Full of simple and fresh ingredients, it’s the perfect side dish for your next cookout, an easy option for a weeknight dinner, or a refreshing make-ahead lunch option.
Full of simple and fresh ingredients, Aunt Bee’s Shrimp and Pasta Salad has been a family-favorite for decades! It’s the perfect side dish for your next cookout, an easy option for a weeknight dinner, or a refreshing make-ahead lunch option. This multi-tasking recipe will soon become a regular in your kitchen as well!
This passed down shrimp and pasta salad is one of my go to summer recipes when I want something comforting, delicious and easy to throw together. It’s incredibly simple yet always hits the spot plus there’s no cooking involved so it’s perfect for those sweltering hot days.
With the right amount of crunch and creamy textures it’s so easy to adapt with your favorite herbs and veggies!
Where This Shrimp And Pasta Salad Came From
My mom’s godmother, Aunt Bee, is a fine Southern hostess in the best sense of the term! She has served holiday meals, cocktails, and lunches to our friends and family for as long as I can remember, and her dishes always garner rave reviews.
She has a knack for preparing simple, classic dishes in a delicious way. She knows which ingredients work best together, and she also knows some genius shortcuts to keep prep time in the kitchen minimal. Isn’t that what we’re all looking for?
Over the past year, Aunt Bee has been sharing treasures from her past (and present!) with me — including fond memories of my grandmother (her best friend), her family’s holiday traditions and keepsakes, and some of her most treasured recipes.
I love the process of recreating Aunt Bee’s classics in my own kitchen so that I can share the tastes and stories with my children. These meals are a connection to the past that will be carried on for generations.
And let me tell you: these recipes have become family favorites for a reason…they are all absolutely wonderful!
This Shrimp and Pasta Salad is not fancy, but it’s an option that everyone loves and that disappears fast when you put it on the table. I especially love the variety of textures, from the creamy dressing to the crunchy vegetables and the tender pasta. Add in the fresh lemon juice and fresh herbs for the perfect refreshing zest!
Tips And Substitutions For Making Shrimp And Pasta Salad:
- If you don’t have macaroni, any small pasta shape will do
- Avocado would add a nice creamy texture
- The dressing can be lightened with low fat mayo or a mix of mayo and plain Greek yogurt
- Sub the vinegar for freshly squeezed lemon juice
- You can add basil or parsley instead of dill
More easy pasta salad recipes that you might enjoy:
- Classic Pasta Salad
- Avocado Shrimp Pasta Salad
- BLT Pasta Salad
- Creamy Italian Pasta Salad
- Sesame Chicken Pasta Salad
Aunt Bee's Shrimp and Pasta Salad
Full of simple and fresh ingredients, it’s the perfect side dish for your next cookout, an easy option for a weeknight dinner, or a refreshing make-ahead lunch option.
Ingredients
- 1 lb. small shrimp, peeled, deveined, and cooked (I buy the frozen, pre-cooked version for quick preparation)
- 8 ounces elbow macaroni pasta, cooked and rinsed in cold water
- ¼ cup chopped green onion
- 1 green bell pepper, diced
- 2 cups diced celery
- 1 cup frozen peas, thawed
- 1 cup mayonnaise
- 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon white vinegar
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- 2 tablespoons fresh minced dill
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon pepper
Instructions
- In a large bowl, combine shrimp, pasta, green onion, bell pepper, celery, and peas.
- In a small bowl, whisk together mayonnaise, lemon juice, vinegar, sugar, dill, salt, and pepper.
- Pour dressing over pasta mixture and toss until completely coated.
- Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes before serving.
Recipe Notes
Cooking for just one or two? Cut the ingredients in half and prepare a smaller salad. The rest of the instructions remain the same.
This recipe was originally published in June, 2015. The photos were updated in May, 2017.
Anna @ Sunny Side Ups says
June 12, 2015 at 7:41 pmYour Aunt Bee sounds just so sweet, and her pasta salad looks amazing!! Definitely grabbing & pinning the recipe to make soon!!
Blair says
June 12, 2015 at 8:49 pmThank you, Anna! She is definitely a special lady!
krista hanson says
January 19, 2016 at 9:09 pmOh MY! I have fresh shrimp, organic celery, dill etc. but not the frozen peas so I am going with what I have (I do believe this will be excellent when the fresh peas are in). So palate-pleasing simply to think of but I HAVE TO GET TO IT!
Thank You (and I had a great Aunt Bea as well. Our Aunts lived in a very special time to have their complexly simple knowledge about ways of living well is treasured. For generations.
krista
Blair says
January 20, 2016 at 5:38 amYay! I’m so glad that you’ll give it a try, Krista! Adapting the recipe to suit your kitchen and tastebuds is great!
MARY ROBERTSON says
September 17, 2016 at 1:12 pmI really detest dill. Any suggestions for a substitute?
Blair says
September 17, 2016 at 1:38 pmHi, Mary!
No problem — you can just omit that ingredient. If you want to substitute with a different herb, you could try parsley or chives. 🙂
Enjoy!
Kelsey says
April 16, 2016 at 3:12 pmI tried this today and it is killer! I substituted cucumbers vs. peas and added parsley and some Slap Ya Mama Cajun Seasoning! It was a major hit in my house! Definitely a go-to for barbecues!
Blair says
April 17, 2016 at 4:34 pmYay!! I’m so glad that you liked it, Kelsey! Thanks for letting me know! It’s definitely a favorite in our family, too. I’m glad that summer’s here and I have an excuse to start making it again!
Beverly says
April 20, 2016 at 5:27 pmThis recipe was yummy! Would definitely make again.
