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Seafood Pasta Salad is always a hit at any potluck or summer barbecue. It’s a perfect combination of creamy, crunchy, oniony and even sweet from the imitation crab. Serve with smoked pork tenderloin or grilled chicken skewers.
Why you will love this salad
Everyone will love this pasta salad, they just will! Even the “I don’t like fish that tastes like fish” people will like it. Faux crab is a very mild and sweet-tasting meat on its own, but once you’ve added the crunchy veggies, herbs, spices, and mayonnaise to this salad, you won’t be overwhelmed by the fishy flavor at all. It’s simple, light and fresh and easy to put together. If you’re lucky enough to live somewhere where you have access to fresh crab meat, either bought from the fish counter at your grocery store or you’ve caught crabs in the ocean and caught them yourself, this is a great recipe to use can. However, imitation crab is delicious and is what I used in this recipe today. Honestly…I actually prefer the imitation crab in this style of cold salad.
How to make Seafood Salad
Full recipe details, including required ingredients and measurements, are on the printable recipe card below. Here’s a step-by-step guide on what to expect when preparing this pasta salad:
cook noodles
bring in large pot of water bring to a boil. Salt generouslythen add dry pasta and cook al dente according to package directions (about 8 minutes). Drain the noodles, pour cold water over them and set aside.
Pro Tip: For cold pasta salads, it’s best to undercook the pasta a little so it lasts well in the refrigerator.
Chop the crab meat, vegetables and herbs
Chop imitation crabmeat (or separate the pieces if you bought the flaked variant) and chop everything Vegetables And Herbs.
Mix all ingredients
Add all the ingredients (cooked noodles, imitation crabmeat, mayonnaise, vegetables, herbs and spices) in a large bowl and stir.
Chill for at least 1 hour and serve
Refrigerate for at least an hour or until ready to serve. Serve chilled with fresh herbs of choice for garnish.
Pro Tip: With this type of pasta salad, the flavors absolutely have to harmonize. The longer he rests, the better he gets!
Make this Seafood Pasta Salad your own
The beauty of a pasta salad like this is that you can adapt it to whatever ingredients you have on hand or what your family likes (or doesn’t like!). Here are some variations you can try:
- Pasta selection: Use any short pasta shape your heart desires! I prefer the medium bowls because the mayo and herbs get into the nooks and crannies and provide a creamier bite, but feel free to use whatever you prefer or have on hand. Some ideas are: bowtie, macaroni, gigli, radiatore, penne, rotini, etc. You can even substitute your favorite gluten-free or low-carb pasta for regular pasta if you are aware of dietary restrictions.
- Vegetables: The veggies I chose for this salad I think pair well with a mayonnaise-based pasta salad, but if you have a picky eater who doesn’t like onions, for example, skip them! You can also add other veggies like cucumbers, carrots, radishes, and various herbs of your choice.
- Crab: As mentioned, I prefer imitation shrimp in this pasta salad, but feel free to substitute real shrimp if you prefer.
What to serve with Seafood Pasta Salad
This is the perfect salad for any of your summer celebrations – Memorial Day, Father’s Day, July 4th or Labor Day! It’s a great addition to grilling meats – chicken, hamburgers, steak, hot dogs, sausage… anything! This recipe makes such a large portion that I always have leftovers and will just grab a cup for lunch in the next few days. SO delicious and easy as pie!
Keep leftovers + create directions in advance
Seafood salad keeps very well in the fridge, even up to 5-6 days. Because it keeps so well in the fridge, you can easily make it a day before serving. Actually, I would suggest that you make it a day or two in advance because it just tastes better the longer it sits.
Freeze: To keep this salad longer, you can freeze it! Store in an airtight, freezer-safe container for up to 3 months! Thaw overnight in the fridge before serving.
More summer salads to try!
I hope you enjoy this Seafood Pasta Salad! It makes such a good summer side dish and honestly tastes great any time of the year too! I’d love to hear what you think by leaving a comment and star rating! Have a nice day, friends!
Seafood Pasta Salad
Seafood (imitation crab) pasta salad is a hit at any potluck or summer barbecue. It’s a perfect combination of creamy, crunchy, oniony and even sweet from the imitation crab.