Creamy Shrimp Macaroni Salad

5 from 1 vote

Creamy Shrimp Macaroni Salad is a classic seafood pasta salad recipe that delivers cool summer flavor, simple prep, and deli-style comfort. Shrimp, crisp vegetables, and pasta are tossed together in a creamy dressing seasoned with paprika and lemon juice, creating a refreshing pasta salad perfect for potlucks or family meals.

Prep Time15

Cook Time10

Chill Time30

Total Time55

Course: Salad

Cuisine: Seafood

Servings:

Calories: 379kcal

Author: Jami Powell

Ingredients

1 pound cooked salad shrimp (thawed if frozen and patted dry)
1½ cups dry elbow macaroni
2 celery stalks finely diced
2 tablespoons very finely diced red onion
2 tablespoons finely grated carrot
2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
1 tablespoon chopped fresh dill optional

Shrimp Pasta Dressing

¾ cup mayonnaise
1 tablespoon lemon juice
½ teaspoon paprika
¼ teaspoon salt
freshly cracked black pepper to taste

Instructions

Bring a pot of salted water to a boil and cook the elbow macaroni according to package directions until tender. Drain and rinse briefly under cool water to stop the cooking, then allow the pasta to cool completely.
In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, lemon juice, paprika, salt, and freshly cracked black pepper until smooth. Stir in the chopped parsley and dill.
Add the cooked shrimp, diced celery, finely minced red onion, and grated carrot to the bowl with the dressing. Stir until the ingredients are evenly coated.
Add the cooled elbow macaroni and gently fold everything together until the pasta and shrimp are well coated.
Cover and refrigerate the salad for 30–60 minutes so the flavors blend and the dressing thickens slightly. Stir once before serving and adjust seasoning if needed.

Video

Notes

Cooking Notes

Allow the pasta to cool completely before mixing so the dressing stays thick and creamy. Chilling the salad before serving helps the flavors blend.

Tips for Best Results

Let the macaroni cool before mixing to keep the dressing smooth.
Dice celery and onion finely so the texture stays balanced.
Fold the pasta in gently so the shrimp stay intact.
Chill the salad before serving so the dressing thickens.

How to Know It's Ready

The salad is ready when the pasta and shrimp are evenly coated with dressing, and the flavors have blended after chilling. The texture should be creamy but not runny, with pasta fully coated.

Nutrition