Easy Shrimp Salad Recipe with Old Bay
Dec 17, 2023, Updated Jan 15, 2025
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Easy Shrimp Salad Recipe with Old Bay– a delicious Shrimp Salad recipe with Old Bay seasoning, packed with flavor and ready in 15 minutes! Serve on croissant rolls, fresh lettuce, or crackers for a refreshing and satisfying meal, quick lunch, or appetizer!
You will also love these Crab Cakes.
Best Shrimp Salad Recipe
This creamy shrimp salad is served on a bed of lettuce, or nestled inside a roll to make shrimp salad sandwiches. Serve it as part of a holiday meal or appetizer, light lunch, make it for a picnic season, and make shrimp salad sandwiches as a summer holiday lunch. It is a delicious shrimp salad to enjoy all year!
The crunchy celery and the creamy dressing are the best combo. It’s quick, easy, and brimming with zesty flavors and fresh dill- let’s dive into this seafood sensation!
You will also love my Italian Seafood Salad, Italian Chopped Salad, Easy Lobster Rolls, Shrimp Ceviche with Avocado, Easy Greek Style Grilled Octopus, Christmas Salad, and Fried Butterfly Shrimp.
Table of Contents
Simple Ingredients
This easy shrimp salad comes together with a few fresh ingredients.
- Large shrimp peeled and deveined
- Old Bay seasoning
- Mayonnaise
- Greek yogurt
- Fresh lemon juice
- Celery
- Green onion
- Fresh dill
- Salt and black pepper
- Lettuce leaves or rolls (optional for serving)
See the recipe card for quantities.
How To Make Shrimp Salad (step-by-step instructions)
The printable recipe is found at the bottom of this post.
Start by cooking the shrimp. You can either boil or steam them. To boil, fill a large pot with water, and bring it to a boil. Add the shrimp and cook for 1-2 minutes until they turn pink and opaque. Drain and let them cool completely.
In a large bowl, mix together the mayonnaise, Greek yogurt, old bay seasoning, and lemon juice to create the dressing.
Add the shrimp, celery, green onion, and fresh dill to the bowl with the dressing.
Mix all the ingredients until everything is well coated with the dressing.
Serve your shrimp salad in lettuce leaves for a low-carb option, or create a sandwich by serving it on rolls or bread.
You can garnish with additional dill for a burst of flavor and freshness. The shrimp salad will stay fresh for 2 days, covered, in the refrigerator. Enjoy!
This delicious Shrimp Salad recipe with Old Bay seasoning is packed with flavor and ready in no time. Customize with your favorite ingredients for a refreshing and satisfying meal.
Substitutions
If you want to make substitutions in your Old Bay shrimp salad recipe, here are some options:
- Shrimp: You can substitute shrimp with other seafood like crab meat, lobster, or even cooked and shredded chicken for a different twist on the salad.
- Old Bay Seasoning: If you don’t have Old Bay seasoning, you can make your own spice blend by combining paprika, salt, pepper, little cayenne pepper, celery salt, and other spices. The exact proportions may vary depending on your taste, but many homemade Old Bay seasoning recipes are available online.
- Mayonnaise: You can use all Greek yogurt or sour cream for a tangy twist instead of mayonnaise. You can also opt for a lighter mayonnaise or a vegan mayo if you have dietary preferences.
- Celery: If you don’t like celery or prefer a different crunch, you can use cucumber, bell peppers, or jicama as alternatives.
- Fresh Dill: You can replace fresh dill with fresh parsley, cilantro, or tarragon, depending on your flavor preference.
- Lettuce Leaves/Rolls: You can serve your shrimp salad in various ways. Instead of lettuce leaves or rolls, consider serving it over a bed of mixed greens, on crackers, or even in a tortilla wrap.
Variations
You can try several delicious variations with your creamy old bay shrimp salad. Here are a few ideas:
- Avocado Shrimp Salad: Add diced avocados to your shrimp salad for a creamy and healthy twist. The creaminess of the avocados complements the shrimp beautifully. You can also try a bit of Dijon mustard to add another dimension of flavor.
- Spicy Shrimp Salad: If you like it spicy, add diced jalapeños or red pepper flakes for a little kick. You can also use a spicy mayo or hot sauce in the dressing.
- Cajun Shrimp Salad: Replace Old Bay with Cajun seasoning for a different flavor profile. Cajun seasoning adds a rich, smoky, and spicy taste to the salad.
- Lemon Herb Shrimp Salad: Skip the Old Bay and combine fresh herbs like basil, chives, and tarragon for a light, herbaceous flavor. Lemon zest and juice can brighten up the dressing. Garnish with fresh parsley.
- Greek Shrimp Salad: Use Mediterranean flavors by adding diced cucumbers, red onion, Kalamata olives, feta cheese, and a drizzle of olive oil to your shrimp salad. Oregano and lemon are great seasonings for this variation.
