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    Home » Recipes » Pescatarian Salad Recipes

    Shrimp Macaroni Pasta Salad

    Published: Apr 25, 2023 by The Devil Wears Salad

    Jump to Recipe

    Easy to throw together and so flavourful, this shrimp macaroni pasta salad is one to make for lunches, BBQs or picnics. Succulent shrimp matched with tomatoes, corn, avocado, bell peppers and creamy mayonnaise salad dressing, everyone will come back for more.

    Shrimp Macaroni Pasta Salad on a grey plate with a fork and spoon this recipe
    Jump to:
    • Why You’ll Love Our Shrimp Macaroni Pasta Salad
    • How To Make Macaroni Pasta Salad Less Bland?
    • Recipe Overview
    • Ingredients
    • Variations and Substitutions
    • Instructions
    • How to Make This Salad Perfectly (Expert Tips)
    • Great Mains for This Salad
    • Frequently Asked Questions
    • Recipe

    Why You’ll Love Our Shrimp Macaroni Pasta Salad

    When it comes to salads, sometimes we need to go back to the simple things and create a big bowl of deliciousness. And this creamy macaroni salad with shrimp is one for that list. 

    Like many pasta salad recipes, this shrimp macaroni salad is a great recipe to feed a crowd. And what I adore about this easy pasta salad is that it is so forgiving.

    You can pretty much toss together a variety of vegetables and herbs with macaroni pasta and succulent shrimp to make a flavourful cold side dish that everyone will like. A great opportunity to use up any leftover veggies or herbs in the fridge.

    And if you need a salad ahead of time, you can easily prep this and chill in the fridge before serving. The extra time allows the dressing to meld with the macaroni pasta. 

    close up of blue bowl with shrimp macaroni salad

    How To Make Macaroni Pasta Salad Less Bland?

    For today’s combination, I decided to go with a variety of flavours and textures. 

    The charred corn adds a smoky depth to the shrimp macaroni pasta salad, sweet cherry tomatoes, crunchy baby bell peppers, and creamy avocado. This mixture makes a flavourful pasta salad on the table. 

    Simple salads often rely on the salad dressing for extra flavour. Classic macaroni salad dressings have a mayonnaise base and sometimes can make the salad bland and gloopy.

    A great way to add extra oomph and make it less bland is to include spices or additional herbs. 

    Old Bay seasoning is a popular option to add to shrimp macaroni salad. Alternatively, try salsa and cumin, like our Mexican macaroni salad, to spice up the flavours. For this recipe, I added a few splashes of Tabasco hot sauce to give the mayo dressing a kick.

    This shrimp macaroni salad recipe is forgiving, so you can play around with the flavours and add your own twist.

    Recipe Overview

    Flavour/Texture: Creamy flavours with bites of meaty shrimp and crunchy fresh vegetables, this classic shrimp pasta salad combination is universally loved. 

    Ease: By using pre-cooked shrimp, this pasta salad is very easy to make. Cooking the pasta properly is probably the most challenging part of the recipe. But even the most novice cook can usually accomplish that!

    Time: I would give this recipe approximately 20-25 minutes to make, depending on how long the pasta takes. 

    Ingredients

    These are the main ingredients you need for shrimp macaroni pasta salad:

    shrimp pasta salad ingredients on plates with shrimp, macaroni, corn, tomatoes, bell peppers, avocado, mayonnaise, lemon juice, tabasco laid out

    Pasta: Macaroni is great for cold pasta salads because of its small elbow shape. It holds shape when cooked, and the hollow centre allows the salad dressing to cling on for extra flavour. 

    Shrimp: I went with pre-cooked shrimp for this recipe because it speeds up the preparation process. However, you can also use fresh shrimp and cook them.

    Corn/Cherry Tomatoes/Avocado/Baby Peppers: I chose this combination of vegetables to go with the pasta salad mainly for the pops of colour plus the various textures each element brings. There is a good balance of sweetness and creaminess between corn, tomatoes, avocado and baby peppers. 

    Mayonnaise: Good quality mayonnaise is much needed in this recipe. 

    Lemon juice: To help balance the creaminess of the mayonnaise, I used lemon juice for acidity. Citrus flavours are perfect with shrimp. 

    Dill: I love the citrusy and anise-like flavour of dill. A great pairing with shrimp. 

