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    Home » Recipes » Seafood Recipes

    Easy Shrimp Salad Recipe

    Published: Mar 6, 2020 · Modified: Jun 24, 2022 by Chef Dennis Littley

    53.8K shares
    • Facebook350
    • Yummly
    4.91 from 104 votes
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    pinterest image for shrimp salad

    My restaurant-style shrimp salad makes the perfect lunch or light supper. Whether you serve it as a sandwich or as a salad, you won’t believe how easy my shrimp salad is to make and how much better it is than most of your favorite restaurants.

    shrimp salad in white bowl

    Just look at those big pieces of shrimp. They are so much tastier and have a better appearance than small shrimp. Using the right ingredients makes all the difference in the world!

    Ways to serve shrimp salad! 

    shrimp salad with baby spinach on croissant on a white plate

    My shrimp salad was delicious served on a buttery, flaky, croissant, but it also makes a great sandwich filling, for a pita pocket, multigrain roll, as a lettuce wrap or my wife’s favorite served between two slices of good rye bread.

    Other ways to enjoy this delicious creamy shrimp salad is to add a scoop to your favorite salad or simply on top of a bed of lettuce or salad greens. And of course, crackers go really well shrimp salad.

    What ingredients do I need to make restaurant-style shrimp salad?

    ingredients to make shrimp salad in bowls on a cutting board

    Let’s start by gathering the ingredients we need to make shrimp salad. In Chef Speak this is called the “Mise en Place” which translates to “Everything in its Place”.

    Not only does setting your ingredients up ahead of time speed up the cooking process, it also helps ensure you have everything you need to make the dish.

    What Kind of Shrimp should I use?

    Since shrimp is the star of the dish you want to make sure you buy the best shrimp you can.

    • Shrimp is either wild-caught or farmed. My first choice is always Gulf or Pacific shrimp from American waters. Farmed shrimp will be less expensive but can be a poor choice depending upon how responsible the farms are run. 
    • Shrimp sized under 30 per pound will have the best flavor profile and offer the best value. Small shrimp won’t have as much flavor, they are really a waste of money. My choice for shrimp salad is 26-30 sized. I use Under 15 count and 16 -20 count for shrimp cocktail and cooking.
    • Shrimp get their color from what they eat. Brown shrimp will have a higher concentration of iodine and a more mineral flavor. Pink and White shrimp are generally sweeter.
    • Almost all shrimp are frozen before being transported. If you see them thawed in a supermarket they were originally frozen.
    • Avoid buying peeled and deveined shrimp. Cleaning the shrimp before freezing may cause a loss of flavor and texture. 
    • Frozen or thawed cooked shrimp that are frequently sold in local supermarkets are not a good choice. They won’t have much flavor and the texture of precooked shrimp gets worse the longer they stay thawed.

    If you have a question about the sustainability and quality of seafood check the Monterey Bay Aquarium Seafood Watch. 

    How do I thaw frozen shrimp?

    Start by thawing the shrimp in cold running water. You can also leave them in a covered bowl overnight in your fridge to thaw.

    How long should I cook the shrimp?

    When the shrimp are fully thawed place them into boiling water with one tablespoon of Old Bay Seasoning.

    shrimp added to pot with old bay

    Let the shrimp cook until the water comes back to a boil up to  5-6 minutes for 26-30 sized shrimp. Larger shrimp will take 1-2 minutes longer.

    shrimp and ice in a large bowl

    When the shrimp are done cooking, remove them from the pan and place the cooked shrimp into a large bowl or container filled partway with ice.

    How do I make Restaurant-Style shrimp salad?

    chopped shrimp on a cutting board

    After cooking and chilling, the next step is to peel and devein the shrimp. The next step is to rough cut the shrimp, but don’t cut the pieces too small. You’re buying good shrimp and you want your guests to see nice big chunks of shrimp.

    shrimp salad ingredients in a stainless steel bowl before mixing

    In a large mixing bowl add all the ingredients together and mix well. Chill the mixture for one hour before serving. This will the flavors time to build.

    What else can I add to the shrimp salad dressing?

