Summer gatherings call for dishes that are both refreshing and satisfying without keeping you trapped in a hot kitchen. This Shrimp Pasta Salad has been my go-to potluck contribution for years, earning rave reviews with its perfect balance of creamy sauce, sweet shrimp, and a hint of tropical flavors. The best part? It tastes better when made ahead, giving you more time to enjoy the sunshine and less time to cook.
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What makes this cold shrimp salad so good?
The secret to this pasta salad’s success lies in the unique combination of the Jamaican Pickapeppa sauce with creamy mayonnaise, creating a distinctive flavor profile that sets it apart from standard pasta salads. As these flavors meld with the sweet shrimp and tender pasta overnight, each component absorbs the creamy dressing, resulting in a harmonious dish that’s greater than the sum of its parts.
Ingredients
To make creamy shrimp pasta salad with mayo, you’ll need:
- Vermicelli pasta – Creates a delicate base that absorbs the flavorful sauce
- Green onions – Adds a mild, fresh onion flavor and bright color contrast
- Pickapeppa Sauce – Provides a unique tangy-sweet tropical flavor profile essential to the dish
- Bay shrimp – Offers sweet, tender protein that pairs perfectly with the sauce
- Hard-boiled eggs – Creates richness and additional protein
- Light mayonnaise – Forms the creamy base of the dressing
- Salt and pepper – Balances and enhances all flavors
Ingredient Notes
Bay shrimp are tiny. You can typically find them frozen and precooked in the freezer section of your grocery store. You can also use fully cooked larger shrimp.
Pickapeppa sauce is a Jamaican condiment. It is tangy with a certain amount of sweetness, and the flavor of fruit comes through. Pickapeppa sauce is essential for this dish, so get it online if you can’t find it in the supermarket.Â
How to make shrimp pasta salad
This salad is so simple to make. Here are the steps for cold shrimp pasta with mayo::
- Boil the vermicelli according to the package directions.
- While the vermicelli is cooking, chop the hard-boiled eggs into medium dice. Slice the green onions into eight-inch pieces on the bias.
- Place the cooked pasta in a colander and run it under cold water. Set the colander in the sink to keep draining.
- Transfer the pasta to a large bowl after the pasta is completely drained.
- Toss the pasta with the green onions.
- Add Pickapeppa Sauce, shrimp, eggs, mayonnaise, salt, and pepper.
- Lightly toss or stir to combine.
- Cover the pasta mixture with plastic wrap and put in the fridge for 24 hours before serving to allow the flavors to meld.
What to with spaghetti salad with shrimp
Serve this flavorful and substantial shrimp salad as a main course, accompanied by a lightly dressed green salad. Alternatively, you can make it a filling side dish.
This recipe pairs well with any grilled meat, especially a thick Bourbon Street Steak or smoked steak.
Storage and make-ahead instructions
- Do Not Freeze: Not recommended for freezing, as texture will deteriorate
- Refrigeration: Store in an airtight container for up to 3-4 days
- Food Safety: Do not leave at room temperature for extended periods due to the mayonnaise and shrimp
- Serving: Best served cold or slightly cool, not at room temperature
Love shrimp? Try these recipes
- Batter Fried Shrimp
- Bubba Gump Shrimp
- Cajun Shrimp and Grits
- Chicken & Shrimp Carbonara
- Easy Shrimp Casserole
- Garlic Shrimp Pasta
- Killer Shrimp
- Red Lobster Shrimp Scampi
- Shrimp Nachos
- Shrimp Tempura
Favorite Cold Pasta Salad Recipes
Check out more of my easy seafood recipes and the best pasta recipes here on CopyKat!
Refreshing Shrimp Pasta Salad
Ingredients
- 6 ounces vermicelli pasta
- 1/2 cup chopped green onions
- 4 teaspoons Pickapeppa Sauce
- 1 pound cooked bay shrimp
- 3 hard-cooked eggs chopped
- 1 cup light mayonnaise
- salt to taste
- pepper to taste
Instructions
- Cook the vermicelli according to the package instructions. Rinse with cool water, drain, and set aside to cool.
- Toss the pasta with the green onions.
- Add Pickapeppa Sauce, shrimp, eggs, mayonnaise, salt, and pepper. Lightly toss to combine.
- Refrigerate for 24 hours before serving.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
This is fantastic!
Several kinds. Which one?
Are you asking about what type of steak sauce?
What is pickapeppa sauce and where can it be found ?
This is a type of pepper sauce, it is sweet, so it isn’t quite like a hot pepper sauce. Many grocery stores sell it. Here is a link to their website https://www.pickapeppa.com/
you can find it at walmart by the steak sauces. i pour it over a block of cream cheese and spread it on crackers or with scoop corn chips as an appetizer.