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    Home » Recipes » Side Dishes

    Shrimp Macaroni Salad With Cajun Spices

    June 10, 2021 by Chenée Lewis

    1.1K shares

    Easy shrimp macaroni salad is the perfect side dish for your next picnic or barbecue! Full of flavor with a kick from Creole spices, you’ll love this southern shrimp macaroni salad for any occasion!

    Closeup of shrimp macaroni salad
    Cold Shrimp Macaroni Salad Recipe
    Jump to Recipe Jump to Video Pin Recipe Print Recipe Save Recipe Saved!

    *This post contains affiliate links — as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Please see my disclosure for details*.

    And if you want more recipes like this cold shrimp macaroni salad, try my Chicken Macaroni Salad, my Peanut Noodle Salad, or my New Orleans BBQ Shrimp!

    Easy Shrimp Macaroni Salad Recipe

    Just in time for the summer cookout season, this is the best shrimp macaroni salad to make for family gatherings and barbecues! It comes together in just a couple minutes with pasta, cooked shrimp, mayonnaise, ranch dressing, chopped celery and green onions, and Creole seasonings. It's that easy and it definitely will be your new favorite shrimp macaroni salad!

    Jump to:
    • Easy Shrimp Macaroni Salad Recipe
    • Can you add shrimp to macaroni salad?
    • How do I keep macaroni from absorbing mayonnaise?
    • Southern Shrimp Macaroni Salad Ingredients
    • Equipment
    • What's the Recipe for Macaroni Salad?
    • Tips and F.A.Q.
    • What to serve with this southern shrimp macaroni salad
    • 📖 Recipe
    • 💬 Comments

    Can you add shrimp to macaroni salad?

    Absolutely! The shrimp adds a delicious element of flavor, plus it's a great protein add-in to turn this delicious salad into a meal!

    How do I keep macaroni from absorbing mayonnaise?

    One way we try to prevent the mayonnaise from absorbing too much into the macaroni is by rinsing the macaroni before adding it to wash off some of the starch. I also make sure to use a full-fat, extra rich mayonnaise. A mayo with too much water content will absorb more quickly. Finally, adding in the ranch dressing adds another level of creaminess to this easy shrimp macaroni salad!

    easy shrimp macaroni salad in a bowl
    Easy Shrimp Macaroni Salad

    Southern Shrimp Macaroni Salad Ingredients

    This spicy shrimp mac salad is a fantastic easy summer dish, in part because it only takes a few ingredients! Here's what you'll need:

    • macaroni or small shell pasta - I like the look of shell pasta, but you definitely can't go wrong with elbow macaroni! Feel free to use whole wheat, chickpea, or any alternative type of pasta you like.
    • cooked medium shrimp - makes this dish so easy! I bought a bag of frozen medium cooked shrimp, so all I had to do was thaw the shrimp and cut it into chunks!
    • chopped celery and green onions - gives your salad a nice crunch! You can also add any other veggies you have on hand -- I've seen this salad made with broccoli florets, green peppers, and white onions. Feel free to play around with what you've got!
    • mayonnaise - crucial to give our macaroni salad that creamy consistency! I prefer Hellmann's because it produces a creamier result.
    • ranch dressing - secret weapon! Adds a lot of flavor and more creaminess. I can't be the only Midwestern girl that grew up putting ranch on everything!
    • Cajun or Creole seasoning - I use Tony Chachere's, but feel free to use any that you prefer!
    • fresh lemon juice - just to brighten it up and complement the Cajun seasoning.
    • salt & pepper - you can add salt and pepper according to your preference to bring out the already amazing flavors in this shrimp pasta salad.
    • hot sauce - this is optional, but for people who love their food spicy (like me), it's really not optional. If you prefer, serve it on the side so that folks can add a little kick as the wish. I like Crystal hot sauce, but any hot sauce you like would be great!

    Equipment

    This recipe doesn't take any special tools -- just a pot to cook your pasta, a big bowl to mix it all up, and some measuring cups and knives. It couldn't be easier!

    What's the Recipe for Macaroni Salad?

    There almost aren't any steps to this recipe. Once you have your ingredients ready, just toss them in a bowl and stir. It's that simple! This is one of the easiest summer side dish recipes you'll try! Here's what you need to do:

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    1. Cook and drain pasta. Boil your pasta in well-salted water, and make sure you cook your pasta so that it's al dente. Since it'll absorb some of the liquid once it's mixed with everything else, you don't want your shrimp macaroni salad to end up too mushy.
    2. Chop up your shrimp and veggies. Since we're using cooked shrimp, getting the rest of the ingredients takes no time at all! I like to cut my shrimp into smaller pieces to distribute them more evenly, and chop my celery and green onions pretty finely.
    3. Toss all your ingredients in a big bowl. Get everything well coated with the mayo, ranch, lemon juice, and seasonings.
    4. Taste and adjust seasonings. Give it a taste and add more cajun seasoning if you like. If you're like me, you'll also add a little hot sauce for even more of a kick!
    closeup of shrimp macaroni salad
    Cold Shrimp Macaroni Salad

    Tips and F.A.Q.