How to Store Leftovers
Shrimp salad is best when served fresh, but you can store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 1-2 days. It may become a bit watery as it sits, so you might need to drain excess liquid before serving.
It makes great leftovers for a quick lunch the next day.
Top tips
Top tips to help you make the best shrimp salad:
- Fresh Shrimp: Use fresh, high-quality shrimp for the best results. Look for large, deveined, and peeled shrimp. You can use fresh or frozen shrimp, but make sure they are properly thawed if frozen.
- Don’t Overcook the Shrimp: Shrimp can become tough and rubbery if overcooked. Boil or steam them just until they turn pink and opaque. This usually takes only 2-3 minutes.
- Seasoning Balance: Adjust the Old Bay seasoning to suit your taste. Start with less and add more if needed to avoid making the salad too salty or spicy.
- Chill the Salad: Allow the shrimp salad to chill in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes before serving. Chilling allows the flavors to meld and the salad to be refreshing.
- Customize Texture: You can control the texture of your shrimp salad by chopping the ingredients to your preference. If you like a chunkier salad, chop the ingredients into larger pieces. For a finer texture, chop them more finely.
- Substitutions: Don’t be afraid to make substitutions or add your favorite ingredients. Customize the salad to your liking, as discussed in the previous responses.
- Fresh Herbs: If you’re using fresh herbs, chop them just before adding them to the salad to maintain their freshness and flavor.
- Balanced Dressing: Taste the dressing and adjust the ingredients (mayo, yogurt, lemon juice) to achieve the desired creaminess and tanginess.
- Serve Creatively: Experiment with different serving options. You can serve the salad in lettuce cups, as a sandwich, in a tortilla wrap, on crackers, or over mixed greens.
FAQs
Yes, you can use frozen shrimp. Make sure to thaw them properly in the refrigerator before cooking. If using frozen shrimp, remember to drain them well after cooking to avoid excess moisture in your salad.
Absolutely! This salad is great for making ahead. In fact, it often tastes even better after chilling for a few hours or overnight. Just give it a good stir before serving.
While larger shrimp are often used for a more substantial bite, you can absolutely make this salad with smaller shrimp. The key is to adjust the cooking time, as smaller shrimp will cook faster.
To prepare peeled, cooked shrimp for shrimp salad, start by bringing a pot of water to a boil. Season the boiling water with Old Bay seasoning or a mix of salt and spices for added flavor. Add the shrimp and cook for about 2-3 minutes until they turn pink and opaque. Once cooked, immediately drain the shrimp and transfer them to an ice bath to stop the cooking process and cool them down. Once they’re completely cooled, peel and devein the shrimp before using them in your shrimp salad recipe.
More Shrimp Recipes
Looking for other recipes like this? Try these:
What to Serve with Shrimp Salad Shrimp Salad
You can serve this shrimp salad in a variety of ways. It’s delicious on its own, served in lettuce cups, as a sandwich on rolls or bread, or even as a wrap. You can also pair it with mixed greens or crackers for a lighter option.
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Print
Easy Shrimp Salad Recipe with Old Bay
- Total Time: 15 minutes
- Yield: 6 servings 1x
Description
Easy Shrimp Salad Recipe with Old Bay– a delicious Shrimp Salad recipe with Old Bay seasoning, packed with flavor and ready in 15 minutes! Serve on croissant rolls, fresh lettuce, or crackers for a refreshing and satisfying meal or appetizer!
Ingredients
- 2 pounds large shrimp (31-35 per pound) peeled and deveined, thawed if frozen
- 1 1/2 teaspoons Old Bay seasoning
- 1/4 cup mayonnaise
- 1/4 cup plain Greek yogurt
- 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
- 1/4 cup celery, finely chopped
- 1/4 cup green onion, finely chopped
- 2 tablespoons fresh dill, chopped
- Butter lettuce leaves or rolls for serving
Instructions
- Start by cooking the shrimp. You can either boil or steam them. To boil, fill a large pot with water, and bring it to a boil. Add the shrimp and cook for 1-2 minutes until they turn pink and opaque. Drain and let them cool completely.
- In a large bowl, mix together the mayonnaise, Greek yogurt, old bay seasoning, and lemon juice to create the dressing.
- Add the shrimp, celery, green onion, and fresh dill to the bowl with the dressing.
- Mix all the ingredients until everything is well coated with the dressing.
- Serve your shrimp salad in lettuce leaves for a low-carb option, or create a sandwich by serving it on rolls or bread.
- You can garnish with additional dill for a burst of flavor and freshness. The shrimp salad will keep for 2 days, covered, in the refrigerator. Enjoy!
Notes
Shrimp Size- I like to leave the shrimp whole, but you can cut it into small or large chunks if you serve it inside a sandwich or roll.
- Category: Savory
- Method: Italian
- Cuisine: American
Fresh, tasty, and easy to make!