Shrimp Salad

This easy, fresh Shrimp Salad is the perfect blend of creamy and crunchy. It’s easy to make for lunch, to serve on a croissant or to bring to a potluck.

Seafood fan? You need to try this cold shrimp salad if you like easy recipes. It requires minimal effort and you can literally whip up a batch in 5 minutes.

Though it’s delicious on it’s own, there are few different ways you can serve this classic recipe. I love mine on fresh buttery croissants for crave-worthy shrimp salad sandwiches.

It’s perfect to serve at potlucks, BBQs or as a light lunch. I’ve tried several shrimp salad recipes and this is the best one yet!

Why You’ll Love This Easy Shrimp Salad

• Better than the shrimp salad you can buy at grocery stores
• Super simple to prepare
• Creamy dressing with a mouthwatering combination of flavors
• Many different ways to serve
• Perfect for leftover shrimp
• A delicious side dish for a summer meal
• Easy recipe to make ahead

Ingredients

• Cooked shrimp – Make sure the shrimp are peeled, deveined and have the tail removed. Frozen shrimp are fine to use, but make sure you thaw them out first before using.
• Celery – Adds a nice fresh crunch.
• Bacon – Cooked and chop the bacon up. 
• Fresh chives – You can substitute sliced green onions if you like.
• Mayonnaise – I recommend using real mayonnaise (like Hellmann’s) and not Miracle Whip.
• Wholegrain mustard – I like the texture and flavor of wholegrain mustard.
• Lemon juice – Fresh or bottled is fine.
• Old Bay Seasoning – I buy this spice at Walmart in the spice aisle, but you can also make your own homemade Old Bay Seasoning, too.
• Salt

How to Make Creamy Shrimp Salad

• Step One: Add shrimp, bacon and chives to a large bowl. Toss to combine.

• Step Two: In another bowl, whisk together mayonnaise, wholegrain mustard, lemon juice, Old Bay Seasoning, salt and pepper. Add to shrimp mixture and toss to cover.
• Step Three: Chill in the fridge until ready to serve.

Equipment Needed

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• Large mixing bowl
• Whisk
• Measuring cups

What to Serve with Classic Shrimp Salad

• Macaroni Salad
• Tuna Salad
• Cheese Potato Salad
• Bean Salad
• Cucumber Salad
• Fresh vegetables

Different Ways to Serve

• On a bed of lettuce on a plate. Try romaine lettuce, iceberg lettuce or butter lettuce.
• On a bun. I like croissants, but you could use a roll or soft brioche buns.
• On a wrap. Use lettuce wraps or regular tortilla wraps.
• In a pita. Cut pita bread in half and fill the inside with shrimp salad.
• In a salad bowl. It’s yummy on its own.
• With avocado. Cut an avocado in half and serve the salad in each half. You’ll have extra yumminess from the creamy avocado.

Substitutions and Variations

• Add more fresh herbs. Instead of chives, you could use fresh dill.
• Add chopped shallots or chopped red onion.
• For a kick of spice, add 1/4 teaspoon of cayenne pepper to the shrimp salad dressing.
• Instead of fresh lemon juice, use white wine vinegar or lime juice.
• Use dijon mustard instead of the wholegrain mustard.
• Add halved cherry tomatoes or chopped cucumber for more fresh flavor and a pop of color.
• Use grilled shrimp for a smoky flavor.
• Add chopped hardboiled eggs.

Storage Instructions

Store any leftover shrimp salad in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.

Can I Freeze?

I don’t recommend freezing this salad because of the mayonnaise in the dressing.

Can I Make Ahead?

Yes, you can make this easy salad recipe up to a day in advance and store, covered, in the fridge.

What Kind of Shrimp Should I Use?

I prefer to use frozen cooked large shrimp that has already been deveined and peeled. The only thing I have to do is thaw the shrimp and remove the tails.

You could also use raw shrimp, but you’ll need to cook them first.

Shrimp Recipes

• Shrimp Pasta Salad
• Shrimp Chowder
• Shrimp Creole
• Curried Shrimp Rolls
• Air Fryer Coconut Shrimp
• Air Fryer Shrimp
• Buffalo Shrimp

You’ll also like this Italian Pasta Salad and Classic Chicken Salad.

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