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Best Seafood Pasta Salad Recipe

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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? 

Close up photo of a plate full of the best seafood pasta salad on a bed of lettuce.

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!)

Bowl with cooked macaroni, chopped celery, onion, and crab meat.

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

Adding chopped cooked shrimp, salt and pepper to the pasta salad preparations.

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!)

Adding Mayonnaise, sour cream, relish, and sugar to the salad mixture.

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!

Adding hard boiled eggs to the salad mixture.

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!)

Seafood Macaroni Salad mixed in a bowl and ready to chill in the refrigerator.

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!

Plate full of Best Seafood Pasta Salad.

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

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!

Photo of Norine with her signature
Yield: 12 servings

Best Seafood Pasta Salad Recipe

Close up photo of a plate full of the best seafood pasta salad on a bed of lettuce.

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!

Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 35 minutes

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

  1. Cook pasta according to package directions. Rinse and cool.
  2. Boil the eggs, peel, and dice.
  3. In a large bowl, combine cooled pasta, crab, shrimp, celery, onions, slat and pepper, and diced eggs.
  4. 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.

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

12 servings

Serving Size:

1 cup

Amount Per Serving: Calories: 305Total Fat: 22gSaturated Fat: 5gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 15gCholesterol: 179mgSodium: 367mgCarbohydrates: 15gFiber: 1gSugar: 3gProtein: 12g

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Delsa S

Saturday 10th of February 2024

Can I use tuna in this recipe along with shrimp and imitation crab meat?

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Monday 12th of February 2024

Hi Delsa! I'm so sorry for my late response! I've been passing a Kidney stone! (OUCH!!!) I'm afraid the tuna would over power the subtle flavors of the crab and shrimp. If that makes sense. I think you could make this without the crab and shrimp and just use tuna? Just an idea. Thanks for stopping by. Norine

Mitchelle

Wednesday 1st of November 2023

Everyone loved this recipe. Thank you! I left out the eggs and shrimp

Alicia

Saturday 2nd of September 2023

We love this recipe! We add some old bay seasoning after we mix it! My husband loves this!

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Wednesday 6th of September 2023

Hi Alicia! Love your addition of Old Bay seasoning! I'm so glad you enjoy this recipe. It's one of my very favorites! Have a wonderful week. Norine

George

Saturday 2nd of September 2023

no spices at all..? How about throwing some old bay in there?

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Wednesday 6th of September 2023

Hi George! You are welcome to season with Old Bay or any other seasonings you like. It does mention salt and pepper, which I know are seasonings and not technically spices, but they do enhance the flavor. However, you can certainly add Old Bay and it would be wonderful. Enjoy! Norine

Kris

Thursday 6th of July 2023

I want to serve this as a main dish. What sides would you recommend?

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Monday 10th of July 2023

Hi Kris! Sorry for my delayed response. I've been in and out of the office getting over a cold. You can never go wrong with crusty sour dough bread and seafood. I love a fruit platter with this or a delicious coleslaw. A cheeseboard would pair with this too. Enjoy and thanks for stopping by. Norine

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