Description

This Best Seafood Pasta Salad is a refreshing and flavorful dish featuring tender macaroni, crisp celery and carrots, and savory imitation crab meat, all tossed in a zesty Italian dressing with a hint of mayonnaise or Greek yogurt. Perfect for quick gatherings or make-ahead meals, this salad tastes best chilled with the flavors well melded together.

Ingredients

Scale

Dressing

1 cup Olive Garden Italian Dressing
2 tbsp mayonnaise (or plain Greek yogurt)

Pasta and Vegetables

3 cups macaroni (uncooked)
3 stalks celery (thinly sliced)
2 medium carrots (peeled and shredded)

Seafood and Herbs

2 cups imitation crab meat (cut into bite size pieces)
3 tbsp green onion (chopped)
3 tbsp fresh parsley (chopped)
1 tsp dried dill (or 2 tsp fresh dill)

Seasonings

1/2 tsp salt (or to taste)
1/2 tsp black pepper (or to taste)

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Instructions

Prepare Dressing: If you prefer homemade Italian dressing, make it ahead and refrigerate it while you prepare the salad ingredients to keep it fresh and chilled.
Cook Pasta: Boil the macaroni in salted water according to package instructions until al dente. Drain and rinse the pasta under cold water thoroughly to stop cooking and cool it down, then transfer to a large serving bowl.
Toss Pasta with Dressing: Pour half of the Italian dressing over the macaroni and gently toss to evenly coat the pasta with the dressing without breaking the noodles.
Add Remaining Ingredients: Mix in the sliced celery, shredded carrots, imitation crab meat, chopped green onions, fresh parsley, dried dill, salt, and black pepper, folding them carefully into the pasta for consistent flavor distribution.
Refrigerate to Meld Flavors: For best taste, refrigerate the salad for at least 30 minutes to allow the flavors to meld and the salad to chill, although it can be served immediately if needed.
Final Dressing Touch and Serve: If serving within the hour, toss the salad with as much of the remaining dressing as desired before serving. For later serving, omit the leftover dressing during refrigeration and add it fresh just before serving to maintain freshness.
Serve and Enjoy: Present the chilled seafood pasta salad as a tasty appetizer or light meal and enjoy its refreshing flavors.

Notes

Use Greek yogurt instead of mayonnaise for a lighter, tangier dressing with added protein.
Allow the salad to chill at least 30 minutes before serving for optimal flavor blending.
This salad holds well overnight and tastes excellent the next day.
Adjust salt and pepper according to your taste preferences.
Serve cold; do not leave the salad at room temperature for extended periods to keep it fresh.