Best 2 Easy Seafood Pasta Salad Recipes

Seafood pasta salad is a refreshing and flavorful dish that is perfect for a light lunch or dinner. It is made with a variety of seafood, including shrimp, crab, and tuna, tossed with cooked pasta, vegetables, and a zesty dressing. This salad is also a great way to use up leftover seafood.

This recipe article features three variations of seafood pasta salad: classic seafood pasta salad, Greek seafood pasta salad, and Asian seafood pasta salad. Each variation has its own unique flavors and ingredients, so you can choose the one that best suits your taste buds.

The classic seafood pasta salad is made with a combination of shrimp, crab, and tuna, tossed with cooked pasta, celery, red onion, and a mayonnaise-based dressing. The Greek seafood pasta salad features shrimp, calamari, and mussels, tossed with cooked pasta, tomatoes, cucumbers, red onion, and a tangy vinaigrette dressing. The Asian seafood pasta salad is made with shrimp, scallops, and salmon, tossed with cooked pasta, snow peas, red bell pepper, and a sweet and sour dressing.

No matter which variation you choose, you are sure to enjoy this delicious and easy-to-make seafood pasta salad.

Here are our top 2 tried and tested recipes!

SHRIMP PASTA SALAD

Shrimp Pasta Salad image

This easy shrimp pasta salad is ready in minutes! Made with healthy ingredients, veggies and bright lemon dressing. Perfect for potlucks.

Provided by Erin Clarke / Well Plated

Categories Main Course Side Dish

Time 20m

Number Of Ingredients 15

Ingredients

8 ounces uncooked whole wheat elbow macaroni (or similar small pasta, such as mini shells (about 2 cups uncooked macaroni))
1 pound frozen salad shrimp (thawed and patted dry, or use roughly chopped peeled and deveined cooked shrimp)
1 cup diced celery (about 2 stalks)
1 red bell pepper (cored and cut into a 1/4-inch dice)
1 cup frozen peas (thawed)
2 green onions (finely chopped (about 1/4 cup))
2 tablespoons finely chopped fresh dill
2/3 cup nonfat plain Greek yogurt
2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice (from about 1/2 lemon)
2 teaspoons honey
1 teaspoon white vinegar
1/2 teaspoon Dijon mustard
1 teaspoon kosher salt (plus additional to taste)
1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper (plus additional to taste)
1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper

Steps:

Cook the pasta to al dente according to the package instructions. Drain in a colander, then rinse with cold water to stop the cooking. Shake off as much water as possible. Let the colander with the pasta sit in the sink or on a towel to continue draining while you prepare the rest of the salad.
In a small bowl or large measuring cup, whisk together the dressing ingredients: Greek yogurt, lemon juice, honey, white vinegar, Dijon, salt, black pepper, and cayenne pepper.
In a large serving bowl, place the shrimp, celery, bell pepper, peas, green onion, and dill. Shake the pasta once more, then add it to the bowl. Drizzle with the dressing and stir gently to combine. Taste and adjust the seasoning as desired.
If time allows, place the pasta in the refrigerator and chill for 1 hour prior to serving. Enjoy directly from the fridge or at room temperature.

Nutrition Facts : ServingSize 1 serving, Calories 194 kcal, Carbohydrate 28 g, Protein 19 g, Fat 1 g, SaturatedFat 1 g, Cholesterol 144 mg, Fiber 1 g, Sugar 4 g

SHRIMP PASTA SALAD

Shrimp Pasta Salad image

I adore shrimp, so discovering it in this pasta salad recipe was a real treat for me. The lemon-dill sauce is light and bright. It's one of our favorite cold pasta salad recipes! -Traci Wynne, Denver, Pennsylvania

Provided by Taste of Home

Categories Lunch

Time 30m

Yield 10 servings.

Number Of Ingredients 11

Ingredients

8 ounces uncooked small pasta shells (about 2-2/3 cups)
1 pound peeled and deveined cooked shrimp, chopped
1 cup frozen peas, thawed
4 green onions, chopped
1/4 cup minced fresh parsley
1 cup mayonnaise
1 cup plain yogurt
1/4 cup lemon juice
2 tablespoons snipped fresh dill
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon white pepper

Steps:

Cook pasta according to package directions. Drain; rinse with cold water and drain again., In a large bowl, combine pasta, shrimp, peas, green onions and parsley. Mix remaining ingredients; stir into pasta mixture. Refrigerate, covered, at least 2 hours.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 306 calories, Fat 18g fat (3g saturated fat), Cholesterol 74mg cholesterol, Sodium 326mg sodium, Carbohydrate 21g carbohydrate (3g sugars, Fiber 2g fiber), Protein 14g protein.

Tips:

For the best flavor, use fresh seafood. If you can't find fresh seafood, frozen seafood is a good substitute.
Cook the seafood properly. Overcooked seafood is tough and chewy. Seafood is done cooking when it is opaque and flakes easily with a fork.
Use a variety of vegetables in your pasta salad. This will add color, flavor, and texture to the dish.
Don't overcook the pasta. Pasta should be cooked al dente, which means it should be firm to the bite.
Use a flavorful dressing. A simple vinaigrette or a creamy dressing are both good choices.
Serve the pasta salad immediately or chill it for later.

Conclusion:

Seafood pasta salad is a delicious and easy-to-make dish that is perfect for a summer lunch or dinner. With a variety of seafood, vegetables, and dressing options, there are endless possibilities for creating a seafood pasta salad that everyone will enjoy. So next time you're looking for a quick and easy meal, give seafood pasta salad a try!