Blair says
April 21, 2016 at 5:28 pmYay! I’m so glad that you enjoyed it, Beverly! Thanks for letting me know!
monica says
May 13, 2016 at 12:30 pmThe 8 oz pasta is mesured cooked or not?
Blair says
May 13, 2016 at 12:56 pmHi, Monica! The pasta is measured before cooking (dry weight). Enjoy!
Maggie P says
May 19, 2016 at 9:23 amCan I ask where you got that bowl? It’s so pretty!
Blair says
May 19, 2016 at 9:44 amHey, Maggie! It’s from Target. 🙂 I got it about a year and a half ago, though — so it might not be there anymore. They have plenty of other great white options, though…definitely check it out!
JULIANA ANDREW says
May 29, 2016 at 11:52 amTHAT IS NICE I LIKE THIS.
Blair says
May 30, 2016 at 5:36 amThanks, Juliana! It’s delish! 🙂
KeKe says
June 19, 2016 at 2:33 pmI love this shrimp pasta salad. It’s the second time I’ve made it and it’s wonderful. I omitted the bell pepper and celery this time but the flavors are still delicious. Thank you for an awesome recipe
Blair says
June 19, 2016 at 7:40 pmThat’s great to hear, KeKe! I’m so glad that you love it as much as we do! 🙂
jennifer raknerud says
June 25, 2016 at 6:56 pmI was wondering if you could make this ahead. I am always looking for a new recipe for our deli lunch options. How long can you keep in in the fridge. 3 days?
MARY ROBERTSON says
September 17, 2016 at 1:13 pmI really detest dill. Any ideas for a substitute?
MARY ROBERTSON says
September 17, 2016 at 1:14 pmI really detest dill. Any ideas for a substitute?
Lindart says
April 28, 2017 at 10:15 pmPerfect ❤️ Inside one of the peas! – on purpose? (first pic)
Blair says
April 29, 2017 at 6:18 amHah! Thank you! I happy accident! 🙂
Gayle @ Pumpkin 'N Spice says
May 3, 2017 at 6:17 amOh this pasta salad looks so good! I don’t think I’ve had a shrimp version before, so I’m loving this fun twist. What a great recipe to honor your Aunt with!
Blair says
May 3, 2017 at 6:07 pmThanks, Gayle! It’s perfect!
Midmodtom says
May 24, 2017 at 11:12 amI came by via Google after trying to find a ‘”Classic shrimp & pasta salad” like my grandmother used to make. This reads as close as I can recall, though she used shell pasta and fresh or frozen baby peas. Thank you for posting this!
Blair says
May 24, 2017 at 7:39 pmThat’s wonderful! I’m so glad that you found this recipe. Enjoy the dish (and the memories of your grandmother)! 🙂
Deb says
June 21, 2018 at 12:27 pmDelicious. I made this for a ladies who lunch a lot luncheon and it was a big hit. So versatile. I omitted peas, didnt have any. You could add so many things and take it in any direction but is wonderful as is. Thank you.
Blair says
June 21, 2018 at 1:50 pmAwesome! Thank you, Deb! I’m so glad to hear that it was a success!
Julie says
August 30, 2018 at 4:19 pmI’ve been making this for the past three summers!!! I absolutely love the combined flavors…. especially the shrimp!! Potato salad is great but this salad is fast and easy and it never gets old!!! Bravo!!!
Blair says
August 30, 2018 at 6:16 pmOh, that makes me so happy to hear, Julie! Thank you SO much!!!
MD Meg says
September 20, 2018 at 12:15 pmLooking for simple recipes to take to church Homecoming Sunday pot luck lunch. Like that Aunt Bee’s Shrimp-Macaroni Salad & Dump & Bake Chicken, Broccoli and Rice Casserole recipes are adaptable to tastes and use ingredients in most pantries and fridges. Plus, you can cut to smaller portions. Glad I found this site. I will be subbing Red and Yellow Bell Pepper in salad. Will be back with ratings.
Blair says
September 21, 2018 at 5:25 amGreat! Let me know how they turn out, Meg!
Kathy says
September 30, 2018 at 5:17 pmI was looking everywhere for my Shrimp Pasta Salad recipe from an old Southern Living cookbook! This is it!! Thank you, it was always a big hit, just forgotten for a few years.
Blair says
September 30, 2018 at 7:18 pmWonderful! I didn’t realize that Southern Living was the original source of this recipe. So glad that you can enjoy it again!
Kgirl says
December 20, 2018 at 10:46 amI just made it for the first time and I found that the pasta to shrimp ratio wasn’t enough for me so I would increase the shrimp to 1 1/2 lbs and decrease the celery to 1 1/2 cups. I would also do a mix of red and green bell peppers just to add some color to the salad.
Chris says
December 29, 2018 at 3:55 pmI had some leftover shrimp from a Christmas party and was looking for a classic shrimp salad recipe (like I remember from my childhood) and this was it!! So perfect. Thanks for sharing and now that I found your site I’m anxious to try some of your other recipes!
Blair says
December 29, 2018 at 6:57 pmThat’s wonderful, Chris! I’m so glad that you found the recipe (and my site). Thanks so much for your note!
Carolyn says
March 6, 2019 at 6:50 pmI just made this recipe, but I tinkered some within the confines of the ingredients. I used tri color rotini rather than shells or elbows, orange bell pepper rather than green. I also made my dressing with mayo, lemon juice, dill weed, celery salt, parsley, lemon pepper and a small pinch of kosher salt. So, yes, I have all your ingredients, just looking a little different.
I think I need to add just a bit more salt to the dressing, but otherwise it is very good, full of flavor, color and texture. It’s a keeper!
Oh, and by the way, the site wouldn’t let me rate it. I’d give it a 4.5 out of 5.
Blair says
March 7, 2019 at 5:24 amThanks, Carolyn!