    Adding your favorite seasonings and condiments is a great way to customize this easy to make shrimp salad. Try adding dijon mustard, green onions, chopped red onions, fresh dill or other fresh herbs. This is about making something you enjoy eating, it’s all up to you!

    overhead shot of shrimp salad in a white scalloped edge bowl

    If there’s any leftover on day two you’ll find the shrimp salad bursting with flavor. The mayonnaise may look a little runny, but the flavor will make up for the appearance.

    Other delicious salads you can try are my Blackened Salmon Salad and my Nicoise Salad Summer Salad.

    More Shrimp Recipes You’ll Love!

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    Did you make this? Please RATE THE RECIPE below!

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    shrimp salad with baby spinach on croissant on a white plate
    Print Recipe Save Saved!
    4.91 from 104 votes

    Easy Shrimp Salad Recipe

    Making restaurant-style shrimp salad isn't difficult. It's about choosing the right shrimp and cooking them properly. You'll amaze your friends and family with delicious shrimp salad
    Prep Time20 mins
    Cook Time5 mins
    cooling2 hrs
    Total Time25 mins
    Course: sandwich
    Cuisine: American
    Servings: 4
    Calories: 249kcal
    Author: Chef Dennis Littley

    Ingredients

    • 1 tablespoon Old Bay to season the water
    • 1 pound raw shell on shrimp 26-30 size cooked, peeled and deveined
    • 2 stalks celery small dice
    • ⅓ cup mayonnaise
    • 1-2 teaspoon Old Bay seasoning
    • 1 teaspoon sugar
    US Customary – Metric
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Instructions

    • thaw shrimp in cold running water
    • Bring water to a boil in a large saucepan, then add 1 tablespoon of Old Bay Seasoning
    • Add thawed shrimp to boiling water and cook until the water returns to a boil, no longer than 5-6 minutes.
    • Drain the water from the pan and cover the shrimp with ice. Let the shrimp cool down in the ice for 15 minutes, then remove from the ice. Place the cooled shrimp in the refrigerator to continue to chill for one hour (or overnight)
    • Peel and devein the shrimp. Then rough chop the shrimp leaving them in big pieces.
    • Mix the ingredients together in a medium sized bowl. Mix well, cover and refrigerate for at least one hour.
    • Serve with your favorite bread or roll, on a salad, or simply by itself.

    Video

    Nutrition

    Calories: 249kcal | Carbohydrates: 2g | Protein: 24g | Fat: 16g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 294mg | Sodium: 1001mg | Potassium: 91mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 26IU | Vitamin C: 5mg | Calcium: 183mg | Iron: 3mg
    Tried this Recipe? Pin it for Later!Mention @askChefDennis or tag #askChefDennis!

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    About Chef Dennis

    Picture of Chef Dennis

    Chef Dennis Littley is a classically trained chef with over 40 years of experience working in the food service industry. In his second career as a food blogger he has made it his mission to demistify cooking by sharing his time-tested recipes, knowledge, and chef tips to help you create easy-to-make restaurant-quality meals in your home kitchen. Let Chef Dennis help you bring the joy of cooking into your home. For more details, check out his About page.

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    1. JIL2

      January 20, 2023 at 3:54 pm

      Is there any other spice mix that can be used instead of Old Bay? It tastes like soap, as does cilantro, to me…Thanks

      Reply
      • Chef Dennis Littley

        January 20, 2023 at 4:00 pm

        Great question and yes you can leave out the old bay. Honestly salt and black pepper are enough, but you can add a little onion powder and fresh dill is also a good choice.

        Reply
    2. Bobbie Holt

      September 27, 2022 at 3:47 pm

      5 stars
      SO good and SO easy! Loved it (but left out the sugar).

      Reply
    3. Debbie Florio

      January 04, 2022 at 2:30 pm

      5 stars
      I made this as written except I used my homemade Old Bay spice mix. I suspected mine might be a little saltier than the store bough so I went with the lower measurement in the salad prep. I have to say this is the best shrimp salad I’ve had, bar none, even better than restaurants. Now I have to keep myself from picking on it until my husband gets home for lunch. Can’t wait! Going to serve it on some homemade sourdough toast.

      Reply
      • Chef Dennis Littley

        January 04, 2022 at 2:33 pm

        I’m happy to hear you enjoyed my shrimp salad recipe! I just made some for my wife today. Her biggest complaint is getting tiny shrimp!