    How long does shrimp pasta salad last in the fridge?

    Your shrimp mac salad should last up to two days, well covered, in the fridge. If you like, mix in a bit more ranch dressing and mayo to bump up the creaminess just before serving.

    What size shrimp should I use?

    Since the shrimp is pre-cooked when you buy it, it's up to you! I like medium shrimp in this macaroni salad, but you can also use larger shrimp, or go for the smaller salad-style shrimp.

    Why is my macaroni salad sticky?

    That could be a result of not rinsing the pasta before mixing it all together. The stickiness is another result of the starches present in the cooked macaroni, so remember to rinse your pasta to achieve a creamy shrimp macaroni salad!

    What goes well with this shrimp macaroni salad?

    Try this salad as a side dish for Cast Iron Skillet Salmon with Maple Dijon Sauce or Smoked Chuck Roast! And for dessert, how about some Peach Cobbler Pound Cake?

    And if you're looking for another delicious pasta salad recipe try this Pesto Pasta Salad, or whip up a sun-dried tomatoes pasta salad!

    If you try this recipe, I would love it if you could leave a star review rating and comment below! It’s so wonderful hearing your feedback! And don’t forget to share your creations with me by tagging @chenee_today on Instagram!

    What to serve with this southern shrimp macaroni salad

    • Air Fryer Sweet Potato Chunks
    • Puff Pastry Pizza
    • Rice Krispie Treats with Chocolate Chips
    • Lemon Icebox Pie
    • No-Churn Key Lime Pie Ice Cream

    📖 Recipe

    Closeup of shrimp macaroni salad

    Shrimp Macaroni Salad

    5 from 10 votes
    Print Pin Recipe Rate Recipe Save RecipeSaved!
    Easy shrimp macaroni salad is the perfect side dish for your next picnic or barbecue! Full of flavor with a kick from Creole spices, you’ll love this southern shrimp macaroni salad for any occasion!
    Prep Time: 15 minutes minutes
    Total Time: 15 minutes minutes
    Course: Main Course, Salad, Side Dish, Snack
    Cuisine :American
    Servings: 12 servings
    Calories: 348kcal
    Recipe Source: Chenée Lewis

    Equipment you may need

    • mixing bowls
    • measuring cups and spoons
    • rubber spatula

    Ingredients

    • 1 lb (454 g) small shell or elbow macaroni pasta
    • 1 lb (454 g) cooked medium shrimp - peeled, deveined and tails removed; cut in half
    • 3 stalks celery - finely chopped
    • 4 whole green onions - chopped
    • 1 cup (224 g) mayonnaise
    • ⅓ cup (80 g) buttermilk ranch dressing
    • 3 teaspoon (15 ml) cajun or creole seasoning - plus more to taste
    • 2 tablespoon (30 ml) fresh lemon juice
    • salt & pepper - to taste (optional)
    • hot sauce - optional

    Instructions

    • Cook pasta one minute less than package directions in well salted water. Rinse, drain and place in large bowl.
      1 lb small shell or elbow macaroni pasta
    • Add all other ingredients to bowl and stir.
      1 lb cooked medium shrimp, 3 stalks celery, 4 whole green onions, 1 cup mayonnaise, ⅓ cup buttermilk ranch dressing, 3 teaspoon cajun or creole seasoning, 2 tablespoon fresh lemon juice, salt & pepper, hot sauce
    • Taste, and adjust seasonings if desired.
    • Chill at least 30 minutes until ready to serve.
    Last Step!Click here to leave a review and a star rating! It helps spread the word and allows me to keep sharing free recipes! 🥰

    Video

    Notes

    Make ahead: Store your shrimp macaroni salad in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
    Cooked Shrimp: I used a bag of cooked shrimp from the market, but you can also boil your own.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1 serving | Calories: 348 kcal | Carbohydrates: 30 g | Protein: 14 g | Fat: 19 g | Saturated Fat: 3 g | Cholesterol: 87 mg | Sodium: 551 mg | Potassium: 176 mg | Fiber: 1 g | Sugar: 1.5 g | Calcium: 48 mg | Iron: 1 mg
    Nutrition Disclaimer
    Did you try this recipe? Rate it below!I can't wait to see (and share) your results! Follow me on Instagram at @chenee_today and tag #cheneetoday!

