Mom's Macaroni Shrimp Salad

Creamy, refreshing, and packed with flavor, Mom's Macaroni Shrimp Salad is the ultimate dish for potlucks, barbecues, or a light family dinner. This crowd-pleasing recipe combines tender elbow macaroni, succulent cooked shrimp, and crisp vegetables like celery, red bell pepper, and red onion—all tied together with a zesty, tangy dressing made from mayonnaise, sour cream, lemon juice, and Dijon mustard. Finished with a hint of garlic and a sprinkle of freshly chopped parsley, this chilled pasta salad is as visually vibrant as it is delicious. Ready in just 30 minutes and perfect for serving up to six, it’s easy to make ahead and allows the fresh, citrusy flavors to deepen as it rests in the fridge. Whether served as a savory side or a stand-alone entrée, this classic macaroni shrimp salad is sure to become a new family favorite!

Nutriscore Rating: 71/100

Prep Time:20 mins

Cook Time:10 mins

Total Time:30 mins

Servings: 6

Ingredients

• 8 oz Elbow macaroni
• 1 lb Cooked small shrimp (peeled, deveined, and tails removed)
• 1 cup Celery, finely diced
• 1 cup Red bell pepper, finely diced
• 1 small Red onion, finely minced
• 1 cup Mayonnaise
• 0.5 cup Sour cream
• 2 tbsp Lemon juice
• 1 tsp Dijon mustard
• 0.5 tsp Garlic powder
• 0.5 tsp Salt
• 0.25 tsp Ground black pepper
• 2 tbsp Fresh parsley, chopped (optional for garnish)

Directions

Step 1

Cook the elbow macaroni according to the package instructions. Drain and rinse the pasta under cold water to stop the cooking process. Set aside to cool completely.

Step 2

While the pasta cools, prepare the dressing by combining the mayonnaise, sour cream, lemon juice, Dijon mustard, garlic powder, salt, and black pepper in a medium mixing bowl. Whisk until smooth and set aside.

Step 3

In a large mixing bowl, combine the cooled macaroni, cooked shrimp, diced celery, red bell pepper, and minced red onion.

Step 4

Pour the dressing over the macaroni mixture, stirring gently to ensure all ingredients are evenly coated.

Step 5

Taste and adjust seasoning with additional salt and pepper, if needed.

Step 6

Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate the salad for at least 1 hour to allow the flavors to meld together.

Step 7

Just before serving, garnish the salad with freshly chopped parsley, if desired.

Step 8

Serve chilled as a side dish or light entrée. Enjoy!

Nutrition Facts

Serving size	(1561.2g)

Amount per serving	% Daily Value*
Calories	3440.4

Total Fat 206.6g	0%
Saturated Fat 32.4g	0%
Polyunsaturated Fat 0.0g
Cholesterol 1178.6mg	0%
Sodium 3140.9mg	0%
Total Carbohydrate 258.2g	0%
Dietary Fiber 17.3g	0%
Total Sugars 31.0g
Protein 149.9g	0%

Vitamin D 0IU	0%
Calcium 478.2mg	0%
Iron 12.1mg	0%
Potassium 2368.5mg	0%

*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

Source of Calories

Fat: 53.3%

Protein: 17.2%

Carbs: 29.6%