Super Tasty Seafood Pasta Salad
Seafood pasta salad is a tasty medley of shrimp, imitation crab, and diced veggies tossed with Italian dressing and noodles. Serve this easy seafood pasta salad as a light side at a summer BBQ, holiday meal, or weeknight dinner.
For more delicious pasta side dishes, check out this Lemon Garlic Pasta, Tortellini Pasta Salad, and Creamy Italian Pasta Salad.
The next time you need a cold pasta recipe, try the ultimate seafood pasta salad. This dish has flavor, color, and amazing texture. Tender shrimp mingles with chewy pasta, chunks of imitation crab, juicy tomatoes, and fresh, crunchy peppers and cucumbers.
Why you will love Pasta Seafood Salad:
Egg & Dairy Free! This seafood pasta salad without mayonnaise is still flavorful, rich, and creamy with fewer calories.
Perfect Make Ahead Dish! Prepare this the night before so the flavors can meld. Plus, you can grab and go for a potluck, picnic, or work lunch.
Quick & Easy! This seafood salad recipe takes just 30 minutes to prepare.
Ingredients for Seafood Pasta Salad Recipe
To make pasta salad with seafood, you will need the following ingredients:
- Pasta: Use penne, spiral, or your preferred shape. I prefer spiral pasta because it clings to the dressing.
- Shrimp: Season and cook before adding it to the pasta. If you use large shrimp, chop them into bite-sized pieces.
- Imitation crab: Imitation crab meat is made from surimi, minced fish that is turned into a paste and mixed with other ingredients. Chop it up into small chunks.
- Cherry tomatoes: This cold pasta salad benefits from diced tomatoes. They bring a fresh burst of sweet, tangy flavor.
- Cucumbers: Diced cucumbers add a refreshing quality to the pasta.
- Bell peppers: Use diced Red bell pepper, yellow bell pepper, and green bell pepper for color, crunch, and a touch of spice.
- Italian dressing: This vinaigrette-based dressing has a combination of acidic, savory, and slightly sweet notes.
- Seasoning: Use seasoned salt, black pepper, garlic powder, and oregano.
How to Make Seafood Pasta Salad
Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and proceed to cook the pasta according to the package instructions. Drain and rinse with cold water to stop the cooking process, then set it aside.
Add a teaspoon of olive oil to a skillet over medium heat. In a large bowl, season the cleaned, peeled, and thawed shrimp with seasoned salt and black pepper.
Saute the shrimp in a skillet over medium heat for 1-2 minutes on each side.
Remove the shrimp from the skillet and let it cool. Then cut the cooked shrimp into small pieces (or leave them whole if they are small). Next, chop the imitation crab into bite-size pieces.
In a large mixing bowl, combine the cooked pasta, seafood, cherry tomatoes, diced peppers, and chopped cucumber.
Pour the dressing over the pasta and seafood mixture. Sprinkle in the seasonings including the seasoned salt, pepper, garlic powder, and oregano.
Toss everything together gently until well combined and evenly coated with the dressing.
Cover the salad and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes to let the flavors meld together. Before serving, give it a final toss and adjust the seasoning if needed.
Garnish with a few fresh parsley leaves or a drizzle of extra-virgin olive oil before serving. Enjoy!
Tips and Variations for the Best Seafood Pasta Salad Recipe
- Feel free to add more seafood such as real crab meat, lobster, scallops, or any other shellfish.
- Make the pasta al dente so it doesn’t get soggy when the seafood pasta salad dressing is added.
- This seafood pasta salad with Italian dressing is very light. If you prefer a richer pasta salad, consider using Miracle Whip, mayonnaise, or a creamy dressing like ranch dressing instead.
- For an all-in-one seasoning, use Old Bay seasoning. Consider adding red onions or green onions for a sharper flavor.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. This dish tastes better on the second day when the flavors have had a chance to marinate.
- This works as a main dish for lunch or a side dish for dinner.
FAQ
More delicious side dishes you’ll love
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- Super Tasty Cheesecake Dip
- Roasted Cheesy Ranch Potatoes
- Thick and Hearty Navy Beans with Ham
Ingredients
- 1 pound Pasta penne, spiral, or preferred shape
- ½ pound Shrimp seasoned and cooked
- 1 cup Imitation crab chopped into pieces
- 1 cup Cherry tomatoes diced
- ½ cup Cucumbers diced
- ¼ cup Red bell pepper diced
- ¼ cup Yellow bell pepper diced
- ¼ cp Green bell pepper diced
- 1 16 oz bottle Italian dressing
- 1 tablespoon Old bay seasoning
- 2 teaspoons Seasoned salt
- 2 teaspoons Black pepper
- 1 teaspoon Garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon Oregano
Instructions
- Cook the Pasta: Boil a pot of salted water and cook the pasta according to the package instructions. Drain and rinse with cold water to stop the cooking process. Set aside.
- Prepare the Seafood: Add a teaspoon of olive oil to a skillet over medium heat. Season the cleaned, peeled, and thawed shrimp with salt and pepper. Saute the shrimp in a skillet over medium heat for 1-2 minutes on each side.
- Remove the shrimp from the skillet and let it cool. Now cut the shrimp into small pieces (or leave them whole if they are small). Next, chop the imitation crab into bite size pieces.
- Mix Ingredients: In a large mixing bowl, combine the cooked pasta, seafood, cherry tomatoes, diced peppers, and chopped cucumber.
- Combine and Chill: Pour the dressing over the pasta and seafood mixture. Sprinkle in the seasonings including the old bay seasoning, seasoned salt, pepper, garlic powder, and oregano. Toss everything together gently until well combined and evenly coated with the dressing.
- Chill and Serve: Cover the salad and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes to let the flavors meld together. Before serving, give it a final toss and adjust seasoning if needed.
- Serve: Garnish with a few fresh parsley leaves or a drizzle of extra-virgin olive oil before serving. Enjoy your seafood pasta salad!
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