12 Best Cold Shrimp Pasta Salad Recipes

If you’re looking for a tasty yet easy-to-make cold shrimp pasta salad recipe, you’ve come to the right place!

I’ve gathered 12 of the best cold shrimp pasta salad recipes from around the web, so you can spend less time searching and more time eating.

Whether you’re looking for something simple or something more complex, I’ve got it.

So sit back, read through the list, and pick out your new favorite recipe!

12 Best Cold Shrimp Pasta Salad Recipes

Growing up, I loved eating pasta salads; it was always a treat when my mom made them for us.

They’re easy to make and can be a great side dish for any meal.

Plus, there are so many different ways to make pasta salads—with different types of noodles, vegetables, herbs, etc.—that it’s hard not to find one that suits your tastes!

Here are some of the best cold shrimp pasta salad recipes I’ve found online:

1. Shrimp Pasta Salad from The Recipe Critic

I love this recipe because it’s so easy to make, and it’s also a great way to use up leftovers if you’ve got any in your fridge.

The pasta salad is delicious on its own, but when you add some protein (like shrimp or chicken), it becomes a complete meal.

I like to use rotini noodles (see also this list of the best rotini recipes) in this recipe because they’re quick and easy to cook, but you can use whatever type of noodles you have in your pantry—just follow the cooking directions on the package!

If you don’t have leftovers or rotini noodles lying around, though, go ahead and use whatever kind of pasta floats your boat!

Just make sure that whatever type of pasta you choose has already been cooked before adding it to the salad—if not, cook it according to the instructions on the package.

2. Shrimp and Pasta Shell Salad from AllRecipes

This is a great recipe for any time of year, but I especially love to make it in the springtime.

The fresh flavors and colors make me feel like I’m on vacation!

I like to use small pasta shells because they hold up well to being tossed around in the dressing without getting mushy or falling apart.

I also like how easy this recipe is—you can throw everything together in just a few minutes and enjoy a quick, delicious meal.

To turn this into a complete dinner, I’ll serve it with some crusty bread and a simple green salad on the side.

3. Chilled Shrimp Pasta Salad from Taste of Home

I love this shrimp pasta salad from Taste of Home because it’s easy to make and has all the flavors I love in a pasta salad.

It’s great for serving at parties or for having on hand for lunches.

I usually make this recipe when I have leftover shrimp from other dinners, but if you don’t have any, you can just buy some—or even use canned shrimp!

Just make sure the pieces are small enough that they’ll fit in your mouth comfortably.

The sauce is made from sour cream, horseradish sauce and mayonnaise, which are all ingredients that are already in my fridge most of the time anyway.

All I have to do is mix them together and pour them over the pasta shells. Easy peasy!

It’s also important to drain the noodles well before adding them to the salad so they don’t get soggy once mixed together with everything else in there.

4. Shrimp Macaroni Salad from Fantabulosity

This recipe is great because you can use elbow macaroni, salad shrimp, green onion, celery and mayonnaise to make a really delicious pasta salad.

The thing I like most about this recipe is that it’s a complete meal—you can eat it by itself or you can serve it alongside some grilled chicken or fish.

It’s so versatile!

One of the things I like to do with this recipe is add hot sauce to it.

It gives the dish a nice kick that goes well with the shrimp and celery combo.

My husband also likes to mix up some sour cream with ketchup for an extra tangy flavor that complements the sweet flavors in this dish perfectly.

5. Creamy Shrimp Pasta Salad from Stress Baking

This creamy shrimp pasta salad recipe has Greek yogurt, hard boiled eggs, bell pepper, cooked shrimp and sweet relish.

It’s a great way to use up leftover cooked shrimp if you happen to have some lying around.

If not, it’s not hard to boil some up as part of your prep work.

I like this recipe because it’s so easy—you basically just toss everything into a bowl and mix it together.

The flavors are bright and fresh, which makes me feel like I’m eating something healthy even though it’s actually pretty indulgent!

Another thing I like about this specific recipe is that it only takes about 20 minutes from start to finish—perfect for those days when you’re really pressed for time but still want something easy and delicious!

6. Shrimp Louis Pasta Salad from Food.com

This shrimp Louis pasta salad is made with seafood cocktail sauce, ranch dressing, sweet red pepper, cooked shrimp, and worcestershire sauce.

All of the ingredients are easy to find at any grocery store, and you can make a big batch of the salad and keep it in the fridge for up to a week—just be sure to keep the dressing separate until you’re ready to serve it.

The dressing will start to break down if you mix it with other ingredients too early.

I like to serve this pasta salad with some warm pita bread or naan bread on the side so people can scoop up every last bit of sauce (and who doesn’t love extra sauce?).

7. Aunt Bee’s Southern Shrimp Pasta Salad Recipe from The Seasoned Mom

I love the simplicity of this dish.

It takes about 20 minutes to make, and it tastes amazing!

The key is using good shrimp and fresh pasta—the ones that are already cooked in the fridge section are fine, but they don’t taste nearly as good as freshly-cooked pasta does (and I know that sounds weird).

This is also a great recipe if you’re trying to get your kids to eat more veggies—the bell peppers give it a sweet flavor and a crunchy texture that kids seem to really enjoy.

If you want to turn this into a complete meal, just add some protein like grilled chicken or steak!

8. Bloody Mary Shrimp Pasta Salad from WonkyWonderful

I totally love this recipe for Bloody Mary Shrimp Pasta Salad from wonkywonderful.com because it’s so easy to make and it tastes so good.