    Tabasco: For a little extra oomph and heat, I added a few drops of Tabasco hot sauce to the salad dressing. It helps to cut through the richness of the salad dressing. 

    Variations and Substitutions

    uncooked macaroni in a black bowl

    Different pasta variety: I generally have macaroni pasta ready to go in my pantry but you can substitute it with any other small pasta type. 

    Try fusilli like our Tuna pasta salad or Casareccia in our peas and prosciutto pasta salad. Other types like rotini, bow tie, seashell or penne pasta would also work well in pasta salads. 

    Fresh or pre-cooked shrimp: You can use fresh or pre-cooked shrimp for this recipe. I tend to use pre-cooked shrimp for pasta salad because I like to save time. Properly cooked fresh shrimp provides a slightly firmer texture than pre-cooked shrimp. 

    Tabasco substitute: If you don’t have Tabasco hot sauce, substitute it with sriracha or omit it if you don’t want a spicy dressing.

    Other ingredients: This is a great recipe to use up any leftovers in the fridge. Other vegetables or ingredients you can match include celery, cucumber, peas, green onion, parsley, chives and dill pickles or even pair with mango when in season.

    Grilled corn substitute: I adore freshly grilled corn in salads, just like our corn avocado salad. It adds a lovely sweet charred flavour. However, you can save some time by using canned or frozen corn.

    Salad dressing variation: I suggest using our Marie Rose cocktail sauce if you want a tangier dressing. 

    Instructions

    Step by step instructions for how to make shrimp macaroni pasta salad: 

    How to Make The Salad

    Cook macaroni pasta until al dente according to package instructions. Drain and set aside, ready for assembly.

    ladle scooping macaroni pasta from boiling water

    Defrost pre-cooked shrimp or cook fresh shrimp until tender if using uncooked shrimp. 

    On medium-high heat with a BBQ or grill pan, grill corn until nicely charred and then slice kernels off the cob.

    Peel and chop avocado into cubes.

    knife cutting corn kernels from cob on a wooden chopping board
    cut avocado on a wooden chopping board with knife next to it

    Slice cherry tomatoes into halves.

    Slice baby peppers into small rounds, or if using large bell pepper, dice into small pieces. 

    cherry tomatoes cut in half together on wooden chopping board
    sliced baby peppers on wooden chopping board

    How to Make Creamy Salad Dressing 

    In a mixing bowl, add mayonnaise, lemon juice, Tabasco sauce and ¾ of the chopped dill. 

    Mix well until combined. 

    a bowl of mayonnaise, lemon juice and tabasco sauce with a hand holding smaller bowl of chopped dill next to it

    How to Assemble the Salad

    Place shrimp, macaroni, grilled corn, avocado, cherry tomatoes and baby peppers in the salad bowl and add creamy salad dressing. 

    macaroni salad ingredients including pasta, shrimp, corn, avocado, tomatoes, bell peppers in a big bowl
    macaroni salad ingredients with dressing on top ina big bowl

    Toss together until shrimp and pasta are well coated with salad dressing.

    close up of blue bowl with shrimp macaroni salad

    Season with salt and pepper. 

    Scatter the remaining chopped dill on top.

    Serve chilled. 

    How to Make This Salad Perfectly (Expert Tips)

    Prepare ahead of time: This is a great pasta salad recipe to make ahead of time. Making it a little earlier will give the macaroni time to absorb the creamy salad dressing. 

    Do not overcook pasta: No one likes their pasta salad overdone. So be sure to cook pasta until al dente.

    Chill before serving: I prefer a cold shrimp salad, so put the salad in the fridge until you are ready to serve.  

    Season properly: A generous pinch of salt and pepper goes a long way for this recipe. Taste and season to your liking.

    Great Mains for This Salad

    What to serve with shrimp macaroni pasta salad? Try these delicious recipes:

    For an all rounded pescatarian meal,this pan seared cod with tomato would go perfectly with the shrimp and macaroni. Alternatively you can try these fresh tofu summer rolls for a nice light lunch with family and friends.

    While you’re making the shrimp macaroni pasta salad, put these delicious roasted chicken quarters in the oven. Great dinner idea!

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Can I make this salad in advance?

    Yes! Shrimp macaroni salad benefits from being prepped in advance. Keep in fridge well chilled until ready to serve.

    How to store the salad?

    You can store salad in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2-3 days.

    Can you freeze shrimp macaroni salad?

