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If you are looking for a quick and easy pasta salad to throw together for your next BBQ. Then we recommend making Shrimp Macaroni Salad. It is the perfect summertime pasta salad.

Macaroni Salad with shrimp in a bowl with a small bowl with cooked shrimp
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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 

Ingredients needed for Shrimp Macaroni Salad - Macaroni Noodles, celery, green bell pepper, yellow onion, small shrimp, mayonnaise, white vinegar, sugar, yellow mustard, garlic powder, salt, pepper

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. 
Chopped onions, cooked shrimp, chopped celery, and chopped green bell peppers in a bowl
  • Step 3 – Combine Dressing Ingredients – In a separate bowl, whisk together the dressing ingredients until well combined. 
Adding the dressing ingredients in a bowl with a whisk
  • 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. 
Topping the dressing mixture on the noodle, shrimp and veggie mixture in a bowl
  • 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.
Seafood Salad in a bowl with a spoon

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.

Shrimp Macaroni Salad in a bowl

Can I double the Recipe?

Yes, if you are feeding a large crowd double the recipe. Make sure all the ingredients are doubled to ensure that everything balances well.

How to Store Leftovers

Refrigerate the leftovers in an airtight container for up to 3 days.  

Frequently Asked Questions:

Can I use Canned Shrimp for this pasta salad?

We typically use small frozen shrimp for this recipe. But if you can find canned shrimp the 7 oz size is the perfect amount to substitute with.

Can Shrimp Pasta Salad be Frozen?

We do not recommend freezing Shrimp Pasta Salad. When the pasta salad is thawing the mayonnaise will separate from the pasta salad.

What type of Mayonnaise is best?

We recommend using real mayonnaise to make the dressing. You can also substitute for light mayonnaise if you prefer.

More Pasta Salad Recipes

We love to hear from you. If you make this macaroni salad with shrimp recipe, please leave us a comment or a star review.

Shrimp Macaroni Salad

5 from 1 vote
If you are looking for a quick and easy pasta salad to throw together for your next BBQ, make Shrimp Macaroni Salad. It is the perfect summertime pasta salad.
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Refrigerate 1 hour
Total Time 1 hour 20 minutes
Servings 8
Cuisine American
Course Side Dish
Calories 351

Ingredients

For the Pasta Salad:

For the Dressing:

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Instructions

  • Cook the pasta based on the package instructions to al dente.  Drain and rinse with cool water.  Then place in a large mixing bowl.
  • Gently stir in the celery, bell pepper, onion and shrimp.  Set aside.
  • In a separate bowl, whisk together the dressing ingredients until well combined.
  • Pour the dressing over the pasta salad ingredients and stir until all the ingredients are well coated with the dressing.
  • Cover and refrigerate for at least 1 hour and then serve cold.

Nutrition Facts

Calories 351kcal, Carbohydrates 23g, Protein 16g, Fat 22g, Saturated Fat 3g, Polyunsaturated Fat 13g, Monounsaturated Fat 5g, Trans Fat 0.1g, Cholesterol 107mg, Sodium 404mg, Potassium 259mg, Fiber 1g, Sugar 2g, Vitamin A 81IU, Vitamin C 12mg, Calcium 49mg, Iron 1mg

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About the Author

Hi, I’m Carrie. Welcome to Eating on a Dime!

I’m on a mission to help you cook delicious meals without busting your budget. Together we are going to cook real food… for real families!

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Comments

  1. susan stephenson says:

    Excellent recipe. I added capers to mine since they’re a fav.

    I wish all cooks and those who place recipes on line would STOP writing add x many STALKS of celery. A STALK of celery is the entire vegetable. 1 STALK of celery consists of single “RIBS” of celery! Let’s get it right, please. There is añ obligation for those who post ?ecipes to know the difference between a STALK of celery and a RIB of celery.
    Fortunately, I learned my way around the kitchen 62 years ago. My parents, grandparents and great grandparents grew every vegetable and fruit imaginable, including stalks of celery from which we removed RIBS for celery sticks and other recipes.

    Interesting, Ive seen hundreds of recipes where instructions state ” Use 3 STALKS of celery, not 3 RIBS. Gotta laugh, celery is 2.00 a STALK. Sorry, I won’t be wasting 6.00+ for any “celery salad!” LOL.