Crab Meat Pasta Salad
Crab meat pasta salad with shrimp, a creamy lemon mayo dressing, and crisp celery. Light, creamy, and perfect served cold for lunch, dinner, or meal prep.
Ingredients
- 3 cups fusilli pasta, sub medium shells, elbows, farfalle, etc.
- 12 ounces fresh or imitation crab meat, roughly chopped
- ½ cup frozen peas, thawed
- ½ cup chopped celery (2 stalks)
- ⅓ cup red onion, finely diced or grated on a box grater
- 2 tablespoons chopped parsley
- 1-2 tablespoons chopped fresh dill
- salt and black pepper to taste
- lemon wedges for garnish
For The Dressing
- ¾ cup mayonnaise
- ¼ cup sour cream
- 2 tablespoons white vinegar or fresh lemon juice
- 2 teaspoons sugar
- 1 teaspoons Dijon mustard
- ½ teaspoon Old Bay seasoning
- ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
- Freshly ground black pepper
Instructions
- Bring a pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the pasta according to package directions, about 12 minutes, until al dente. Drain and rinse under cold water.
- Transfer the pasta to a large bowl and let it dry for a minute. Lightly spray with oil or add a small drizzle so it doesn’t stick.
- While the pasta cooks, whisk together the mayonnaise, sour cream, vinegar or lemon juice, sugar, Dijon mustard, Old Bay, salt, and pepper.
- Add the cooled pasta to the dressing and mix well so it’s evenly coated.
- Add the peas, celery, red onion, parsley, and dill. Stir to combine. Gently fold in the crab meat. Taste and adjust with salt and pepper.
- Cover and chill for at least 1 hour before serving. It’s even better the next day after the flavors come together.
- Before serving, give it a quick stir. Add a splash of lemon juice to brighten it up, or a spoonful of mayo if it seems a little dry.
Notes
Note: Let the salad chill for at least 1 hour before serving. This gives the pasta time to absorb the dressing and the flavors to come together. It tastes even better the next day.
Storage and Leftovers
Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Since it’s made with mayo, it should be kept cold. Freezing is not recommended.
Nutrition
Calories: 399.1kcalCarbohydrates: 37.7gProtein: 8.5gTotal Fat: 23.4gSaturated Fat: 4.4gCholesterol: 23.7mgSodium: 615.9mgPotassium: 164.3mgFiber: 2.7gSugar: 5.8g
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