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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. Paige

      March 15, 2020 at 12:45 pm

      5 stars
      This looks great and exactly what I would expect if I was in a restaurant! Looks very easy to put together at home too….a keeper!!

      Reply
    2. Loreto and Nicoletta Nardelli

      March 14, 2020 at 12:34 pm

      5 stars
      This restaurant-style shrimp salad looks delicious! We would love to serve this for an appetizer. Our friends and family would love it!

      Reply
    3. Tedricka

      March 09, 2020 at 10:55 pm

      Great recipe. Can’t wait to try it. Question, though. Are the a measurements for teaspoon or tablespoon? You have the abbreviation for teaspoon in the ingredients list, but tablespoon in the directions.

      Reply
      • Chef Dennis Littley

        March 10, 2020 at 11:23 am

        sorry about that. I use an additional 1 tablespoon in the water to cook the shrimp. The teaspoon is to season the salad.

        Reply
    4. Tanya

      March 09, 2020 at 1:54 pm

      Living in the Lowcountry, shrimp is a staple in most diets. I’ll have to give this recipe a try when it’s shrimp season again and use fresh shrimp!

      Reply
    5. Gloria

      March 09, 2020 at 1:49 pm

      5 stars
      We are shrimp lovers. This looks incredible. Easy to make and totally delicious. You certainly can save so much money making wonderful dishes like this at home. Perfect for entertaining too.

      Reply
    6. Monica Y

      March 08, 2020 at 6:10 pm

      yummy, this recipe looks so delicious, we love seafood so I have to prepare this soon to surprise the family for dinner

      Reply
    7. Ruth I

      March 08, 2020 at 10:18 am

      5 stars
      I honeslty haven’t eaten a dish like this. It’s looks delicious and a must try!

      Reply
    8. Rayo

      March 08, 2020 at 7:32 am

      Wow, I am totally trying this. I was salivating all through. I love shrimps and this looks great. Thank you for sharing

      Reply
    9. rika

      March 08, 2020 at 3:50 am

      5 stars
      That looks incredible! I love shrimp salad. I can have this salad for lunch! Yum!

      Reply
    10. Catalina

      March 08, 2020 at 3:45 am

      5 stars
      I can’t resist to this shrimp salad! It looks amazingly delicious! A must try one!

      Reply
    11. Agnes

      March 07, 2020 at 6:20 pm

      This shrimp salad looks very delish. I will copy this recipe and see how it will go. Thanks!

      Reply
    12. Ice Cream n Sticky Fingers

      March 07, 2020 at 4:06 pm

      I love eating shrimp. We get the frozen shrimp from the grocery store and I usually grill with a marinade sauce. I’ll have to try adding it on top of a salad the next time we make shrimp. It won’t be long, I have some in the freezer already. 🙂

      Reply
    13. Kita Bryant

      March 07, 2020 at 3:33 pm

      5 stars
      This shrimp salad looks so good! I would really love to munch on this for lunch.

      Reply
    14. Kathy

      March 07, 2020 at 10:09 am

      I have never had shrimp salad before. This looks really good though. I definitely want to try it sometime.

      Reply
    15. Lynndee

      March 07, 2020 at 10:05 am

      Love a good shrimp recipe and I like the fact that your recipe is so easy to make with few ingredients. Going to save your recipe. Thanks!

      Reply
    16. Gervin Khan

      March 06, 2020 at 9:44 pm

      4 stars
      I have never thought of making a shrimp salad dish because I have an allergy from seafood but this recipe is so easy to make and looks really delicious and I can’t resist myself of not making this not for myself but for my loved ones, I am sure they’re going to love it.

      Reply
    17. Sarah Bailey

      March 06, 2020 at 4:31 pm

      Oh my goodness this sounds so good. I have to admit I love shrimp so you mention that and I AM IN! I totally need to give it a whirl.

      Reply
    18. Terri Steffes

      March 06, 2020 at 3:51 pm

      Sounds delicious. I am eager to see how this will turn out for me. I think it would make a great Mother’s Day luncheon, especially on a good croissant.

      Reply
    19. Amber Myers

      March 06, 2020 at 2:23 pm

      My husband and kids would love this. They enjoy their shrimp. I wish I liked it, but I never got a taste for seafood.

      Reply
    20. melissa chapman

      March 06, 2020 at 11:07 am

      5 stars
      My son loves all shrimp dishes so i have to make this delicious shrimp salad for him. Your ideas will be so helpful to all who make shrimp dishes for their families

      Reply
    Newer Comments »

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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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