By Becky Hardin
Published May 28, 2023
This Shrimp Pasta Salad recipe is quick, easy, and perfect for summer lunches or a potluck side dish. This cold pasta salad with shrimp, celery, and bell peppers is coated in a creamy mayo dressing with a hint of fresh dill. If you love seafood, you’re going to love this dish!
What’s in this Shrimp Pasta Salad Recipe?
Simple ingredients like pasta, veggies, cooked shrimp, and a delectable homemade dressing make this salad a hit at every cookout.
- Pasta: I like to use macaroni noodles, but any short pasta shape will work.
- Veggies: Celery, bell peppers, and green onions give this pasta salad crunch!
- Shrimp : Use frozen precooked shrimp to save time!
- Dressing: A combination of creamy mayonnaise , tangy apple cider vinegar, fresh dill, and sugar for a touch of sweetness creates the perfect balanced dressing for this salad. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
Pro Tip: Add a big pinch of salt to your pasta water to give the noodles more flavor!
Variations on Pasta Salad with Shrimp
You can use different shapes of pasta, like fusilli, bowties, orecchiette, or shells to make this shrimp pasta salad your own. Try switching up the veggies for tomatoes, carrots, cucumbers, sweet corn, peas, or red onion to change up the flavor of the salad.
If you want to make a lighter version, use plain Greek yogurt instead of mayo–it’ll give you a tangy and creamy result!
You sure can! Simply cook the shrimp to 120°F internally using whatever method you prefer. I recommend letting them cool before adding them to the pasta salad.
You can swap out the mayonnaise for Greek yogurt or sour cream for a different flavor.
Yes! In fact, I highly recommend letting the flavors meld for at least a few hours or up to overnight for the best flavor.
How to Store
Store leftover shrimp pasta salad in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. I do not recommend freezing this dish because the pasta will become mushy once thawed, and the dressing may separate.
Serving Suggestions
This shrimp pasta salad makes a great lunch or side dish. You can bring it to a potluck or pair it with your favorite grilled recipes .
Serve it alongside your favorite summertime dishes, like grilled flank steak , bruschetta chicken , or avocado salmon . As a main, serve it simply with a green goddess salad or grilled peach salad . I also love it with shrimp summer rolls !
Ingredients1x2x3x
- ▢ 1 pound dry macaroni noodles
- ▢ 1 cup diced celery
- ▢ 1 red bell pepper diced
- ▢ 2 green onions sliced
- ▢ 1 pound medium frozen cooked shrimp thawed
For the Dressing
- ▢ ⅔ cup mayonnaise
- ▢ 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
- ▢ 2 tablespoons minced fresh dill
- ▢ 1 teaspoon granulated sugar
- ▢ Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
Video
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add in the noodles and cook according to the package directions. Drain and rinse the noodles under cold water. Drain well. 1 pound dry macaroni noodles
- In a small bowl, stir the mayonnaise, apple cider vinegar, dill, sugar, salt, and pepper together. ⅔ cup mayonnaise, 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar, 2 tablespoons minced fresh dill, 1 teaspoon granulated sugar, Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
- In a large bowl, toss the noodles, celery, bell pepper, green onions, and shrimp until evenly mixed. 1 cup diced celery, 1 red bell pepper, 2 green onions, 1 pound medium frozen cooked shrimp
- Pour the dressing over the top and toss well to combine. Chill until ready to serve. Top with more green onions and dill if desired.
Becky’s Tips
- If you prefer, you can cook raw shrimp instead of buying pre-cooked.
- Add a big pinch of salt to your pasta water. This gives the noodles flavor!
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
More Pasta Salad Recipes We Love
- Macaroni Salad
- Italian Pasta Salad
- Street Corn Pasta Salad
- Pesto Pasta Salad
- Ranch Chicken Pasta Salad
- BLT Pasta Salad
- Jalapeno Popper Pasta Salad
- Green Goddess Pasta Salad
- Strawberry Avocado Pasta Salad
- Chicken Enchilada Pasta Salad
- Tricolor Pasta Salad
- Dill Pickle Pasta Salad
Shrimp Pasta Salad Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 pound dry macaroni noodles
- 1 cup diced celery
- 1 red bell pepper diced
- 2 green onions sliced
- 1 pound medium frozen cooked shrimp thawed
For the Dressing
- ⅔ cup mayonnaise
- 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
- 2 tablespoons minced fresh dill
- 1 teaspoon granulated sugar
- Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add in the noodles and cook according to the package directions. Drain and rinse the noodles under cold water. Drain well. 1 pound dry macaroni noodles
- In a small bowl, stir the mayonnaise, apple cider vinegar, dill, sugar, salt, and pepper together. ⅔ cup mayonnaise, 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar, 2 tablespoons minced fresh dill, 1 teaspoon granulated sugar, Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
- In a large bowl, toss the noodles, celery, bell pepper, green onions, and shrimp until evenly mixed. 1 cup diced celery, 1 red bell pepper, 2 green onions, 1 pound medium frozen cooked shrimp
- Pour the dressing over the top and toss well to combine. Chill until ready to serve. Top with more green onions and dill if desired.