    Pin this shrimp macaroni recipe for later:

    Spicy Shrimp Pasta Salad Recipe

    Last Updated on March 15, 2025 by Chenée Lewis

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    1.1K shares

    Comments

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    1. KT says

      September 01, 2024 at 8:59 pm

      5 stars
      Fantastic pasta salad. I can make it spicy or not depending on what I feel like. I don't use celery because I'm not a fan, but I add baby corn for the crunch and texture. This is my go to recipe. Might try adding some Cajun sausage and make it a full meal. Thank you so much!

      Reply
      • Chenée Lewis says

        September 04, 2024 at 6:05 am

        Love those substitutions. So glad you liked it!

        Reply
    2. Beth says

      March 15, 2023 at 12:10 pm

      5 stars
      The cajun spices add such a great flavor to this mac salad. Yummy.

      Reply
      • Chenée Lewis says

        April 20, 2023 at 10:41 pm

        I'm so glad you liked it! 🙂

        Reply
    3. stephanie says

      March 15, 2023 at 11:46 am

      5 stars
      I've made many versions of pasta salad with seafood, but creole seasoning is one that I haven't tried yet. I bet it's even better when combined with the ranch seasoning!

      Reply
    4. Tayler says

      March 15, 2023 at 11:20 am

      5 stars
      I've made this pasta salad several times and it always turns out deliciously! Everyone always asks me for the recipe

      Reply
      • Chenée Lewis says

        March 15, 2023 at 1:51 pm

        Same here! 🙂 Glad it's a hit for you as well!

        Reply
    5. Cyndy says

      March 15, 2023 at 10:57 am

      5 stars
      So creamy and delicious. I love how easy this recipe is to make, as well!

      Reply
      • Chenée Lewis says

        March 15, 2023 at 1:50 pm

        Glad you liked it! Thank you!

        Reply
    6. Beth says

      June 04, 2021 at 11:03 am

      5 stars
      This is by far my daughter’s favorite recipe! So delicious and very tasty. I can’t wait to make this recipe again soon! Such a hit here and perfect for a quick dinner!

      Reply
      • Chenée Lewis says

        June 08, 2021 at 1:27 am

        Thank you! So glad it's a hit!

        Reply
    7. Rachna says

      June 04, 2021 at 10:39 am

      5 stars
      I love shrimp. This looks just perfect. Will be trying it out.

      Reply
      • Chenée Lewis says

        June 08, 2021 at 1:24 am

        I hope you love it!

        Reply
    8. Emily says

      June 04, 2021 at 10:25 am

      5 stars
      What a fun twist on mac salad! I can't wait to make this for my next BBQ for my shrimp-loving friends.

      Reply
      • Chenée Lewis says

        June 08, 2021 at 1:24 am

        Thank you! It's always a hit!

        Reply
    9. Gina says

      June 04, 2021 at 10:22 am

      5 stars
      I've had pasta salasd and shrimp salad but never together and I just love the combination! Turns a side dish into a main meal.

      Reply
      • Chenée Lewis says

        June 08, 2021 at 1:25 am

        Definitely! So easy!

        Reply
    10. Erika says

      June 04, 2021 at 9:46 am

      5 stars
      I love macaroni salad, but never thought to add shrimp! Love the addition of shrimp. These flavors all sound amazing!

      Reply
      • Chenée Lewis says

        June 08, 2021 at 1:25 am

        Thank you! I hope you enjoy!

        Reply
    11. Yalana says

      July 22, 2020 at 4:42 pm

      This looks yummy!!! I have to save this for future use especially for hot summers.

      Reply
      • Chenée Lewis says

        July 22, 2020 at 5:18 pm

        It's perfect for the summer!! Or anytime really 🙂

        Reply
    12. Leeandra says

      May 24, 2020 at 9:57 pm

      This looks great! I love shrimp!

      Reply
      • Chenée Today says

        May 26, 2020 at 7:17 pm

        Me too! thanks!!

        Reply
    13. Syedah Shifa says

      May 24, 2020 at 5:28 pm

      This looks really yum and sounds easy too! Gonna make this recipe for sure! Thanks for sharing!

      Reply
      • Chenée Today says

        May 26, 2020 at 7:17 pm

        Great! Let me know what you think 🙂

        Reply

    About Chenée

    I’m Chenée (kinda rhymes with “today”) and I love all types of baking and cooking! But my favorite recipes are ones that are quick and easy, and still yield impressive results. The ones you can't help but make again and again! That's what I share here, and I hope I can make your life a little easier along the way. MORE ABOUT CHENÉE >>

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