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The fresh, vibrant flavors of this Crab Pasta Salad are perfect for any occasion. You will love this coastal inspired dish!
Crab Pasta Salad is a beachy classic for my family, however, it can be enjoyed anywhere. I find it’s a nice twist on the macaroni salad that we all know and love. Every bite has such fresh flavor from the dill, creaminess from the mayo, and nice crunch from the veggies. I love packing a lunch for the beach and this dish fits right in with a sandwich and pickle.
Ingredients
- Small or medium pasta shells – I like the look of shells to stick with a beach theme, it’s cute! Feel free to use whichever pasta floats your boat. Any small pasta would work, such as macaroni, bowties, rotini, cavatappi, ditalini, etc.
- Imitation crab meat – Although we use imitation crab meat, you can use real crab meat in this crab pasta salad recipe. It’s up to personal choice, or whatever you have in the pantry. It tastes great either way, but note that imitation is much more affordable and readily available.
- Celery – Finely chop your celery so you don’t have big chunks in the pasta salad.
- Salt and pepper – Season to taste, these bring out a lot of flavor.
- Veggies (optional) – Shredded carrots, red onions, green onions, bell peppers, or other vegetables of your choice can be added in for flavor, texture, and color.
- Mayonnaise – Our favorite is Hellman’s/Best Foods.
- Milk – This adds an additional creaminess.
- Sugar- This brings a light sweetness, which you’ll find the salad needs.
- Dill- Adding in fresh herbs brightens up the salad, and dill is my herb of choice for seafood.
How to Make Crab Pasta Salad
- Cook the pasta. Begin by cooking your pasta al dente according to package directions in a large pot, remembering to stir frequently as it cooks. Drain and set aside.
- Chop the crab meat. Next, coarsely chop your crab meat into small pieces, either by hand, or with a food processor (pictured below).
- Mix ingredients together. Place the chopped crab in a large bowl and mix with the chopped celery and any additional veggies. Salt and pepper to taste.
- Prepare the dressing. In a small, separate bowl, stir together mayonnaise, milk, and sugar. Add this into the crab mixture.
- Add the pasta. Finally, fold the cooked pasta into the crab mixture and garnish with dill if you wish.
- Serve and garnish. You can serve immediately, or refrigerate until you are ready to serve. Garnish with a sprig of dill.
Helpful Hints
Make it Ahead of Time: You can make this crab pasta salad the night before you need it and just keep it covered in the refrigerator. When you uncover it the next day, if you find it a little dry, add small amounts of mayonnaise or milk to the salad, a little at a time, to bring it back to life. Stir it in well until everything looks well coated.
We’re Going on a Picnic: This is the perfect pasta salad for a picnic. Bring a turkey sandwich, some dill pickle dip and some chips, some monster cookies, along with your crab pasta salad, and you’re ready to boogie!
Make it a Meal: This salad is great on its own as a lunch or smaller meal. Serve with grilled salmon, grilled chicken, or salmon burgers to make it more of a full meal.
Storing Crab Pasta Salad
If you used imitation crab, the salad is good for 3-5 days, as that is the refrigerated shelf life of opened imitation crab. If real crab was used, the pasta salad is good for 1-2 days. Be sure to store in an airtight container in the fridge. Always use your best judgement, if something smells fishy, don’t eat it.
More Crab Recipes
Crab Salad
Crab Salad Sandwiches
California Rolls
Crab Cakes with Homemade Tartar Sauce
Cream Cheese Wontons
Sushi Bake
Crab Pasta Salad
Ingredients
- 1 pound medium or small pasta shells
- 1 pound imitation crab meat
- 1 cup finely chopped celery
- salt and pepper (to taste)
- 1/2 cup shredded carrot (optional)
- 2 1/2 cups mayonnaise (we always use Best Foods / Hellmann's)
- 1/4 cup milk
- 2 teaspoons sugar
- fresh dill (optional for garnish)
Instructions
- Cook shells according to package directions. Rinse with cold water to cool the shells quickly. Set aside.
- Chop crab meat into small pieces with a knife or coarsely chop in a food processor.
- Place crab in a large bowl and toss with chopped celery, shredded carrot (optional), salt, and pepper. In a small separate bowl, combine mayonnaise, milk, and sugar and stir into the crab mixture.
- Fold in the cooked pasta shells and stir until evenly coated. Top with fresh dill for garnish (optional).
- Serve immediately or refrigerate until ready to serve.
