Name: Cold Seafood Salad Recipe
Prep time: 20 min
Total time: 20 min
Ingredients: 3 cups medium sized seashell pasta; 1 red pepper (chopped); 1/2 green pepper (chopped); 2 green onions (chopped); 8 oz imitation crab meat (chopped); 8 oz cooked medium sized shrimp (chopped); 1/2 cup mayonaise; 2 Tablespoon French dressing; 1/2 teaspoon Old Bay seasoning; 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder; 1/4 teaspoon salt; 1/4 teaspoon black pepper

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This cold seafood salad recipe is full of flavor and is oh so very pretty. Made with a special sauce that will get your taste buds dancing, it’s a great option to serve at your next social gathering or cookout.

cold seafood salad recipe in a white bowl

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Cold Seafood Salad Recipe

Summer proves itself to be the best season ever because that’s when all the barbecues occur. Family and friends get together, fire up the grill, and tell the guest to bring the side dishes and desserts. The most popular side dishes at the barbecues I attend is the pasta salad. There are so many pasta salads in existence but my favorite of all favorites has to be a cold seafood salad.

I don’t know what it is about shrimp and that fake lobster meat in a pasta salad but I fall in love. So of course I had to create a cold seafood salad recipe for the blog.

Now a lot of you may be reading this and asking yourself, what the heck is fake lobster meat? It’s what I call imitation crab. I am not sure why I call it fake lobster meat but ya know what I am getting at. Crabs…Lobster, kind of the same thing, but not really.

Imitation Crab vs. Real Crab? That is the Question…

My guess for those who are terrified of the idea of imitation anything in their belly is that real crab meat can be substituted. However, I have only made this salad with imitation crab and will likely never change my ways. The stuff is delicious and adds a bit more color to the dish. I also like to buy the smaller cuts of the imitation crab and just add those chunks to this cold seafood salad recipe.

cold seafood salad close up in white bowl

Now this seafood salad must be served cold, hence why it is a cold seafood salad recipe. Then again, who am I to be a stickler for the rules, serve warm if you like but it is best when you let the flavors mend together in the fridge for a few hours.

Although this recipe is great for summer cookouts and gatherings, it’s also a great option for my bring to lunch menu when I make it the night before.

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5 from 5 votes

Cold Seafood Salad Recipe

Delicious cold seafood salad with tons of flavor.

Course Side Dish

Cuisine American

Keyword cold seafood salad

Prep Time 20 minutes

Chill time 2 hours

Total Time 20 minutes

Servings per person

Calories 661kcal

Author Tanya

Ingredients

3 cups medium sized seashell pasta
1 red pepper chopped
1/2 green pepper chopped
2 green onions chopped
8 oz imitation crab meat chopped
8 oz cooked medium sized shrimp chopped
1/2 cup mayonaise
2 Tablespoon French dressing
1/2 teaspoon Old Bay seasoning
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper

Instructions

Prepare pasta according to package directions, drain, and set aside
Add mayonnaise, French dressing, old bay, garlic powder, salt, and black pepper to big bowl and whisk until fully combined.
Add remainder of ingredients to bowl, including pasta, and stir until combined and all ingredients are coated in sauce.
Refrigerate for 2-4 hours. Enjoy

Video

Nutrition

Calories: 661kcal

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Pin Cold Seafood Salad Recipe for Later

Looking for more cold salad recipes? Try these out:

Karin

Sunday 14th of August 2022

Tanya My hubby and I loved this seafood macaroni salad. So rich, creamy and delicious. I agree with you - use IMITATION Crab. A must. For shrimp we sautéed Trader Joe's Argentine Shrimp w/Ghee Butter and lemon juice.

Along w/the Seafood Salad we served Fried Zucchini, Ranch Dip & sliced tomatoes.

Thank you for sharing this refreshingly cool Seafood Salad for the 'Long Hot Summer'...

Carol

Wednesday 15th of June 2022

Can u use some other pasta than the shells? I am not a fan of shells. Love all your recipes. Keep up the great work.

Tanya

Thursday 16th of June 2022

Hey Carol, any pasta will work fine as a sub.

Sharon

Monday 23rd of August 2021

Very refreshing I added a cup cherry tomato’s from the garden and a couple jalapeños. We just like to kick things up a notch to use veggies from the garden. Thank you love the light sauce

Jen

Monday 26th of April 2021

This was easy and delicious!

Dana

Monday 24th of August 2020

What can be substituted for the French dressing if there isn't any on hand?

Tuesday 25th of August 2020

@Tanya, Thank you!!

Hi Dana, I wouldn't skip the dressing as it provides that good tang to the recipe. You could make some french dressing from scratch if needed. https://www.culinaryhill.com/homemade-french-dressing-recipe/