Shrimp Macaroni Salad

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4.16 from 32 votes

Shrimp Macaroni Salad

This creamy shrimp macaroni salad with lemon dill dressing makes a quick side or main meal, perfect for summer parties!

Prep Time20

Cook Time10

Total Time30

Course: Salad

Cuisine: American

Servings: servings

Calories: 370kcal

Author: Caro Jensen

Ingredients

Garlic Shrimp

1 pound fresh shrimp deveined, tailed
2 cloves garlic
1 tbsp olive oil
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp black pepper

Lemon Dill Dressing

1 tbsp chopped fresh dill
1 cup mayonnaise plain
2 tbsp lemon juice juice of one large lemon
1 tsp lemon zest zest of one large lemon
1/4 tsp salt
1/8 tsp pepper

Macaroni Salad

8 oz dry macaroni pasta
1 celery rib sliced, 1/2 cup
1/2 red onion finely chopped, 1/4 cup
1 red bell pepper diced, 1/2 cup
1/2 cucumber diced, 1/2 cup

US Customary - Metric

Instructions

In a skillet, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add minced garlic and sauté for 30 seconds until fragrant. Add shrimp, salt, and black pepper. Cook until the shrimp turns pink and opaque, about 2-3 minutes per side. Remove from heat and set aside.
1 pound fresh shrimp, 2 cloves garlic, 1 tbsp olive oil, 1/2 tsp salt, 1/4 tsp black pepper
In a small bowl, combine chopped dill, mayonnaise, lemon juice, lemon zest, salt, and pepper. Whisk until well combined. Adjust seasoning to taste.
1 tbsp chopped fresh dill, 1 cup mayonnaise, 2 tbsp lemon juice, 1 tsp lemon zest, 1/4 tsp salt, 1/8 tsp pepper
Cook the macaroni al dente according to the package directions and rinse it with cold water. In a large mixing bowl, combine the cooled macaroni pasta, sliced celery ribs, finely diced red onion, diced red bell pepper, and cucumber.
8 oz dry macaroni pasta, 1 celery rib, 1/2 red onion, 1 red bell pepper, 1/2 cucumber
Add the cooked garlic shrimp to the macaroni salad after they have cooled slightly. Pour the lemon dill dressing over the salad and toss gently to coat everything evenly. Refrigerate the salad for at least 1 hour to allow the flavors to meld together.
Once chilled, give the salad a final toss. Garnish with extra dill before serving for an extra burst of flavor and color.

Notes

Use small shrimp: For a more even balance of pasta to shrimp ratio, use the smaller size shrimp. Cut larger shrimp into bite-sized pieces.

Zest the lemon: Zesting the lemon adds an extra lemon flavor that works well with shrimp recipes while brightening up your creamy dressing.

Make ahead: Make the pasta salad ahead of time and cover it with plastic wrap to let the flavors mingle. Toss with a little more dressing right before serving to enhance the flavor.

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