Creamy Crab Pasta Salad

by

🦀 Creamy Crab Pasta Salad

Description

A light and creamy seafood pasta salad loaded with tender imitation crab meat, crisp cucumbers, and a tangy, herb-infused dressing. Perfect for summer lunches, picnics, or as a side dish at barbecues. Low in calories and incredibly satisfying!

Ingredients

  • 2 cups cooked pasta (elbow, rotini, or macaroni)
  • 1 ½ cups imitation crab meat (or real crab), chopped
  • 1 cup cucumber, sliced or diced
  • ½ cup celery, chopped
  • ¼ cup red onion, finely chopped
  • ½ cup mayonnaise (light or regular)
  • 2 tablespoons sour cream or Greek yogurt
  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice
  • 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
  • 1 teaspoon dill (fresh or dried)
  • Salt and black pepper, to taste
  • Fresh parsley or dill, for garnish

Instructions

  1. Cook the pasta
    Boil pasta in salted water according to package instructions. Drain and rinse with cold water to stop the cooking process.
  2. Prepare the dressing
    In a medium bowl, whisk together mayonnaise, sour cream, lemon juice, Dijon mustard, dill, salt, and pepper.
  3. Assemble the salad
    In a large mixing bowl, combine pasta, crab meat, cucumber, celery, and red onion.
  4. Mix everything
    Pour the dressing over the mixture and toss gently until everything is well coated.
  5. Chill
    Cover and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes before serving to allow the flavors to meld.
  6. Serve
    Garnish with fresh dill or parsley and serve cold.

Notes

  • You can use Greek yogurt instead of sour cream for extra protein.
  • Substitute shrimp or tuna for crab if desired.
  • Add hard-boiled eggs or corn for variation.
  • For a lighter version, use low-fat mayo and skip the sour cream.

Tips

  • Don’t overcook the pasta — slightly firm pasta holds up better in the dressing.
  • Chill before serving — enhances the flavor and texture.
  • Add veggies last minute if you want them extra crisp.

Servings

Makes 4 servings (about 1 cup each).

Nutritional Info (Per Serving)

  • Calories: 180
  • Protein: 9g
  • Fat: 8g
  • Carbohydrates: 18g
  • Fiber: 1g
  • Sugar: 2g
  • Sodium: 320mg

(Values may vary slightly based on ingredients used.)

Benefits

  • Low in calories and high in protein.
  • Rich in omega-3 (if using real crab).
  • Keeps you full and refreshed without heaviness.
  • Great meal-prep option — lasts up to 3 days refrigerated.

Q & A

Q: Can I make it ahead of time?
A: Yes! It tastes even better the next day after chilling.

Q: What’s the best pasta type?
A: Short pasta shapes like rotini, macaroni, or shells work best for holding the dressing.

Q: Can I freeze it?
A: Not recommended — the creamy dressing and pasta don’t freeze well.

Leave a Comment