    I don’t believe it is a good idea to freeze the salad. The mayonnaise dressing would split when defrosting.


    You can’t go wrong with an easy pasta salad recipe that you can prep ahead. The flavours are familiar and comforting but spruced up with delicious juicy sweet shrimp and a hint of spice. 

    This shrimp macaroni salad will be an excellent addition for BBQs, picnics or even a fancy lunch. 

    That’s all!

    More Salad Recipes with Seafood:

    • 2 serves of Risoni Salad with Hot Smoked Salmon and Crab on white plates
      Risoni Salad with Hot Smoked Salmon and Crab
    • Red Snapper Ceviche with Pomelo on a green plate
      Red Snapper Ceviche with Pomelo
    • Scallop Sashimi Salad with Finger Lime in a black bowl with a fork, served with fresh finger limes
      Scallop Sashimi Salad with Finger Lime
    • Prawn and Avocado Salad with Golden Kiwi in a blue bowl
      Prawn and Avocado Salad with Golden Kiwi
    close up of blue bowl with shrimp macaroni salad

    Recipe

    Shrimp Macaroni Pasta Salad with a silver fork
    Print Recipe
    4.96 from 24 votes

    Shrimp Macaroni Pasta Salad

    Easy to throw together and so flavourful, this shrimp macaroni pasta salad is one to make for lunches, BBQs or picnics. Succulent shrimp matched with tomatoes, corn, avocado, bell peppers and creamy mayonnaise salad dressing, everyone will come back for more.
    Prep Time10 minutes mins
    Cook Time15 minutes mins
    Total Time25 minutes mins
    Course: Salad
    Cuisine: American
    Diet: Low Lactose
    Dietary: Dairy Free, Nut Free, Pescatarian
    Servings: 4 people
    Calories: 452kcal
    Author: Sammy Eng

    Ingredients

    Salad

    • 250 g macaroni
    • 200 g shrimp, pre-cooked
    • 1 avocado
    • 1 corn
    • 3 bell pepper, baby
    • 150 g cherry tomatoes

    Salad Dressing

    • ½ cup mayonnaise
    • 1 tbsp dill, chopped
    • 1 tbsp lemon juice
    • Tabasco sauce, to taste
    • salt, to taste
    • pepper, to taste

    Click on the toggle below for conversion to US Cooking Units.

    Instructions

    Salad

    • Cook macaroni pasta until al dente according to package instructions. Drain and set aside, ready for assembly.
    • Defrost pre-cooked shrimp if required, or cook fresh shrimp until tender.
    • Grill corn on a BBQ or grill pan until nicely charred, and then slice kernels off cob.
    • Peel and chop avocado into cubes.
    • Slice cherry tomatoes into halves.
    • Slice baby peppers into small rounds, or if using large bell peppers, dice into small pieces.

    Salad Dressing

    • In a small bowl, add mayonnaise, lemon juice, Tabasco sauce and ¾ of the chopped dill.
    • Mix well until combined.

    Assembly

    • Place shrimp, macaroni, grilled corn, avocado, cherry tomatoes and baby peppers in the salad bowl and add creamy salad dressing.
    • Toss together until shrimp and pasta is well coated with salad dressing.
    • Season with salt and pepper.
    • Scatter the remaining chopped dill on top.
    • Serve chilled.

    Notes

    • Do not overcook pasta. Cook until al dente.
    • Keep in fridge well chilled until ready to serve.
    • You can substitute macaroni with any other small pasta type. Fusilli, rotini, bow tie, seashell or penne pasta would also work well in pasta salads. 
    • You can use fresh or pre-cooked shrimp for this recipe. 
    • You can save some time by using canned or frozen corn instead of charred corn.
    • Other vegetables or ingredients you can add include celery, cucumber, peas, green onion, parsley, chives and dill pickles or even mango if in season.
    • Try our Marie Rose cocktail sauce if you want a tangier dressing. 
    • You can store salad in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2-3 days.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 452kcal | Carbohydrates: 61g | Protein: 21g | Fat: 15g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 5g | Monounsaturated Fat: 6g | Trans Fat: 0.02g | Cholesterol: 85mg | Sodium: 306mg | Potassium: 799mg | Fiber: 8g | Sugar: 8g | Vitamin A: 3079IU | Vitamin C: 129mg | Calcium: 64mg | Iron: 2mg

    *Disclaimer: Nutritional information provided is an estimate only and generated by an online calculator.

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