Video
Notes
- If you prefer, you can cook raw shrimp instead of buying pre-cooked.
- Add a big pinch of salt to your pasta water. This gives the noodles flavor!
Nutrition
By Becky Hardin
Published Jul 12, 2017
This Essential Grocery List is an absolute life saver for my family on the busy weeks. When I started this journey to learn how to cook, I quickly realized that the first step in cooking is having staple ingredients on hand. I want to avoid having to run out to the grocery store every single time I prepare a new recipe. Having a well-stocked pantry has made my life in the kitchen so much simpler, because when it’s time to cook, I have what I need.
Essential Grocery List
It’s so helpful to have a basic grocery list to help me remember which foods to buy at the store. This food shopping list is my go-to!
It’s better to stock up on things like grains, seasonings and spices, baking essentials, oils, condiments, canned and frozen foods, etc. so I can just grab them when I need them. These things have a long shelf life , so I keep them in my kitchen for convenience.
However, I do have to go to the supermarket sometimes, and there’s a way to make that trip easy and hassle-free: I keep a grocery list! If I go in blindly, I’ll leave with things I don’t need, and nothing that actually helps me prepare a good meal.
In the list below, I’ve compiled everything I always have on my stock-up grocery list.
I’ve got you covered! I created an easy grocery list filled with all of the essentials. Plus there’s a free printable version that you can take with you to the grocery store. It has everything you need to stock your pantry, your freezer, and your refrigerator.
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List
What to Buy at the Grocery Store
This is the perfect grocery list filled with all the basics and essentials. It should help get you going if you’re new to cooking, or if you’re just left staring helplessly at an empty pantry and don’t know how to fill it.
When I first started cooking, things could seem overwhelming. I quickly realized that they more prepared I could be, the more confident I felt. If you already have the basics in your kitchen, then you can shop stress-free.
So print out our easy grocery list, stock up your pantry and fridge, and you’ll be cooking in no time!
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List for the perfectly stocked pantry and freezer!
Fresh Produce
- Apples
- Bananas
- Strawberries
- Avocados
- Bell Peppers
- Carrots
- Broccoli
- Garlic
- Lemons/Limes
- Onion
- Parsley
- Cilantro
- Basil
- Potatoes
- Spinach
- Tomatoes
GRAINS
- Breadcrumbs
- Pasta
- Quinoa
- Rice
- Sandwich Bread
- Tortillas
MEAT/PROTEIN
- Chicken
- Eggs
- Ground Beef
- Sliced Turkey
- Lunch Meat
DAIRY
- Butter
- Sliced Cheese
- Shredded Cheese
- Milk
- Sour Cream
- Greek Yogurt
BAKING GOODS
- Baking powder
- Baking Soda
- Granulated Sugar
- Brown Sugar
- Flour
- Honey
- Vanilla Extract
- Dry Yeast
- Chocolate Chips
- Cocoa Powder
- Powdered Sugar
FREEZER
- Fruit and Berries
- Frozen Veggies (Corn, Peas, Broccoli, etc)
- Juice Concentrate
- Pizza or Other Convenience Meals
- Pie Crust
- Cookie Dough
CANNED/DRIED GOODS
- Chicken stock/broth
- Salsa
- Diced Tomatoes
- Jam/Jelly
- Peanut Butter
- Pasta Sauce
- Beans (Black Beans, Chickpeas, Baked Beans, etc)
- Soups
- Tuna
- Green Chiles
- Canned Veggies
- Coffee or Tea
Get more details on the best non-perishable and pantry foods
CONDIMENTS/SPICES
- Black Pepper
- Chili Powder
- Cinnamon
- Crushed Red Pepper
- Cumin
- Garlic Powder
- Ketchup
- Mustard
- Mayo
- Nutmeg
- Paprika
- Salt (Course Sea Salt and Kosher Salt)
- Soy Sauce
- Steak Sauce
- Hot Sauce/ Buffalo Sauce
- Salad Dressings
OILS/VINEGARS
- Apple cider vinegar
- Balsamic vinegar
- Coconut Oil
- Olive Oil
- Vegetable/Canola Oil
- Red Wine Vinegar
- White Vinegar
- Cooking Wine
- White Wine Vinegar
SNACKS
- Crackers
- Nuts
- Quick Oats
- Popcorn
- Tortilla Chips
- Cereal
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List for the perfectly stocked pantry and freezer!
Click ☝🏻 for my FREE Grocery List Printable!
I hope this essential grocery list can help you buy what you need and make your home cooking so much easier!
Stock Your Kitchen
Find more ideas for your grocery list, stock up your kitchen, and print more cooking guides and charts to keep handy!
Non-Perishable Foods to Stock Up On
Frozen Vegetables to Stock Up On (and Recipes to Make)
Ultimate List of Cooking Herbs for Your Kitchen
Ultimate List of Cooking Spices for Your Kitchen
Cooking Oil 101: Types of Cooking Oils to Use
26 Types of Pasta and When to Use Them
What Fruits and Vegetables are in Season?
Meat Temperature Chart (Free Printable)
How to Meal Prep (Guide for Beginners)
Basic Cooking Measurements & Kitchen Conversion Chart
