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shrimp pasta salad - waco style

(9 ratings)
Mommydiva avatar
Blue Ribbon Recipe by
Michelle Waco
@Mommydiva
Cornelius, OR

This is my spin on my Mom's famous shrimp salad - adapted for my DH's tastes - which means no mayo or mustard. I tend to sprinkle, pour, and shake until the consistency and flavor are to my (our) liking. Adjust the flavor to your liking. My mom makes this using Knott's Honey Dijon dressing in place of the Berenstein's and it's great - a bit less of the savory seasonings as it is a different flavor. DH's friends ask for this when we have parties or take trips. Can make this ahead and increase the serving size for large gatherings easily as it is usually a hit anywhere we take it.

Blue Ribbon Recipe

A cold shrimp pasta salad that's a delicious summer side dish. There's no mayonnaise in this pasta salad. It's dressed with a cheesy Italian dressing, an assortment of fresh chopped veggies, and shrimp. This pasta salad has a nice crunch and zestiness. Not only is this very tasty, but it's also pretty when served.

— The Test Kitchen @kitchencrew
(9 ratings)
yield 8 serving(s)
prep time 20 Min
cook time 15 Min
method Stove Top

Ingredients For shrimp pasta salad - waco style

  • INGREDIENTS
  • 1 lb
    bay shrimp, pre-cooked and shelled
  • 16 oz
    elbow macaroni, cooked and cooled (smaller is best)
  • 1/2
    green bell pepper, diced
  • 1/2
    red bell pepper, diced
  • 1 can
    sliced ripe olives, drained (3 7/8 oz)
  • 2-3 md
    celery ribs, diced finely
  • 1/2 md
    Walla Walla onion, diced (any other sweet onion such as vidalia)
  • 1/4 - 1/2 c
    Parmesan cheese, grated (the kraft flavored is nice in this)
  • 16 oz
    Bernstein's Light Fantastic Cheese Fantastico salad dressing, to taste
  • 1.5-2 Tbsp
    Salad Elegance seasoning mix, to taste (I prefer Johnny's brand)
  • black pepper, to taste
  • garlic powder, to taste
  • GARNISH
  • egg, hard-boiled and sliced (optional)
  • green onion, chopped (optional)
  • grape tomatoes (optional)

How To Make shrimp pasta salad - waco style

Test Kitchen Tips
We weren't able to find the recommended Salad Elegance seasoning or Bernstein's dressing locally, so we used McCormick Perfect Pinch Salad Supreme and Kraft Parmesan Vinaigrette instead. Worked like a dream.
  • Rinsing cooked noodles in cold water.
    1
    Boil noodles as directed on package (around 9-11 minutes). Once cooked, immediately rinse in cold water to stop further cooking.
  • Prepping the veggies.
    2
    Prep all veggies.
  • Rinsing shrimp.
    3
    While the pasta boils, rinse shrimp removing any remaining shells that were missed.
  • Shrimp, veggies, Parmesan cheese, and salad dressing in a bowl.
    4
    Add in the shrimp, veggies, Parmesan cheese, and salad dressing.
  • Ingredients stirred together.
    5
    Stir thoroughly. Add seasonings to taste.
  • Shrimp Pasta Salad garnished and ready to chill in the fridge.
    6
    If desired, garnish with a sliced hard-boiled egg, grape tomatoes, and chopped green onions. Chill for 30 minutes, minimum, for best flavor before serving. Enjoy!
  • Last Step: Don't forget to share! Make all your friends drool by posting a picture of your finished recipe on your favorite social network. And don't forget to tag Just A Pinch and include #justapinchrecipes so we can see it too!
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