A simple, delicious seafood pasta salad made with big chunks of crab meat and large shrimp. Toss in hard‑boiled eggs, chopped celery, green onions, and a creamy dressing for a refreshing dish that works as a side or a main on warm days.

Close up photo of a plate full of the best seafood pasta salad on a bed of lettuce.

There’s nothing quite like a cold seafood pasta salad on a hot summer day. This version is icy cold, full of flavor, and easy to make ahead for picnics, barbecues, or holiday gatherings.

After a long day of seafood and family togetherness, leftover crab and shrimp are the perfect starting point for this salad. I picked the crab from the shells, chopped the large shrimp into bite‑size pieces, and combined everything into a creamy, satisfying salad.

This Seafood Macaroni Salad is ideal for Memorial Day, the 4th of July, Labor Day, or any summer party. It stores well in the refrigerator and tastes even better after the flavors meld.

How to Make Cold Seafood Pasta Salad

Begin by cooking 1 pound of pasta according to the package directions. Rinse with cold water and drain thoroughly so the pasta is cool before assembling.

In a large bowl, combine the cooled pasta with 1 cup finely chopped celery, 3 finely chopped green onions, and 1 cup flaked crab meat. Be gentle when stirring so the crab stays in nice chunks.

Bowl with cooked macaroni, chopped celery, onion, and crab meat.

Use cooked shrimp of any size, but cut large shrimp into bite‑size pieces so every forkful is easy to eat. Add the shrimp to the bowl, then season lightly with salt and pepper.

TIP: Start with only a little salt—you can always add more after tasting. It’s much harder to fix an overly salty salad than to season one that needs more.

Adding chopped cooked shrimp, salt and pepper to the pasta salad preparations.

Dressing ingredients for Pasta Salad

I find it easiest to mix the dressing before adding the eggs, but you can add ingredients in any order you prefer. For the dressing, add 1 cup mayonnaise and 1 cup sour cream to the bowl. The two together create a rich, creamy base that complements the seafood.

Stir in 1 tablespoon sweet relish and 2 teaspoons sugar, then fold the dressing into the pasta mixture, taking care not to break up the crab meat too much.

Adding Mayonnaise, sour cream, relish, and sugar to the salad mixture.

Finishing Touches for Pasta Salad

Finally, gently fold in 8 diced hard‑boiled eggs. Mix everything until evenly combined and the ingredients are distributed throughout the salad.

TIP: For perfectly cooked hard‑boiled eggs, an electric pressure cooker or Instant Pot works well and gives consistent results—cook an extra one or two for snacks or deviled eggs.

Adding hard boiled eggs to the salad mixture.

Cover the bowl and chill the salad in the refrigerator for at least 4 hours or overnight. Chilling lets the flavors marry and gives you a cold, refreshing salad that’s perfect for serving.

Seafood Macaroni Salad mixed in a bowl and ready to chill in the refrigerator.

Recipe Wrap-up

This salad balances seafood flavor with creamy dressing, tender eggs, and crunchy vegetables. It’s not overpoweringly “fishy,” and it keeps well in the fridge for several days—stored properly, it will stay good for 4–6 days, making it a great make‑ahead option.

Because it can be prepared the day before, this seafood pasta salad is ideal for potlucks, backyard barbecues, holiday gatherings, and casual lunches. All you need is a fork and a love of seafood.

Your family and guests will enjoy this creamy, chilled salad any time of year, but it truly shines in summer when a cold, satisfying dish is exactly what you want.

Here are some other great Summer Salad Recipes

Broccoli, Pomegranate, and Cranberry Salad
Raspberry Layered Jello Salad
Grandma’s Pea Salad with Peanuts
Classic Red Potato Salad
BLT Salad with Fresh Basil Dressing
Muffuletta Olive Pasta Salad
Blackberry Feta Spring Salad

Thanks for stopping by. I hope you have a wonderful summer and make a big bowl of this delicious Seafood Pasta Salad to share with friends and family.

Happy Nesting!

Printable Recipe Card

Best Seafood Pasta Salad Recipe

A simple, yet delicious seafood pasta salad with chunks of crab, large shrimp, hard‑boiled eggs, celery, and green onion in a creamy dressing. Great as a side or a main on warm days.

Prep Time: 20 mins

Cook Time: 15 mins

Total Time: 35 mins

Servings: 12

Calories: 305 kcal

Ingredients

1 pound box macaroni pasta
1 cup flaked crab meat
1 cup large cooked shrimp, cut into bite‑size pieces
1 cup finely chopped celery
3–4 green onions, finely chopped
8 hard‑boiled eggs, diced
1 cup mayonnaise
1 cup sour cream
1 tablespoon sweet relish
2 teaspoons sugar
Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

Cook pasta according to package directions. Rinse under cold water and drain until cool.
Boil the eggs, peel, and dice.
In a large bowl, combine cooled pasta, crab, shrimp, celery, green onions, salt, pepper, and diced eggs.
Add sour cream, mayonnaise, sweet relish, and sugar. Mix gently until well combined, taking care not to break up the crab meat.
Cover and chill for at least 4 hours or overnight before serving.

Notes

Store the salad in the refrigerator for 4–6 days. The salad tastes best after it has chilled and the flavors have blended.

Nutrition (per 1 cup)

Calories: 305 kcal • Carbohydrates: 15 g • Protein: 12 g • Fat: 22 g • Cholesterol: 179 mg • Sodium: 367 mg • Fiber: 1 g • Sugar: 3 g

Seafood Pasta Salad with Shrimp and Crab Dressing