Seafood Macaroni Salad
This isn’t your average macaroni salad. It’s a chilled seafood lover’s dream—creamy, tangy, herb-laced, and loaded with tender grilled shrimp and sweet, luxurious crab. Perfect as a summer side or light main dish, this seafood macaroni salad brings the freshness of the coast right to your table.
Whether you’re planning a cookout, picnic, or weekday lunch, this cold seafood pasta salad checks all the boxes: bold flavor, beautiful presentation, and minimal prep. And thanks to Hellmann’s Real Mayonnaise, every bite is rich, smooth, and satisfying.
Why You’re Going to Love This Seafood Macaroni Salad
Elevated and Easy
This dish looks and tastes gourmet but comes together with simple ingredients and just a few easy steps.
Coastal Flavor
Sweet claw crab, delicate lump crab, and perfectly grilled shrimp marinated in creamy mayo make every bite feel like a beachside indulgence.
Herb-Infused Creaminess
A vibrant dressing with lemon juice, Dijon mustard, parsley, and chives ties it all together with fresh flavor and a touch of tang.
Perfect for Make-Ahead Meals
It’s even better after a little time in the fridge, which makes it an ideal prep-ahead option for gatherings or grab-and-go lunches.
Versatile and Crowd-Pleasing
Serve it chilled as a side dish, a light main, or a standout addition to your next summer spread.
Ingredients You’ll Need
Pasta Base
Elbow macaroni or shells cooked until just tender, rinsed in cold water and cooled completely.
Seafood
Grilled shrimp marinated in Hellmann’s Real Mayonnaise, lemon zest, garlic, and spices
Jumbo lump crab meat for delicate texture
Claw crab meat for sweet, flavorful depth
Creamy Herb Dressing
Hellmann’s Real Mayonnaise for a rich, velvety base
Celery, red onion, and bell peppers for crunch and color
Dijon mustard and lemon juice for brightness
Parsley, chives, and celery seed for fresh herbal notes
Salt and pepper to taste
How to Make It
Grill the Shrimp
Toss peeled and deveined shrimp with mayonnaise, garlic, lemon zest, paprika, salt, and pepper. Let it marinate briefly while you preheat your grill.
Grill the shrimp until slightly charred and opaque, then let them cool completely.
Make the Dressing
In a large bowl, stir together the mayonnaise, celery, red onion, bell pepper, Dijon, lemon juice, parsley, chives, and celery seed. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
Assemble the Salad
Add the cooled pasta to the bowl with the dressing. Toss in the grilled shrimp and claw crab meat. Gently fold in the jumbo lump crab to keep it whole and delicate.
Top with a dusting of paprika and a sprinkle of fresh chives.
Serving and Storage Tips
Serve this salad cold with lemon wedges on the side. It pairs beautifully with grilled vegetables, corn on the cob, or buttery crackers.
Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge. For best texture and flavor, enjoy within two to three days. Stir before serving.
Seafood Macaroni Salad
Ingredients
- 1 lb elbow macaroni or shells, cooked al dente, rinse in cold water and set aside to cool
- 8 oz jumbo lump crab meat
- 4 oz crab claw meat
Grilled Shrimp
- 1 lb shrimp peeled and deveined
- 1/4 cup Hellmann’s Real Mayonnaise
- 1 tsp garlic minced or paste
- 1 tsp lemon zest
- 1 tsp smoked paprika
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 tsp black pepper
Creamy Dressing
- 1 /12 to 2 cups Hellmann’s Real Mayonnaise
- 1/2 cup celery finely chopped
- 1/4 cup red onion finely chopped
- 1/4 cup bell peppers finely chopped
- 2 tbsp dijon mustard
- 2 tbsp lemon juice
- 2 tbsp parsley finely chopped
- 2 tbsp chives finely chopped
- 1 tsp celery seed
- Salt to taste
- Pepper taste
Instructions
Grilled Shrimp
- Pre-heat grill to 400F.
- In a large bowl add all ingredients listed under “Grilled Shrimp.” Mix throughly and all to marinate for 10-15 minutes.
- Grill the shrimp for 2-3 minutes on both sides until slightly charred and opaque.
- Once cooked, set aside to cool completely.
Creamy Dressing
- In a large bowl combine all ingredients listed under “Creamy Dressing.” Mix thoroughly and set aside.
Assemble
- To the large bowl with the creamy dressing, add the cooked pasta of your choice, the crab claw meant and cooled grilled shrimp. Once combined, gently fold in the jumbo lump crab meat.
- Garnish with chives and a light dusting of paprika. Serve immediately and enjoy!
