A make-ahead meal that’s ready when you are.
How to make the best seafood salad!
Have you ever one of those days when there’s just no time to make dinner?
You might have plenty of time earlier in the day. But then from about 4pm on, you’re just booked solid. Doctor’s appointments, after-school activities, afternoon meetings – whatever it is, you’re running around steadily until you finally come home at dinnertime. And then dinner isn’t ready, because you had no time to cook.
On days like that, it’s really handy to have a dinner recipe that you can whip up ahead of time, so it’s ready and waiting when you finally get home. The Crockpot is a good way to do this, of course, but what if you want a cold meal instead of a hot one?
Why, then you whip up this Homestyle Seafood Pasta Salad, of course. It’s a hearty mix of shell pasta, imitation crabmeat, chopped celery, and a zesty, creamy dressing with a touch of Old Bay Seasoning. All you have to do is mix everything together and pop it in the fridge to chill, and it will be ready and waiting whenever you come home.
Homestyle Seafood Pasta Salad
(printable recipe and ingredient list at bottom of post)
DIRECTIONS:
- Place cooked pasta in a large mixing bowl.
- Add in celery and crab meat. Mixing in mayo, sugar, vinegar and lemon juice.
- Next add in your salt, pepper, onion powder and Old Bay Seasoning.
- Mix all together in a large bowl. Chill for at least 2 hours. Served chilled.
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Homestyle Seafood Pasta Salad
Ingredients
- 1 lb Medium Shell Pasta cooked
- 2 stalks celery chopped
- 1 pound imitation crabmeat chopped
- 1 and 1/2 cups mayonnaise
- 2 tablespoons white sugar
- 2 tablespoons white vinegar
- 2 tsp Lemon Juice
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 tsp Old Bay Seasoning seafood seasoning
Instructions
- Place cooked pasta in a large mixing bowl.
- Add in celery and crab meat.
- Mix in mayo, sugar, vinegar and lemon juice.
- Next add in your salt, pepper, onion powder and Old Bay Seasoning.
- Mix all together in a large bowl. Chill for at least 2 hours. Served chilled.
Recipe Notes:
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Nutrition Information:
Nutrition Disclaimer
Family Fresh Meals is not a dietician or nutritionist, and any nutritional information shared is only an estimate. We recommend running the ingredients through an online nutritional calculator if you need to verify any information.
Do you love pasta salad? Here are a couple more pasta salad recipes you will love!
Karen Becker says
Hi Corey, This looks delicious! I just want to be sure about the amount of mayonnaise to use. It says to use “1.5 cups and 1/2 cups mayonnaise”. So do I use a total of two cups?
Corey says
Sorry about that Karen! The recipe card had been fixed. It is only supposed to be 1.5 cups.
Scarlet says
This sounds nice and refreshing for this time of year. I am pinning it to try soon.
Donna Schumacher says
I have made this several times. I used Italian Pipette pasta. Added 12 – 16 0z. petite frozen peas, thawed and 12 oz. tiny frozen, cooked shrimp along with the imitation crab. It is so good!
Nancy Besser says
What is Old Bay like?Is it spicy?
Corey says
This is a seafood spice. I wouldn’t characterize it as spice.
Molly Crocker says
It’s a spice blend that was originally for seafood, but it works great on lots of things. Not spicy. Celery salt, paprika, ground black pepper make up the base of the blend.
Wendy says
My mom loved the seafood pasta and she couldn’t stop eating it. She kept going back for more. I used Bow Ties Pasta and added shrimp, green peas and peppers. Thank you for the recipe!
Joejoe says
I really liked this recipe. I bumped up the Old Bay (I’m from Maryland) and added shrimp which I also steamed in Old Bay and added boiled eggs. Delicious. Of course you have to season to taste. I do not add my crab until the very end – after its cold and seasoned completely because I use lump crab meat. You do not want to lose your lumps.
Kelly DeHommel says
I think it’s very tasty but I believe the measurements of the ingredients could be increased for more flavor. Love all the flavors and I added chopped up shrimp also.
Donna G says
Yummmy! I wasn’t sure about the sugar and vinegar, but it added a little unexpected layer of flavor. I didn’t have Old Bay, so I sprinkled on some dried ranch dressing mix. This is the best! Thank you!
Gma jen says
Add a small bag of frozen peas, diced red and green pepper, sliced radish and diced red onion. Smoked paprika and white clam sauce. Sprinkle with dried dill!
Corey says
Those sound like amazing additions!!! Love it!
Sara says
I just had to say how much I enjoyed this recipe! For the longest time I have been looking for a seafood pasta recipe. I never really cared too much for the ones in the deli at the supermarket but I bought them because I could never really make a exceptional seafood salad recipe of my own after several attempts . I ended up adding shrimp and imitation crab and doubling the dressing.It was absolutely delicious thank you so much!This will be a regular in my summer salad recipes!
Corey says
Yay Sara! I am so happy you loved the recipe 🙂 It’s one of my favs too!
Molly says
Really loved this pasta salad! Doubled the dressing and added chopped bell pepper, frozen baby peas, and shrimp. Love the idea of adding chopped boiled eggs too!
Lani Rodriguez says
My whole family loved this recipe! I saw that someone added red sweet peppers and green peppers -I added those instead of celery, since I didn’t have any on hand. I also added a tiny bit more of each seasoning (since I like my food with extra flavor). Thank you for this recipe -it was incredible!! I would love to add shrimp next time! 😀
Corey says
Love the idea of adding peppers!
Craig says
Best seafood salad recipe I’ve tried. Thank you so much for it! Just finished making a bowl for dinner tonight. I double up on the Old Bay seasoning as others have mentioned. Also I use shrimp along with the imitation crab. Gives it great flavor. I’m adding a bag of petite green peas this time also.
Stacey Gergely says
Loved it! I only used two tsp white sugar and added four tbs of pickle juice. I also used extra broad egg noodles and some smoked Hungarian paprika instead of Old Bay
Sharon says
Turned out great! Exactly what I was looking for. Thanks!
Todd Gregory says
My wife and I loved this dish.
Mark J says
Fabulous recipe will make over and over. Perfect blend of seafood and sweetness.
Donna says
I have been making this recipe for over 30 years! So you could imagine how excited I was to see this! The only thing I don’t put in is the celery, but I do add a little bit of sliced black olives! My son will devour the whole Bowl so I have to hide it behind things in the refrigerator
Sam Maughan says
I make something very similar, but up the veggies so add chopped cherry tomatoes, raw carrot, cucumber and sweet corn as well as the celery and also like to add some cooked prawns too . Make a big old dish, pop in fridge and eat over the week
Carmen says
Hi Corey, your seafood pasta looks amazing. Definitely will make this for Super Bowl party. Need clarification on the mayo amount. T/U
Corey says
Hello, all the ingredient measurements are in the recipe card in at the bottom. You are going to want to use 1 and 1/2 cups mayonnaise. I hope that helps
Nancy Besser says
What is old bay seasoning like? Is it spicy or have a kick to it?