Description
This Amazing Seafood Pasta Salad with Crab and Shrimp is a refreshing and flavorful dish perfect for summer gatherings or light meals. Combining tender pasta, succulent crab meat, and shrimp with crisp vegetables and a zesty mayonnaise-lemon dressing creates a delightful balance of textures and flavors. Chilled and garnished with fresh parsley, it’s a crowd-pleaser that’s quick to prepare in just 30 minutes.
Ingredients
Scale
Seafood and Pasta
- 8 oz pasta (such as rotini or penne)
- 1 cup cooked crab meat
- 1 cup cooked shrimp, peeled and deveined
Vegetables
- 1/2 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
- 1/4 cup red onion, diced
- 1/2 cup bell pepper, diced
- 1/2 cup cucumber, diced
Dressing
- 1/4 cup mayonnaise
- 2 tbsp lemon juice
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- Salt and pepper to taste
Garnish
- Fresh parsley for garnish
Instructions
- Cook the Pasta: Cook the pasta according to the package instructions in boiling water until al dente. Once cooked, drain the pasta and rinse it under cold water to stop the cooking process and cool it down.
- Combine the Ingredients: In a large bowl, mix the cooled pasta with crab meat, shrimp, halved cherry tomatoes, diced red onion, diced bell pepper, and diced cucumber to prepare the salad base.
- Prepare the Dressing: In a separate bowl, whisk together mayonnaise, lemon juice, olive oil, salt, and pepper until you get a smooth, cohesive dressing.
- Toss the Salad: Pour the dressing over the pasta and seafood mixture. Gently toss everything together, making sure all the ingredients are evenly coated.
- Chill: Refrigerate the salad for at least 30 minutes. This chilling time helps the flavors meld together and improves the overall taste.
- Garnish and Serve: Just before serving, garnish the pasta salad with fresh parsley for a burst of color and fresh flavor.
Notes
- Use fresh or thawed cooked seafood for the best flavor.
- You can substitute mayonnaise with Greek yogurt for a lighter dressing.
- Feel free to add other fresh herbs like dill or basil for variation.
- Make sure to cool the pasta completely to prevent the salad from becoming soggy.
- This salad keeps well in the refrigerator for up to 2 days.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Salad
- Method: No-Cook
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: seafood pasta salad, crab pasta salad, shrimp pasta salad, summer salad, chilled pasta salad, seafood salad