It’s perfect if you’re looking for a light dinner, or if you just want something quick and easy to throw together for lunch or dinner.

I like how easy it is to customize this recipe based on what you have in your pantry.

You can use whatever type of pasta you want, and substitute any ingredients that aren’t your favorite.

If you don’t like tomatoes, use spinach instead!

It’s all about making sure you enjoy what goes into your body.

One of my favorite parts of this recipe is the spicy tomato sauce that goes on top of the pasta salad before serving.

My tip?

Make extra sauce when preparing this recipe so that there’s enough leftover for a second batch of pasta salad later in the week!

9. Shrimp Pasta Salad with Ranch Dressing from 100k Recipes

This recipe is pretty healthy, which is a nice plus!

You can add or take away ingredients as you like, but here are the basic ingredients:

• 2 cups of cooked spaghetti noodles
• 1 cup of cooked shrimp
• 1/4 cup of seafood cocktail sauce
• 1/2 cup ranch dressing

I like that it’s a quick and easy way to serve up some tasty food that’s good for you.

The combination of sweet red pepper and shrimp is one of my favorites—it’s just so delicious!

And the ranch dressing adds an interesting twist to the dish that makes it even more satisfying.

You can easily make this into a full meal by adding some other ingredients, like chicken breast or beans (if you’re vegetarian).

You could also serve it with salad or bread on the side if you wanted something else in your stomach while eating this pasta salad.

If you’re looking for more protein, try adding some chicken breast or grilled chicken pieces on top after cooking them beforehand (or even balling up some grilled chicken strips).

10. Mediterranean Shrimp and Pasta Salad from MyGourmetConnection

One of my favorite pasta salads has to be Mediterranean Shrimp and Pasta Salad from mygourmetconnection.com.

This recipe is super easy to make, and it includes all of my favorite flavors: feta cheese, artichoke hearts, cherry tomatoes, jumbo shrimp…it’s basically like eating a salad with some delicious noodles on top!

My favorite way to make this is to prep everything except for the shrimp and then put it in the fridge overnight so that all of the flavors have time to mingle together.

When it comes time to cook dinner, just sauté some shrimp until they’re pink on both sides (about two minutes per side) and then serve over your cold pasta salad!

11. Mayo Pasta Salad with Shrimp from SaltySideDish

This dish can be served as a meal on its own or as a side dish.

First of all, I love the way the pasta shells are cooked in this recipe—they’re perfectly al dente and have just enough bite to them.

The shrimp is marinated in lemon juice before being added to the pasta salad, which gives it a nice tangy flavor that pairs well with the mayo dressing and fresh green onions.

To turn this into a complete dinner for me and my family, I’ll sometimes add some diced avocado and sliced cherry tomatoes.

The avocado adds creaminess to the dish while sweetening up the tart lemon juice from the shrimp marinade.

The cherry tomatoes add some crunchy texture that complements both the softness of the avocado and noodles.

12. Greek Orzo Pasta Salad with Grilled Shrimp from ChefDeHome

I love this specific recipe so much.

It’s just so easy!

You can use store-bought dressing and throw in whatever veggies you have on hand, but if you want to take it one step further and make it a complete dinner, all you need is some grilled shrimp.

Just grill up some shrimp (I like mine seasoned with salt and pepper), toss it in with your pasta salad, then sprinkle with feta cheese for an added touch of flavor.

6 Tips for Cooking with Cold Shrimp Pasta Salad Recipes

Cold shrimp pasta salads are delicious, but they can be a little tricky to make.

Here are some tips to help you make the best cold shrimp pasta salad recipes possible:

1. Make Sure to Cook the Pasta Properly

The first step is making sure that your pasta is cooked properly.

You need to cook it until it’s al dente, or just slightly underdone (slightly firm).

If you overcook the pasta, it will become mushy and soggy when tossed with dressing and other ingredients.

Also, make sure that you don’t rinse your cooked pasta under cold water; this will remove excess starch and prevent your salad from sticking together later on.

2. Add a Touch of Salt and Pepper

While this may seem like an obvious tip for any dish, adding salt and pepper can really enhance the flavor of cold shrimp pasta salads!

Just a pinch of each will go a long way towards making sure that your salad tastes great!

3. Add Some Italian Seasoning for Extra Flavor

Italian seasoning is a blend of dried herbs that contains basil, oregano, rosemary, thyme, garlic powder and black pepper.

It gives your cold shrimp pasta salad an extra boost of flavor and makes it taste great!

4. Use a Good Quality Mayonnaise

Mayonnaise is made with eggs and oil.

If you use a good quality mayonnaise (such as Hellmann’s), then you won’t have any problems with it tasting bland or over-salted because they don’t use cheap ingredients in their mayonnaise like other brands do!

5. You Can Add Chopped Veggies

You can add chopped onions and minced garlic to your shrimp pasta salad for an extra bit of crunchy texture and flavor.

Or, if you want something with a bit more kick, try adding capers.

They have a salty taste that goes well with seafood and pasta.

6. Make Sure Your Salad Is Fresh and Crunchy

Iceberg lettuce works best in this type of salad because its crisp texture helps keep the other components crispy as well (like tomatoes).

Romaine hearts are also a good choice because they add a nice crunch factor to the mix without overpowering it with too much flavor like iceberg does sometimes.