Light, refreshing, and brimming with coastal flavors, this Pasta Crab Salad is the ultimate crowd-pleaser for warm-weather gatherings or a quick, satisfying meal. Tender bites of al dente pasta pair beautifully with succulent lump crab meat, crisp celery, sweet red bell pepper, and fragrant scallions, all brought together in a creamy dressing of tangy mayonnaise, sour cream, and fresh-squeezed lemon juice. A touch of parsley adds a burst of freshness, while paprika offers a hint of color for an elegant garnish. Perfectly chilled and bursting with bright flavors, this easy crab pasta salad recipe is ready in under 30 minutes and is guaranteed to impress at picnics, potlucks, or family dinners.
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Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the pasta according to the package instructions until al dente. Drain, rinse under cold water to stop the cooking process, and set aside to cool completely.
While the pasta is cooling, prepare the dressing. In a large bowl, mix together the mayonnaise, sour cream, lemon juice, salt, and black pepper until smooth.
Add the crab meat to the bowl with the dressing. Gently fold to combine, being careful not to break up the crab meat too much.
Add the diced celery, red bell pepper, scallions, parsley, and cooled pasta to the bowl. Toss everything together until all ingredients are evenly coated in the dressing.
Taste and adjust seasoning with additional salt, pepper, or lemon juice if needed.
Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 1 hour to allow the flavors to meld together.
Before serving, give the salad a final toss and sprinkle with paprika (if using) for garnish. Serve chilled.
Serving size | (831.8g) |
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Amount per serving | % Daily Value* |
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Calories | 1590.8 |
Total Fat 103.6g | 0% |
Saturated Fat 16.9g | 0% |
Cholesterol 253.5mg | 0% |
Sodium 2325.6mg | 0% |
Total Carbohydrate 115.6g | 0% |
Dietary Fiber 8.6g | 0% |
Total Sugars 12.0g | |
Protein 53.9g | 0% |
Vitamin D 0IU | 0% |
Calcium 316.9mg | 0% |
Iron 5.5mg | 0% |
Potassium 1193.7mg | 0% |
Source of Calories