Creamy Seafood Pasta Salad
Creamy Seafood Pasta Salad
Ingredients
For the Pasta and Seafood
- 1 pound penne pasta
- 1 pound shrimp, peeled, deveined, and tail-off
- 1 pound imitation crab meat, shredded if in sticks, separated if in flakes
For the Vegetables
- 1/2 cup red onion, finely chopped
- 1/2 cup celery, finely chopped
- 1/2 cup red bell pepper, finely chopped
- 1/2 cup yellow bell pepper, finely chopped
- 1/2 cup orange bell pepper, finely chopped
For the Creamy Dressing
- 1 1/2 cups mayonnaise
- 1/4 cup sweet relish
- 1 tablespoon yellow mustard
- 1 tablespoon hot sauce
- 1 tablespoon granulated sugar
- 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
- 1 teaspoon Old Bay seasoning
- 1 teaspoon Creole seasoning
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon salt
For Garnish
- 1 tablespoon fresh parsley, chopped
Instructions
- 1
Bring a large pot of water to a rolling boil. Add the 1 pound of penne pasta and cook according to package directions until it reaches an al dente texture. Once cooked, drain the pasta thoroughly and rinse it under cold water to stop the cooking process and cool it down completely. Set aside.
⏱️ 10 min
- 2
While the pasta cooks, heat a pan over medium heat. Add the 1 pound of shrimp and cook until they turn pink and opaque, indicating they are fully cooked. This should take approximately 3-5 minutes. Remove from heat and let the shrimp cool completely. Once cooled, chop the shrimp into bite-sized pieces.
⏱️ 8 min
- 3
Prepare the 1 pound of imitation crab meat. If using sticks, shred them into smaller, bite-sized pieces. If using flakes, ensure they are separated.
⏱️ 5 min
- 4
Finely chop the 1/2 cup of red onion, 1/2 cup of celery, 1/2 cup of red bell pepper, 1/2 cup of yellow bell pepper, and 1/2 cup of orange bell pepper. Combine all the chopped vegetables in a bowl.
⏱️ 7 min
- 5
In a large mixing bowl, combine the 1 1/2 cups of mayonnaise, 1/4 cup of sweet relish, 1 tablespoon of yellow mustard, 1 tablespoon of hot sauce, 1 tablespoon of granulated sugar, and 1 tablespoon of apple cider vinegar.
⏱️ 2 min
- 6
Add the seasonings to the dressing mixture: 1 teaspoon of Old Bay seasoning, 1 teaspoon of Creole seasoning, 1 teaspoon of garlic powder, 1 teaspoon of onion powder, 1 teaspoon of black pepper, and 1 teaspoon of salt.
⏱️ 1 min
- 7
Whisk all the dressing ingredients together until they are well combined and the mixture is smooth and creamy.
⏱️ 2 min
- 8
Add the cooled pasta, chopped shrimp, prepared imitation crab meat, and the chopped vegetables (red onion, celery, red, yellow, and orange bell peppers) to the large bowl with the creamy dressing.
⏱️ 2 min
- 9
Gently fold all the ingredients together using a spatula or large spoon until everything is evenly coated with the creamy dressing. Be careful not to break up the pasta or seafood too much.
⏱️ 3 min
- 10
Cover the bowl tightly with plastic wrap or a lid and refrigerate the pasta salad for at least 30 minutes, or until thoroughly chilled. This allows the flavors to meld and the salad to firm up.
⏱️ 30 min
- 11
Before serving, give the pasta salad a final gentle stir. Garnish with the 1 tablespoon of fresh chopped parsley.
⏱️ 1 min
Kitchen Tools
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
Creamy Seafood Pasta Salad
For the Pasta and Seafood
- 1 pound penne pasta
- 1 pound shrimp, peeled, deveined, and tail-off
- 1 pound imitation crab meat, shredded if in sticks, separated if in flakes
For the Vegetables
- 1/2 cup red onion, finely chopped
- 1/2 cup celery, finely chopped
- 1/2 cup red bell pepper, finely chopped
- 1/2 cup yellow bell pepper, finely chopped
- 1/2 cup orange bell pepper, finely chopped
For the Creamy Dressing
- 1 1/2 cups mayonnaise
- 1/4 cup sweet relish
- 1 tablespoon yellow mustard
- 1 tablespoon hot sauce
- 1 tablespoon granulated sugar
- 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
- 1 teaspoon Old Bay seasoning
- 1 teaspoon Creole seasoning
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon salt
For Garnish
- 1 tablespoon fresh parsley, chopped
Instructions
- 1
Bring a large pot of water to a rolling boil. Add the 1 pound of penne pasta and cook according to package directions until it reaches an al dente texture. Once cooked, drain the pasta thoroughly and rinse it under cold water to stop the cooking process and cool it down completely. Set aside.
⏱️ 10 min - 2
While the pasta cooks, heat a pan over medium heat. Add the 1 pound of shrimp and cook until they turn pink and opaque, indicating they are fully cooked. This should take approximately 3-5 minutes. Remove from heat and let the shrimp cool completely. Once cooled, chop the shrimp into bite-sized pieces.
⏱️ 8 min - 3
Prepare the 1 pound of imitation crab meat. If using sticks, shred them into smaller, bite-sized pieces. If using flakes, ensure they are separated.
⏱️ 5 min - 4
Finely chop the 1/2 cup of red onion, 1/2 cup of celery, 1/2 cup of red bell pepper, 1/2 cup of yellow bell pepper, and 1/2 cup of orange bell pepper. Combine all the chopped vegetables in a bowl.
⏱️ 7 min - 5
In a large mixing bowl, combine the 1 1/2 cups of mayonnaise, 1/4 cup of sweet relish, 1 tablespoon of yellow mustard, 1 tablespoon of hot sauce, 1 tablespoon of granulated sugar, and 1 tablespoon of apple cider vinegar.
⏱️ 2 min - 6
Add the seasonings to the dressing mixture: 1 teaspoon of Old Bay seasoning, 1 teaspoon of Creole seasoning, 1 teaspoon of garlic powder, 1 teaspoon of onion powder, 1 teaspoon of black pepper, and 1 teaspoon of salt.
⏱️ 1 min - 7
Whisk all the dressing ingredients together until they are well combined and the mixture is smooth and creamy.
⏱️ 2 min - 8
Add the cooled pasta, chopped shrimp, prepared imitation crab meat, and the chopped vegetables (red onion, celery, red, yellow, and orange bell peppers) to the large bowl with the creamy dressing.
⏱️ 2 min - 9
Gently fold all the ingredients together using a spatula or large spoon until everything is evenly coated with the creamy dressing. Be careful not to break up the pasta or seafood too much.
⏱️ 3 min - 10
Cover the bowl tightly with plastic wrap or a lid and refrigerate the pasta salad for at least 30 minutes, or until thoroughly chilled. This allows the flavors to meld and the salad to firm up.
⏱️ 30 min - 11
Before serving, give the pasta salad a final gentle stir. Garnish with the 1 tablespoon of fresh chopped parsley.
⏱️ 1 min