BEST SHRIMP MACARONI SALAD FREE

Cajun or Creole seasoning - I use Tony Chachere's, but feel free to use any that you prefer!.

I can't be the only Midwestern girl that grew up putting ranch on everything!

ranch dressing - secret weapon! Adds a lot of flavor and more creaminess.

mayonnaise - crucial to give our macaroni salad that creamy consistency! I prefer Hellmann's because it produces a creamier result.

Feel free to play around with what you've got!

chopped celery and green onions - gives your salad a nice crunch! You can also add any other veggies you have on hand - I've seen this salad made with broccoli florets, green peppers, and white onions.

cooked medium shrimp - makes this dish so easy! I bought a bag of frozen medium cooked shrimp, so all I had to do was thaw the shrimp and cut it into chunks!.

macaroni or small shell pasta - I like the look of shell pasta, but you definitely can't go wrong with elbow macaroni! Feel free to use whole wheat, chickpea, or any alternative type of pasta you like.

BEST SHRIMP MACARONI SALAD MAC

This spicy shrimp mac salad is a fantastic easy summer dish, in part because it only takes a few ingredients! Here's what you'll need: Finally, adding in the ranch dressing adds another level of creaminess to this easy shrimp macaroni salad! Easy Shrimp Macaroni Salad Southern Shrimp Macaroni Salad Ingredients A mayo with too much water content will absorb more quickly. I also make sure to use a full-fat, extra rich mayonnaise. One way we try to prevent the mayonnaise from absorbing too much into the macaroni is by rinsing the macaroni before adding it to wash off some of the starch.

BEST SHRIMP MACARONI SALAD PLUS

It's that easy and it definitely will be your new favorite shrimp macaroni salad! Can you add shrimp to macaroni salad?Ībsolutely! The shrimp adds a delicious element of flavor, plus it's a great protein add-in to turn this delicious salad into a meal! How do I keep macaroni from absorbing mayonnaise? Just in time for the summer cookout season, this is the best shrimp macaroni salad to make for family gatherings and barbecues! It comes together in just a couple minutes with pasta, cooked shrimp, mayonnaise, ranch dressing, chopped celery and green onions, and Creole seasonings. I don’t recommend dried herbs here, but if you must, use 1/3 the amount of fresh.*This post contains affiliate links - as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Fresh Herbs – I used fresh dill, fresh chives, and fresh parsley, but this recipe for crab salad works with any other fresh herbs, such as tarragon or basil.Spices – You’ll need a combination of Old Bay seasoning, sea salt, and pepper.Dijon Mustard – Adds a flavorful kick, a hint of acidity, and brightness to the dish.You can use bottled lemon juice for convenience, but fresh lemon juice tastes better. Greek yogurt would also work as a substitute, but you may want to omit or reduce the lemon juice if you use yogurt.

You can use homemade mayonnaise or store-bought.

Mayonnaise – Makes up the base of the creamy dressing.

Red Onion – I used red onion, but you can use shallots or green onion instead if you prefer.

You could also use 1/4 cup of diced carrot or red bell pepper. If you’re lucky enough to have it, leftover meat from crab legs tastes even better. A good option is the chilled cans in the grocery store seafood department - look for “lump crab meat” over other types and drain any excess liquid.

Lump Crab Meat – Some crab salad recipes use imitation crab meat, but real crab meat tastes much better and doesn’t have all the fillers or added sugar.

For measurements, see the recipe card below.

BEST SHRIMP MACARONI SALAD HOW TO

This section explains how to choose the best ingredients for crab meat salad, what each one does in the recipe, and substitution options.

Best shrimp macaroni salad