If you want to be the most popular person at the picnic, make this shrimp macaroni salad. It comes together in just 20 minutes and is packed with tender pasta, crisp veggies, and a bold, creamy dressing everyone loves.
Jump to:
- Why You’ll Love This Macaroni Shrimp Salad
- Ingredient Information And Substitutions
- How To Make This Macaroni Salad With Shrimp
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Tips For Making This Easy Macaroni Salad
- What To Serve With This Macaroni Salad Shrimp
- Other Easy Macaroni Salad Recipes To Try
- Shrimp Macaroni Salad Recipe
Why You’ll Love This Macaroni Shrimp Salad
There’s just something about a big bowl of pasta salad sitting on the table in the summer. It’s cool, creamy, and one of those sides you keep going back to for “just one more bite.” This recipe has been in my family for years, and like any good grandmas macaroni salad, it’s simple, reliable, and always a hit.
What really sets this apart is the balance of textures. The shrimp are tender and hearty, the celery and onion add crunch, and the pasta soaks up every bit of that flavorful dressing. It’s a fun seafood twist that still feels familiar and comforting. Here’s why you’ll want to make it:
- Always a crowd-pleaser
- Very easy to make
- Made with everyday ingredients
- Perfect to prep ahead
Ingredient Information And Substitutions
- Cooked large shrimp- Adds hearty texture and protein. Frozen (thawed) shrimp works great, and canned shrimp is an easy substitute with a slightly softer texture.
- Medium shell pasta- Cooks up tender and holds onto the dressing well. Elbow macaroni or another small pasta shape works too.
Finely diced onion- Adds sharp flavor and crunch. Soak in cold water for 10 minutes to mellow it out if needed. - Finely diced celery- Brings fresh crunch. You can swap with diced bell pepper or carrot.
- Fresh parsley- Adds brightness and color. Dried parsley can be used in a pinch, but fresh is best.
- Mayonnaise- The base for this creamy mixture. Use full-fat for the richest flavor.
- Lemon juice- Adds freshness and balances the richness. Fresh lemon juice gives the best flavor, but bottled works too.
- Yellow mustard- Gives subtle tang and depth. Dijon can be substituted for a sharper flavor.
- Worcestershire sauce- Adds savory depth and a little tang. You can substitute soy sauce for a similar salty richness.
- Hot sauce- Brings a little kick. Adjust to taste or swap with a pinch of cayenne pepper for heat.
- Garlic powder- Adds mild garlic flavor. You can substitute with a small amount of grated fresh garlic if preferred.
- Sugar- Just a pinch balances everything out. Honey works as a substitute.
- Kosher salt- Enhances all the flavors. Table salt can be used, but reduce the amount slightly.
- Ground black pepper- Adds a little bite. Freshly cracked pepper gives the best flavor.
How To Make This Macaroni Salad With Shrimp
Step 1- Cook the pasta.
Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook the pasta until al dente according to the package directions. Drain and rinse under cold water to cool it completely.
Step 2- Prepare the dressing.
In a bowl, whisk together all of the dressing ingredients until smooth. Give it a taste and adjust the seasoning as needed.
Step 3- Combine everything.
Add the cooked pasta, shrimp, onion, celery, and parsley to a large mixing bowl. Pour the dressing over the top and stir until everything is evenly coated. Chill for at least one hour before serving.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. This cold macaroni salad actually tastes even better after it sits for a few hours because the flavors have time to come together. Just give it a good stir before serving.
Since it contains shrimp and mayonnaise, it shouldn’t sit out for more than about an hour. If serving outside, place the bowl over a larger bowl filled with ice to help keep it chilled.
Absolutely. Try adding chopped hard-boiled eggs, diced pickles, or extra fresh herbs to change things up while keeping this creamy macaroni salad recipe just as delicious. Since this is a pretty popular recipe, check out the comments on this post to see some of the awesome add-ins that other readers have added.
Tips For Making This Easy Macaroni Salad
- Use cooked shrimp to save time. It keeps this shrimp and macaroni salad quick and easy to throw together.
- Cook the pasta just to al dente. It will soften slightly as it absorbs the dressing.
- Drain everything well. Fully drain the shrimp, pasta, and vegetables to prevent the salad from becoming watery.
- Chill before serving. As it rests, the dressing for macaroni salad soaks into the pasta, and the flavors deepen.
- Lighten it up if you’d like. Swap part of the mayo with plain Greek yogurt for a slightly lighter version.
