup chopped green onion
2 cups salad shrimp cooked

Dressing

1 cup mayonnaise
2 teaspoons distilled white vinegar
1 teaspoon granulated sugar
½ teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon yellow mustard
1 Tablespoon fresh lemon juice
½ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon ground black pepper

Instructions

Prepare elbow macaroni to al dente according to package directions. Drain and rinse under cold water.
In a large bowl mix together mayonnaise, white vinegar, sugar, garlic powder, lemon juice, salt and pepper.
Add cooked elbow macaroni, celery, pepper, green onion and salad shrimp to salad dressing and toss to combine.
Cover salad and refrigerate at least one hour, but preferably overnight for the flavor to fully develop. Stir and serve.

Notes

What Else Can You Add To Shrimp Macaroni Salad?

I’ve seen versions with Old Bay seasoning (instead of garlic powder) or other spices like paprika or even a few pinches of cayenne pepper if you like some heat!
If you love lemon, try adding some lemon zest for an extra citrus punch.
Fresh herbs add a nice flavor, too. Fresh dill, fresh parsley, chopped chives, or some thyme would all work great in this recipe.
I love shrimp, but you you can also use cooked crab meat or lobster in this salad. Or, do a mix and call it seafood pasta salad!

Make-Ahead, Serving, And Storage Tips

Make-Ahead: You can serve this shrimp pasta salad within an hour of making it, but it’s best if it can sit overnight in the refrigerator. This allows all of the flavors to meld so it’s even better.

Serving: This salad has a mayonnaise-based dressing so don’t let it sit out of the fridge for more than two hours (or less if it’s hot). If you’re serving it outdoors, it’s a good idea to keep it on ice in the cooler.

Leftovers: Any leftover pasta salad can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for three to four days.

Nutrition