Pasta Crab Salad
Light, refreshing, and brimming with coastal flavors, this Pasta Crab Salad is the ultimate crowd-pleaser for warm-weather gatherings or a quick, satisfying meal. Tender bites of al dente pasta pair beautifully with succulent lump crab meat, crisp celery, sweet red bell pepper, and fragrant scallions, all brought together in a creamy dressing of tangy mayonnaise, sour cream, and fresh-squeezed lemon juice. A touch of parsley adds a burst of freshness, while paprika offers a hint of color for an elegant garnish. Perfectly chilled and bursting with bright flavors, this easy crab pasta salad recipe is ready in under 30 minutes and is guaranteed to impress at picnics, potlucks, or family dinners.
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Recipe Information
Ingredients
- 250 grams pasta (fusilli, rotini, or shells)
- 200 grams lump crab meat (fresh or canned, drained)
- 120 grams mayonnaise
- 60 grams sour cream
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice (freshly squeezed)
- 2 stalks celery (finely diced)
- 0.5 red bell pepper (finely diced)
- 2 scallions (thinly sliced)
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsley (chopped)
- 0.5 teaspoons salt
- 0.25 teaspoons black pepper
- 0.25 teaspoons paprika (optional, for garnish)
Instructions
Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the pasta according to the package instructions until al dente. Drain, rinse under cold water to stop the cooking process, and set aside to cool completely.
While the pasta is cooling, prepare the dressing. In a large bowl, mix together the mayonnaise, sour cream, lemon juice, salt, and black pepper until smooth.
Add the crab meat to the bowl with the dressing. Gently fold to combine, being careful not to break up the crab meat too much.
Add the diced celery, red bell pepper, scallions, parsley, and cooled pasta to the bowl. Toss everything together until all ingredients are evenly coated in the dressing.
Taste and adjust seasoning with additional salt, pepper, or lemon juice if needed.
Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 1 hour to allow the flavors to meld together.
Before serving, give the salad a final toss and sprinkle with paprika (if using) for garnish. Serve chilled.
Nutrition Facts
Calories |
1591 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
% Daily Value* |
|||
| Total Fat | 103.6 g | 133% | |
| Saturated Fat | 16.9 g | 84% | |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 0.0 g | ||
| Cholesterol | 254 mg | 84% | |
| Sodium | 2326 mg | 101% | |
| Total Carbohydrate | 115.6 g | 42% | |
| Dietary Fiber | 8.6 g | 31% | |
| Total Sugars | 12.0 g | ||
| Protein | 53.9 g | 108% | |
| Vitamin D | 0.0 mcg | 0% | |
| Calcium | 317 mg | 24% | |
| Iron | 5.5 mg | 31% | |
| Potassium | 1194 mg | 25% | |
*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
