Recipe Details

• Author: deesviral
• Prep Time: 15 minutes
• Cook Time: 10 minutes
• Total Time: 25 minutes
• Yield: 6 servings
• Category: Salad / Main Dish
• Cuisine: American
• Keywords: seafood pasta salad, cold pasta salad, shrimp pasta salad, deesviral

Ingredients

• 12 oz pasta (rotini, shells, or elbow macaroni)
• 1 cup cooked shrimp, peeled and chopped
• 1 cup imitation crab meat or cooked lump crab, chopped
• 1/2 cup celery, finely diced
• 1/2 cup red bell pepper, diced
• 1/4 cup red onion, finely diced
• 1/2 cup mayonnaise
• 1/4 cup sour cream
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice
• 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
• 1/2 teaspoon Old Bay seasoning
• Salt and black pepper, to taste
• Optional: fresh dill or parsley for garnish

Instructions

1. Cook pasta according to package directions until al dente. Drain and rinse under cold water until completely cool.
2. In a large bowl, combine cooled pasta, shrimp, crab meat, celery, red bell pepper, and red onion.
3. In a separate bowl, whisk together mayonnaise, sour cream, lemon juice, Dijon mustard, Old Bay seasoning, salt, and black pepper.
4. Pour dressing over the pasta mixture and toss gently until everything is evenly coated.
5. Cover and chill for at least 30 minutes before serving for the best flavor.
6. Garnish with fresh dill or parsley if desired and serve cold.

Tips & Variations

• Use real crab meat for a richer seafood flavor.
• Add peas or diced cucumber for extra freshness.
• For a lighter version, use Greek yogurt in place of sour cream.

Why This Recipe Works

The creamy dressing balances the sweet seafood while the crunchy vegetables add freshness and texture. Chilling the salad helps the flavors blend beautifully, making every bite cool, savory, and satisfying.