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Shrimp Pasta Salad is a quick and easy, tasty, seafood salad that’s great as a side dish or as a main course for those hot summer nights!

Updated: May 8, 2024

I have to admit it… not going to lie… I’m pooped! Between the heat, gardening and a hundred little things going on… I’m just plum worn out!

There’s no “Yee” in my “Haw”!  I also feel like a dog chasing his tail and getting nowhere fast! Ever have one of those weeks? Whew! Bring on the weekend!

One thing I did manage to do this week was prepare this Yummy Shrimp Salad.

I usually try to prepare a few salads that I know I can use throughout the week for lunches.  Mr. Nest goes to work early, and I love him SO much that I get up and pack his lunches for him. (I know right?) So, it is really nice to have a big bowl of this salad in the fridge. 

Here’s what you’ll need to make my favorite Shrimp Salad.

Ingredients Needed for Shrimp Salad

• 1 cup finely grated carrots (about one large carrot)
• ¾ cup chopped celery
• ¼ cup finely chopped green onion
• 2 cups, or 2 (4 ounce) bags frozen, thawed, Wild Caught Salad Shrimp cooked, and peeled. I purchase mine from Kroger/Smith’s Food and Drug.
• 1 (16 ounce) package of small pasta shells, cooked al Dente and drained
• 1½ cups mayonnaise
• 1 teaspoon Old Bay Seasoning
• 2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice
• Salt and Pepper to taste

How to Make Easy Shrimp Pasta Salad

When I created this recipe I used simple ingredients I had on hand…grated carrots, chopped celery, red onion and canned baby shrimp.

I’ve updated this recipe since I first created it, and love the improvements. A simple swap of green onions for the red onions suits this salad better. The dressing has also been updated using Old Bay to the mayonnaise.

The biggest change is that I now use thawed frozen wild caught “salad shrimp”. They hold their shape better than canned shrimp and have a meatier texture.

In a large bowl, add the cooked pasta, shrimp, shredded carrots, celery, and onion.

Seafood Salad Creamy Dressing

In a small bowl, combine 1½ cups of mayonnaise, Old bay seasoning, and lemon juice.

PRO-TIP: I highly recommend real mayonnaise in this salad and NOT Miracle Whip! (For the love of all that’s holy, please do not use Miracle Whip! It’s too sweet for this salad.)

Mix until smooth and creamy! If you really like, you can add more Old Bay seasoning to the dressing for a stronger flavor. Keep in mind you will be adding salt and pepper to taste as well.

Bringing it all together!

Add the Old Bay dressing to the pasta and shrimp. Season with salt and freshly ground pepper.

Stir until well combined. Cover and chill at least 2 hours or overnight.

Serving Suggestions

Before serving, give the salad a good stir.

I love serving this salad with my Smash Burgers or Grilled Tri-Tip for a little taste of “surf and turf”.

This salad is so good! It’s not bogged down with a ton of “add-ins” that bury the star of the show…the Shrimp! It doesn’t need all that fluffy stuff. Just good down home ingredients that you’re likely to have on hand in your pantry!

You can use larger shrimp…but I love the budget friendliness of the small salad shrimp! Generally about $2.00 a 4 ounce bag. Hooray for the little guys!

This salad works great as a side dish, but don’t limit it to just a “side”…it also makes a wonderful main dish for those hot summer days! I love to keep salads like this on hand during the week for a quick lunch!

Favorite Pasta Salad Recipes

• Traditional Hawaiian Pasta Salad
• Best Seafood Pasta Salad
• Mexican Seafood Pasta Salad
• Tortellini Olive Pasta Salad
• Broccoli Pasta Salad by Julia’s Simply Southern

Whether you’re making this as a side dish, or a main dish, if you love shrimp, you’re sure to love this easy salad!

Enjoy!

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