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Crab Pasta Salad Recipe

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★★★★★

4.5 from 138 reviews

This Crab Pasta Salad is a refreshing and flavorful dish perfect for a light lunch or a side at summer gatherings. Made with tender medium shell pasta, flaky imitation crab meat, crisp vegetables, and a creamy dill mayonnaise dressing, it combines a delightful mix of textures and tastes. Chilled and garnished with fresh chives, this easy-to-make salad offers a satisfying blend of seafood and fresh garden ingredients.

Ingredients

Scale

Pasta and Seafood

  • 1 pound medium shells pasta
  • 14 ounces imitation crab meat

Vegetables

  • 1/2 cup frozen peas (thawed)
  • 1/2 cup red onion (peeled and chopped)
  • 1/2 cup celery (chopped)
  • 1/2 cup red bell pepper (seeded and chopped)

Dressing and Seasoning

  • 3/4 cup mayonnaise
  • 1 tablespoon fresh dill (chopped) or 1 tsp dried dill
  • Salt & pepper (to taste)
  • Fresh chives (chopped, for garnish)

Instructions

  1. Cook Pasta: Bring a large pot of water to a boil and generously salt the water. Cook the pasta according to the package directions until al dente. Drain well and run the pasta under cold water to stop the cooking process and cool it down.
  2. Mix Ingredients: In a large mixing bowl, combine the cooled pasta, imitation crab meat, thawed peas, chopped red onion, celery, red bell pepper, mayonnaise, and dill. Gently stir the mixture until all ingredients are evenly coated with the dressing.
  3. Season and Chill: Taste the salad and add salt and pepper as needed. Cover the bowl tightly with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 1 hour to allow the flavors to meld and the salad to chill properly.
  4. Serve: Remove the salad from the fridge, uncover, and sprinkle fresh chopped chives over the top as a garnish. Serve cold and enjoy.

Notes

  • Use medium shell pasta to help hold the dressing and crab pieces well.
  • For a lighter version, substitute half the mayonnaise with Greek yogurt.
  • Ensure to chill the salad for at least one hour to enhance flavor fusion and texture.
  • Fresh dill provides the best flavor, but dried dill can be used as a convenient alternative.
  • If preferred, swap imitation crab meat with fresh cooked crab for a more authentic taste.

Keywords: Crab Pasta Salad, seafood salad, cold pasta salad, easy summer salad, mayonnaise crab salad

Find it online: https://flavorsbymaya.com/crab-pasta-salad-recipe/