Shrimp Macaroni Salad

We love a good pasta salad recipe. They are perfect to throw together for a last minute BBQ and they usually require a few ingredients. This Shrimp Macaroni Salad is loaded with flavor and you only need a few simple ingredients.

This macaroni salad is light, refreshing and easy to make. The perfect pasta salad to prepare ahead of time. It goes with all your grilled meats or Crock Pot BBQ Chicken.

Check out this Easy Macaroni Salad Recipe also.

Why This Recipe Works

This shrimp pasta salad recipe makes the perfect side dish recipe. It is perfect for your next cookout and taste amazing. You can easily make this ahead of time with simple ingredients.

If you love shrimp, then this cold pasta recipe is for you.

Ingredients 

Scroll to the bottom for the full recipe and ingredients in the recipe card.

Variation Ideas

• Pasta – We like using the classic elbow macaroni pasta to make this side dish. But you can use any small pasta.
• Salad Dressing – We like making out salad dressing from scratch. If you prefer your dressing to be thinner, feel free to add in some white vinegar or white wine vinegar. This addition gives the dressing a tangy flavor and balances well with the mayonnaise.
• Vegetables – We love the combination of the bell pepper, celery and onion. It gives the pasta salad the perfect amount of crunch. Feel fee to leave out the onion or change the vegetable to what you prefer.
• Shrimp – We recommend using the small shrimp to make this salad. If you can’t find small shrimp, you can cut larger shrimp in bite size pieces.
• Seasoning – Feel free to add in other seasoning to what you prefer. We all have our favorite spices when making a pasta salad.
• Tuna – If you prefer, you can substitute tuna for shrimp in this pasta salad recipe.
• Relish – For added flavor, mix in dill relish. This give it flavor and an added crunch.
• Boiled Eggs – For added flavor and protein, mix in some chopped boiled eggs. We even like to serve some on top of the Shrimp Macaroni Salad.
• Dill – If you love the flavor of dill, mix in some dried or fresh dill to the dressing.

How to Make Shrimp Macaroni Salad

• Step 1 – Cook Pasta – Cook the pasta based on the package instructions to al dente.  Drain and rinse with cool water.  Then place in a large mixing bowl.  
• Step 2 – Combine Vegetables and Add the Shrimp – Gently stir in the celery, bell pepper, onion and shrimp.  Set aside. 

• Step 3 – Combine Dressing Ingredients – In a separate bowl, whisk together the dressing ingredients until well combined. 

• Step 4 – Mix Pasta Mixture with Dressing – Pour the dressing over the pasta salad ingredients. Then stir until all the ingredients are well coated with the dressing. 

• Step 5 – Serve and Enjoy – Cover and refrigerate for at least 1 hour and then serve cold. Before serving we like to season with salt and pepper.

Recipe Tips

• Mixing Bowl – We recommend using a large bowl to combine the pasta with the creamy dressing. This allows for the sauce to full cover the cooked pasta when toss to coat.
• Cooking Pasta – Make sure to cook the pasta al dente and according to the package. After cooking tender pasta, rinse with cold water to stop the cooking process.
• Chop Vegetables – Chop vegetables ahead of time to easily combine with the other ingredients. This makes this creamy shrimp salad easier to make.
• Refrigerate Pasta – If you make the pasta salad on serving day, make sure to allow the pasta to refrigerate. We recommend placing in the fridge for at least an hour. This helps the ingredients to combine and gives it the best flavor.
• Serve Cold – Serve this creamy pasta cold on serving day. It is best to only keep pasta at room temperature for about 30 minutes.
• Mayonnaise – Since mayonnaise is the main ingredient in the dressing recipe, we recommend using the Real mayonnaise. It will give you better flavor than whipped mayonnaise.

How Long Can Macaroni Shrimp Salad sit out at Room Temperature?

This Shrimp Pasta Salad is a mayonnaise base salad. Therefore, we do recommend only letting it set out for about 30 minutes. If you are serving outdoors, keep in the chilled area such as an ice chest or in the fridge.

How Long will it last in the Fridge?

Shrimp macaroni salad will last about 3 to 4 days in the fridge. When you are serving, make sure to give the pasta salad a quick stir. This allows for the mayonnaise to coat the pasta again.

Can I make ahead of time?

Yes, you can make this pasta salad ahead of time. We recommend making no earlier than 24 hours before serving. When you are ready to serve, make sure to stir the ingredients to ensure everything is coated.