Creamy Shrimp Pasta Salad Recipe

Using shrimp in classic dishes like pasta salad gives it an extra boost of delicious flavor and texture. You can use shrimp in so many ways- grilled, in a skillet, or pasta!

Cold Shrimp Pasta Salad

Pasta salads are always there for you. It is so easy to whip some up for the masses right before a potluck, with no hassle storage and transportation. But it is time to give your salad an upgrade and bring in light, summery flavors like fresh dill, lemon, and shrimp! These simple ingredient swaps are sure to make your pasta salad a crowd-pleaser. This quick and easy Shrimp Pasta Salad still comes together in minutes, but will impress your friends and family with its refined, zesty flavor! I always love finding new pasta salad recipes because they really are the most versatile side dish. The best part is that you can add your own personal touches to your salad, whether it is a certain type of pasta, herb or vegetable! For more inspo, take a look at my Tuscan, Meditteranean, and Mexican pasta salads for more delicious variety!

What You Will Need to Make Shrimp Pasta Salad

All you need are a few fresh ingredients to put this amazing shrimp pasta salad together! It is tasty, fresh and everyone will love it. Use the recipe card below for all the ingredient measurements you need!

Rotini Noodles: I like using rotini noodles because they are fun to eat and the sauce gets trapped in the corkscrews, allowing for each bite to be flavorful!Celery: Diced into very small pieces.Red Bell Pepper: Adds sweetness and crunchy texture to your salad.Red Onion: With a slight kick, this will give your salad an amazing brightness and add to the texture. Cooked Salad Shrimp: Precooked shrimp makes this recipe even easier to put together. I like using small shrimp to match the size of the noodles and veggies. If you want more meat, you can opt for large or jumbo shrimp instead. Like with other kinds of seafood, if your shrimp smells like ammonia or has a slimy, sticky coating on the outside, it should not be used.Mayonaisse: Will add a creaminess to your dressing.Juice and Zest of Half a Lemon: Fresh is best!Chopped Dill: Adds perfect summery zest to your pasta.Salt and Pepper: To taste.

Making Your Shrimp Salad

Making this shrimp pasta salad is so quick and easy, it is perfect for on the go families and gatherings! With just 5 easy steps, this salad is sure to be a family favorite!

Pasta: You can swap out rotini for another pasta that is small with deep grooves for holding sauce. I recommend also trying penne, fusilli, or cavatappi!Adding Sauce: Adding sauce to your shrimp pasta salad while it is still warm helps it absorb flavor.Texture: Since pasta hardens as it cools down, you can cook your pasta for an extra minute before preparing the salad. But make sure not to overcook your pasta or else the noodles will fall apart when mixing your ingredients together.Spices: Adding a pinch of chili powder or cayenne can give your pasta salad a delicious Cajun twist!Salt Pasta Water: Adding extra salt to your water when cooking pasta will help it to have extra flavor!Raw Veggies: Adding raw veggies to your pasta salad will create a beautiful, colorful salad but also give you amazing texture and nutrition.