        Reply
    4. Julie Beenblossom

      December 29, 2021 at 9:51 pm

      5 stars
      I made the shrimp salad with left over shrimp from appetizer tray. It was delicious and I served it on a croissant for my daughter. Sliced 1/2 avocado on each plate and a lemon slice. It was quite eloquent and fun.

      Reply
    5. Cindy

      June 12, 2021 at 8:20 am

      I like this on a bed of lettuce and stuff a tomato with the shrimp salad.

      Reply
    6. elizabeth larocca

      March 01, 2021 at 5:20 pm

      Would you make a suggestion for the mayo? Any brand that you really like?

      Reply
      • Chef Dennis Littley

        March 01, 2021 at 7:58 pm

        I only use Hellmans, but any may you enjoy will be fine

        Reply
    7. Jeffrey Antenucci

      December 10, 2020 at 5:11 pm

      SO SO GOOD. Easy and fast. Second time I made it. Doesn’t hurt
      I work at Whole foods Market and get to pick my own big shrimp.

      Reply
      • Rosie Jez

        March 29, 2021 at 6:08 pm

        Chef Dennis, you make this shrimp salad just as delicious as I make mine. It’s the best ever – because I use YOUR recipe. TY!

        Reply
    8. Sandye

      November 21, 2020 at 11:27 pm

      Do you haft to add sugar?

      Reply
      • Chef Dennis Littley

        November 22, 2020 at 9:07 am

        no you don’t

        Reply
    9. Wendy

      July 10, 2020 at 10:28 am

      5 stars
      Delish!

      Reply
    10. LT

      June 06, 2020 at 10:32 pm

      5 stars
      This is an AMAZING recipe!! Thank you so much for sharing! It’s super easy and family friendly! LOVE, love , love it! Make it with the wild Argentinian Trader Joe’s frozen shrimps. The French brioches are also from Trader Joe’s

      Reply
      • Chef Dennis Littley

        June 07, 2020 at 8:25 am

        thanks for the great review and comment! I’m happy to hear you enjoyed the shrimp salad

        Reply
    11. Peggy Powell

      May 23, 2020 at 10:54 am

      Looking forward to having this on a split top brioche bun that i butter and toast. Sounds like a winner!peggy

      Reply
    12. Tedricka L.

      March 23, 2020 at 4:52 pm

      This recipe is fantastic! And it’s just as you said, allowing it to refrigerate overnight makes the flavor burst! I’m making some now for the second time. So, so good and easy!

      Reply
    13. Kacey Perez

      March 17, 2020 at 12:07 pm

      5 stars
      A perfect recipe to make this time of year. Always looking for new ways to cook with seafood at home and this is a great idea!

      Reply
    14. Daniela

      March 16, 2020 at 5:32 pm

      Your in process shots making following this recipe so simple and easy! Thanks so much for sharing :).

      Reply
    15. Jo

      March 16, 2020 at 7:36 am

      5 stars
      I go weak on my knees everytime I see any dish with shrimp and mayo. So delicious! I can easily finish a couple of these salad sandwiches. looks very tempting.

      Reply
    16. LaKita

      March 15, 2020 at 11:10 pm

      5 stars
      I have never tried shrimp salad before but this looks so good and any recipe with Old Bay seasoning is a winner in my book!

      Reply
    17. Aleta

      March 15, 2020 at 5:26 pm

      5 stars
      Wow, what a great shrimp salad recipe! I love the old bay seasoning and your helpful notes about thawing shrimp and what type of shrimp to buy. Honestly for me there isn’t anything better than a sandwich on a flaky, buttery croissant!

      Reply
    18. David

      March 15, 2020 at 1:43 pm

      5 stars
      Looks good! I would definitely vote for the croissant version please! I like that size shrimp best as well. Always try to have a bag in the freezer for a quick meal.

      Reply
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    My name is Dennis Littley or "Chef Dennis" as I'm known both at work and across the blogosphere. As a classically trained chef with 40+ years of experience in the kitchen, I share my time-tested recipes, knowledge, and chef tips to help you create easy-to-make restaurant-quality meals in your home kitchen.

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