Best 6 Shrimp Pasta Salad Waco Style Recipes

In the heart of Texas, where culinary traditions blend, lies a delectable dish that tantalizes taste buds and captivates hearts. Waco-Style Shrimp Pasta Salad is a harmonious symphony of flavors, textures, and colors that pays homage to the city's rich heritage. This article presents a collection of carefully curated recipes, each offering a unique take on this iconic salad. From the classic mayonnaise-based dressing to the tangy vinaigrette variations, these recipes cater to diverse preferences and dietary needs. Whether you prefer a traditional approach or a modern twist, this culinary journey will guide you through the art of crafting the perfect Waco-Style Shrimp Pasta Salad. Dive into the vibrant world of Waco's culinary scene and discover the secrets behind this beloved dish.

Check out the recipes below so you can choose the best recipe for yourself!

SHRIMP PASTA SALAD - WACO STYLE

Shrimp Pasta Salad - Waco Style image

A cold shrimp pasta salad that's a delicious summer side dish. There's no mayonnaise in this pasta salad. It's dressed with a cheesy Italian dressing, an assortment of fresh chopped veggies, and shrimp. This pasta salad has a nice crunch and zestiness. Not only is this very tasty, but it's also pretty when served.

Provided by Michelle Waco

Categories Seafood

Time 35m

Number Of Ingredients 17

Ingredients

INGREDIENTS
1 lb bay shrimp, pre-cooked and shelled
16 oz elbow macaroni, cooked and cooled (smaller is best)
1/2 green bell pepper, diced
1/2 red bell pepper, diced
1 can(s) sliced ripe olives, drained (3 7/8 oz)
2-3 medium celery ribs, diced finely
1/2 medium Walla Walla onion, diced (any other sweet onion such as vidalia)
1/4 - 1/2 c Parmesan cheese, grated (the kraft flavored is nice in this)
16 oz Bernstein's Light Fantastic Cheese Fantastico salad dressing, to taste
1.5-2 Tbsp Salad Elegance seasoning mix, to taste (I prefer Johnny's brand)
black pepper, to taste
garlic powder, to taste
GARNISH
egg, hard-boiled and sliced (optional)
green onion, chopped (optional)
grape tomatoes (optional)

Steps:

1. Boil noodles as directed on package (around 9-11 minutes). Once cooked, immediately rinse in cold water to stop further cooking.
2. Prep all veggies.
3. While the pasta boils, rinse shrimp removing any remaining shells that were missed.
4. Add in the shrimp, veggies, Parmesan cheese, and salad dressing.
5. Stir thoroughly. Add seasonings to taste.
6. If desired, garnish with a sliced hard-boiled egg, grape tomatoes, and chopped green onions. Chill for 30 minutes, minimum, for best flavor before serving. Enjoy!

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.

SHRIMP AND PASTA SHELL SALAD

Shrimp and Pasta Shell Salad image

When I want to make a macaroni salad just a little bit extra-special, nothing does the trick like some small, sweet shrimp. This is one of my favorite summer salads, and it's oh-so-easy.

Provided by Chef John

Categories Salad Seafood Salad Recipes Shrimp Salad Recipes

Time 2h35m

Yield 8

Number Of Ingredients 15

Ingredients

1 ¼ cups mayonnaise, or more if needed
2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
2 teaspoons ketchup
¼ teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
1 teaspoon salt, or to taste
1 pinch cayenne pepper, or to taste
1 lemon, juiced
⅓ cup chopped fresh dill
1 (12 ounce) package small pasta shells
1 pound cooked, peeled, and deveined small shrimp - cut in half
½ cup finely diced red bell pepper
¾ cup diced celery
salt and ground black pepper to taste
1 pinch paprika, for garnish
3 sprigs fresh dill, or as desired

Steps:

Whisk 1 1/4 cup mayonnaise, Dijon mustard, ketchup, Worcestershire sauce, salt, and cayenne pepper together in a bowl; add lemon juice and 1/3 cup chopped dill. Whisk until thoroughly combined. Refrigerate.
Bring a pot of well-salted water to a boil and stir in pasta shells; cook until tender, 8 to 10 minutes. Drain and rinse with cold water to cool pasta slightly; drain again. Transfer to a large bowl.
Toss shrimp with pasta; add red bell pepper, celery, and dressing to pasta and shrimp. Mix thoroughly to coat and fill shells with dressing. Cover bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate until chilled, 2 to 3 hours.
Stir salad again before serving and season to taste with more salt, black pepper, lemon juice, and cayenne pepper if desired. If salad seems a little dry, mix in a little more mayonnaise. Garnish with paprika and sprigs of dill.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 450.9 calories, Carbohydrate 33.8 g, Cholesterol 99.3 mg, Fat 28.8 g, Fiber 1.9 g, Protein 15.4 g, SaturatedFat 4.4 g, Sodium 663.8 mg, Sugar 2.8 g

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

EASY ELEGANT SHRIMP PASTA SALAD

Easy Elegant Shrimp Pasta Salad image

Make and share this Easy Elegant Shrimp Pasta Salad recipe from Food.com.

Provided by opera_vanderzee

Categories Potluck

Time 15m

Yield 10 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 10

Ingredients

12 ounces rotini pasta, cooked and drained
1 (10 ounce) package frozen cooked shrimp, thawed
1/4 cup parmesan cheese
1/4 cup green onion, sliced
1/3 cup canola oil
1/3 cup red wine vinegar
2 1/2 teaspoons dill weed
2 teaspoons salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
3/4 teaspoon garlic powder

Steps:

In large bowl, combine the pasta, shrimp, onions and parmesan cheese. In a small bowl, combine the rest of ingredients and whisk until blended. Pour over pasta mix, toss to coat. Cover and chill for 1 to 2 hours.

SHRIMP PASTA SALAD

Shrimp Pasta Salad image

Salad shrimp is one of my favorites. I have been searching for a good shrimp pasta salad. This recipe is from Family Fun

Provided by Lavender Lynn

Categories Salad Dressings

Time 20m

Yield 4 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 13

Ingredients

2 cups baby shrimp, cooked
4 cups shell pasta, cooked
1/3 cup green onion, finely diced
1/4 cup celery, finely diced
2 small tomatoes, finely chopped
1 cup frozen peas
1/2 cup black olives, sliced
1/2 cup cheddar cheese, finely grated
1 teaspoon dill weed
1 cup mayonnaise
1/2 cup thousand island dressing
2 tablespoons lime juice
1 tablespoon sugar

Steps:

Put all salad ingredients in large bowl.
Mix all dressing ingredients in small bowl.
Add to Salad ingredients and mix well.
Refrigerate and serve cold.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 819.6, Fat 38.7, SaturatedFat 8, Cholesterol 38.2, Sodium 975.4, Carbohydrate 100.6, Fiber 6.2, Sugar 16.9, Protein 19.2

Tips:

For the freshest shrimp, look for ones that are firm and have a slight briny smell. Avoid shrimp that are slimy or have a strong odor.
If you are using frozen shrimp, thaw them in the refrigerator overnight or in a bowl of cold water for 30 minutes.
Cook the shrimp until they are just opaque and pink. Overcooked shrimp will be tough and rubbery.
Use a good quality olive oil for the dressing. This will give the salad a rich and flavorful taste.
Add some fresh herbs, such as basil, oregano, or parsley, to the salad for extra flavor.
Serve the salad immediately, or chill it for later.

Conclusion:

Shrimp pasta salad is a delicious and easy-to-make dish that is perfect for a summer meal. With its combination of shrimp, pasta, vegetables, and a tangy dressing, this salad is sure to please everyone at your table. So next time you are looking for a light and refreshing meal, give this Waco-style shrimp pasta salad a try!