Crab Pasta Salad Recipe
This Crab Pasta Salad is a refreshing and flavorful dish combining tender small shell pasta, imitation crab meat, and a creamy, tangy dressing seasoned with Old Bay and fresh dill. Perfect for summer gatherings or a light lunch, this salad is packed with crunchy celery, peas, and onions for added texture and vibrancy.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour 25 minutes (including chilling time)
- Yield: 6 servings 1x
- Category: Salad
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Low Fat
Ingredients
Scale
Salad
- 12 ounces small shell pasta
- 12 ounces imitation crab meat (chopped or flaked)
- 1 cup celery (diced)
- ½ cup red onion (finely chopped)
- ⅓ cup green onions (thinly sliced)
- 1 cup frozen peas (thawed)
- ⅓ cup dill pickles (finely chopped)
Dressing
- 1¼ cups mayonnaise
- 2½ tablespoons fresh lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1½ teaspoons Old Bay seasoning
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- 2 tablespoons fresh dill (chopped)
Instructions
- Cook Pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the small shell pasta and cook until al dente, following package instructions, usually about 8-10 minutes. Drain the pasta and rinse under cold water to stop the cooking process and cool the pasta completely.
- Make Dressing: In a mixing bowl, whisk together mayonnaise, fresh lemon juice, garlic powder, Old Bay seasoning, salt, and black pepper until smooth and well combined. Stir in the chopped fresh dill and finely chopped dill pickles to infuse flavor.
- Combine Salad Ingredients: In a large bowl, add the cooled pasta, chopped imitation crab meat, diced celery, finely chopped red onion, thinly sliced green onions, and thawed peas. Gently mix to combine all salad components evenly.
- Add Dressing: Pour the prepared dressing over the pasta and seafood mixture. Gently fold and stir the salad until every ingredient is thoroughly coated with the dressing, ensuring balanced flavor distribution.
- Chill: Cover the bowl with plastic wrap or a lid and refrigerate the crab pasta salad for at least 1 to 2 hours. For the best flavor, allow it to chill overnight to let the ingredients meld well.
- Serve: Before serving, gently stir the salad again to redistribute the dressing and flavors. Serve cold as a refreshing dish.
Notes
- Use chilled pasta to prevent the salad from becoming too watery.
- Imitation crab meat can be substituted with real crab meat for a more premium version.
- Adjust Old Bay seasoning to taste for more or less spice.
- For added crunch, consider adding chopped celery seeds or nuts.
- This salad keeps well refrigerated for up to 2 days.
Keywords: Crab pasta salad, seafood salad, summer pasta salad, Old Bay pasta salad, chilled crab salad
Find it online: https://kitchenbyclara.com/crab-pasta-salad-recipe/
