Description

This refreshing Crab Pasta Salad combines tender small shell pasta with flavorful imitation crab meat, crunchy vegetables, and a zesty dill pickle mayonnaise dressing seasoned with Old Bay. Perfectly chilled, it’s an easy-to-make, crowd-pleasing dish ideal for potlucks, picnics, or a light summer meal.

Ingredients

Scale

Pasta

12 ounces small shell pasta

Dressing

1¼ cups mayonnaise
2½ tablespoons fresh lemon juice
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1½ teaspoons Old Bay seasoning
½ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon black pepper
2 tablespoons fresh dill, chopped
⅓ cup dill pickles, finely chopped

Salad Mix-ins

12 ounces imitation crab meat, chopped or flaked
1 cup celery, diced
½ cup red onion, finely chopped
⅓ cup green onions, thinly sliced
1 cup frozen peas, thawed

Instructions

Cook Pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook the small shell pasta until al dente according to package directions. Drain the pasta and rinse it under cold water to cool it completely. Set aside.
Make Dressing: In a small bowl, whisk together mayonnaise, fresh lemon juice, garlic powder, Old Bay seasoning, salt, and black pepper. Stir in the chopped fresh dill and dill pickles until well combined.
Combine Salad Ingredients: In a large bowl, place the cooled pasta, then add chopped imitation crab meat, diced celery, finely chopped red onion, sliced green onions, and thawed peas.
Add Dressing: Pour the prepared dressing over the pasta mixture. Gently toss everything together until all ingredients are evenly coated with the dressing.
Chill the Salad: Cover the bowl with a lid or plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 1 to 2 hours, or overnight, allowing the flavors to meld and the salad to chill.
Serve: Before serving, give the salad a gentle stir to redistribute the dressing. Serve cold and enjoy this flavorful crab pasta salad.

Notes

For best flavor, prepare the salad a few hours ahead or the night before.
You can substitute fresh crab meat for imitation crab if desired.
Adjust Old Bay seasoning to taste based on spice preference.
This salad keeps well refrigerated for up to 3 days.
To reduce calories, use light mayonnaise or Greek yogurt as a substitute.

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Category: Salad
Method: Boiling
Cuisine: American

Keywords: crab pasta salad, seafood pasta salad, Old Bay pasta salad, mayonnaise pasta salad, crab salad, seafood salad, cold pasta salad