- Halve the recipe if needed. This makes a generous batch, so cut it in half if you’re not feeding a crowd.
- Ingredients to prep ahead. Dice the vegetables and prepare the shrimp in advance to save time.
- Leftovers and storage. Store covered in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Stir before serving and add a spoonful of mayo if needed. It doesn’t freeze well.
What To Serve With This Macaroni Salad Shrimp
This dish pairs beautifully with grilled mains and fresh sides. Because it’s hearty and creamy, it balances well with lighter vegetables and something sweet to finish. Try serving this classic macaroni salad with:
- Maple Dijon Grilled Pork Chop Marinade
- Tomato Onion Salad
- Grilled Balsamic Asparagus
- Blueberry Lemon Dump Cake
Other Easy Macaroni Salad Recipes To Try
Love this recipe? Please leave a 5 star ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ rating in the recipe card below ⬇️ and/or a review in the comment section further down. Check out my Amazon Store for all my favorite tools, including those used in this recipe. And follow @thelifejolie on Instagram and TikTok!
Shrimp Macaroni Salad Recipe
Ingredients
Salad:
- 1 pound medium shell pasta cooked per package directions to al dente
- ⅔ cup finely diced onion
- 1 ¼ cups finely diced celery
- 2 Tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
- 1 ½ pounds cooked large shrimp peeled, deveined and roughly chopped into large chunks
Dressing:
- 1 cup mayonnaise
- 2 Tablespoons lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon yellow mustard
- 1-2 generous pinch sugar
- ½ teaspoon hot sauce
- 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
Instructions
Salad:
- Combine all ingredients in a large mixing bowl.
- Add dressing and mix well to combine.
- Refrigerate for at least 1 hour or until you're ready to serve.
Dressing:
- Whisk all ingredients until well combined.
- Taste and adjust seasonings to your taste.
- Pour over the salad. Refrigerate until serving.
Video
Notes
- Buy shrimp that's already cooked, it's one less step for you. Frozen is best but canned will work.
- Cook the pasta to al dente. As it sits, it will absorb the dressing and soften up a little more.
- Make it ahead. Letting it sit in the dressing a little bit helps it all meld together and deepens the flavor.
- Taste the dressing as you go. This is pretty much the case for any cooking recipe (not so much baking) but take the measurements as a starting point and make this to your taste.
- Make a little extra dressing. Sometimes as it sits, the pasta sucks up the dressing, so it’s not a bad idea to make a half batch of the dressing to add if needed before serving (and if not, it tastes awesome on a green salad!). This is especially applicable if you’re making this a day ahead.
- This recipe makes a pretty large amount. If you're not serving a crowd, or you don't want as many left overs, half it.
- Leftovers and storage: This will last up to 4 days covered in the refrigerator.
Bec says
Jessy Freimann says
Amber says
Janet S Kammerer says
Jessy Freimann says
Betty says
Tara Teaspoon says
Jessy Freimann says
Sharon says
Nancy Andrews says
Jessy Freimann says
Kat Jeter says
Jessy Freimann says
Megan @ Megunprocessed says
Jessy Freimann says
Carolyn says
Jessy Freimann says
Denise says
Jessy Freimann says
Kelly Mathieu says
Jessy Freimann says
Kelly Mathieu says
Jessy Freimann says
Mary Oczkowski says
Jessy Freimann says
Rena says
Jessy Freimann says
Karen says
Jessy Freimann says
Diana says
Jessy Freimann says
Verne says
Jessy Freimann says
Lorraine says
Jessy Freimann says
Lisa says
Jessy Freimann says
Justin says
Jessy Freimann says
Eric says
Jessy Freimann says
Maria says
Jessy Freimann says
Jenny says
Jessy Freimann says
Beverly says
Jessy Freimann says
Rod Miller says
Jessy Freimann says
Anita Joy says
Jessy Freimann says
John howard says
Jessy Freimann says
Joanne says
Jessy Freimann says
Danielle says
Jessy Freimann says
Ashlee says
Jessy Freimann says
Val says
Jessy Freimann says
Suzanne says
Dorothy Bollmeier says
Jessy Freimann says
Scott Allen says
Amber says
Lynda says
Melanie Blair says
Ashley says
THOMAS ONEILL says
Marie S. says
dorinda bradshaw says
Sharon says
Mary Walters says
Jennifer says
Jennye says
Volonino Dorothy says
Jessy Freimann says