This delectable shrimp salad combines succulent shrimp and crispy garden vegetables together in an easy five ingredient mayonnaise based dressing. This dish is easy enough for a busy weekend yet elegant enough for company. It is perfect for bridal showers, baby showers, weddings, cocktail parties and evening soirees. I love to serve over a bed of leaf lettuce but it is just as tasty in a buttery croissant or stuffed in a fresh garden tomato or creamy avocado.
My daughter and I just love shrimp. Anyway you cook it we love it. This recipe, Bacon Wrapped Shrimp, Hot Shrimp Dip, and Shrimp Scampi are just a few of our favorite recipes.
How to make Shrimp Salad
Start by mixing together the mayonnaise, lemon juice, Dijon mustard, dill and cayenne pepper in a bowl. Then in a larger bowl add the shrimp, cucumber, red onion, and celery. Now add the dressing and stir gently to coat. Then season with salt and pepper to taste.
Recipe notes and tips
- Any size shrimp works for this recipe. If stuffing in tomatoes or avocados the smaller shrimp are recommended. I suggest anywhere between 41-60 count for stuffing.
- For best results thaw frozen shrimp in the refrigerator overnight.
- Dukes is my absolute favorite mayonnaise. This is not a paid endorsement I just like it.
- The cayenne pepper is totally optional although it does lend a lot of delicious flavor without being spicy.
- Store the salad in the refrigerator until ready to serve. Promptly store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
- Enjoy on a bed of lettuce leaves, stuffed in a tomato or avocado, or piled on a buttery croissant or toasted French baguette with butter lettuce.
How to peel and devein shrimp
To peel shrimp simply pull on the legs and the shell will begin to peel away easily. Keep or remove the tails depending on how you intend to serve your recipe. I recommend that if you are serving the shrimp as an appetizer you keep the tails on. It is easier for your guests to grasp and eat them that way. However if serving with pasta I recommend removing the tails.
To devein the shrimp take a small paring knife and make a shallow cut down the center of the back to the top edge of where the tail is or was. Remove the intestines by running the back of the shrimp under cool running water and rubbing with your fingers so the vein will rinse out easily.
Best ways to cook shrimp for this recipe
You can use any kind of cooked shrimp but my two favorite ways for this recipe are steamed or boiled. Add any seasonings or fresh herbs you would like to use to a large pot of water and bring to a boil. Let the pot boil for a while to infuse the seasonings and herbs. Then add the shrimp and cook just until the shells turn pink and they turn white or about 5 minutes. Remove the shrimp with a slotted spoon and plunge into an ice bath. Once cooled drain well in a colander.
If steaming add a steam basket to the pot. Make sure it is above the water line. Add the shrimp and cover with the lid. Again cook until the shells are pink and the shrimp are no longer translucent or about 5 minutes. Then plunge into an ice bath. Once cool drain well in a colander.
How to serve Shrimp Salad
- On a bed of green or red leaf lettuce
- Stuffed in a sun-ripened garden tomato (small shrimp work best for this).
- On a buttery croissant or toasted soft bun.
- With crackers or Homemade Crostini.
- Stuffed in an avocado half (small shrimp work best for this).
Other shrimp recipes to try!
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Shrimp Salad
This creamy mayonnaise based Shrimp Salad comes together quickly and easily making it perfect for any busy weeknight meal or special occasion.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 10 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings
- Category: salad
- Method: bowl and spoon
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
- ½ cup mayonnaise
- 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh dill
- 2 pinches cayenne pepper (optional)
- 1 pound cooked shrimp peeled and deveined
- ¼ cup finely chopped English cucumber
- ¼ cup red onion finely chopped
- 1 celery rib finely chopped
- Kosher salt and fresh ground black pepper to taste
Instructions
- In a small bowl mix together the mayonnaise, lemon juice, Dijon Mustard, dill, and cayenne pepper.
- Add the shrimp, cucumber, red onion, celery, and dressing to a large bowl. Stir gently to coat. Season with kosher salt and fresh ground black pepper to taste. Cover and refrigerate until ready to serve.
Notes
- Any size shrimp works for this recipe. If stuffing in tomatoes or avocados the smaller shrimp are recommended. I suggest anywhere between 41-60 count for stuffing.
- For best results thaw frozen shrimp in the refrigerator overnight.
- Dukes is my absolute favorite mayonnaise. This is not a paid endorsement I just like it.
- The cayenne pepper is totally optional although it does lend a lot of delicious flavor without being spicy.
- Store the salad in the refrigerator until ready to serve. Promptly store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
- Enjoy on a bed of lettuce leaves, stuffed in a tomato or avocado, or piled on a buttery croissant or toasted French baguette with butter lettuce.
Keywords: shrimp salad recipe, shrimp salad sandwich, how to make shrimp salad, shrimp salad dressing
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Toni
This is such an amazing salad! A huge hit with my kids!
★★★★★
Gervin Khan
Wow! This is so delicious and really makes my mouthwatering!
I will try this recipe at home.
★★★★★
Tara Pittman
I am drooling over here. This looks so delicious.
Tatum Burke
We loved this salad! I ate mine on top of spinach!
★★★★★
Julia
My favourite sandwich filler! So light yet flavourful!
★★★★★
Monica from Bestconsumerreports
My daughter just ate it in a flash when I followed your recipe, this is the first time seeing her eat so fast, I’m so glad. Five stars for you and thanks so much for this guide!
★★★★★
Beth Pierce
So glad that she liked it! It is a yummy recipe.
Allyssa
Thank you so much for sharing this amazing shrimp salad, so tasty and really easy to make! Well done!
★★★★★
Trang
So good! I love how easy the dressing was and really highlighted the shrimp. This recipe was a nice change from the usual salad recipes.
★★★★★
Beth Pierce
Thanks so much! So glad that you liked it!!
Sara Welch
This was everything a gourmet sandwich should be, and then some! Easy, unique and hands down delicious!
★★★★★
Seema Sriram
The recipe looks so fresh,so much better than storebought!! I am passing on this recipe to a friend who loves anything with shrimps.
★★★★★
Mae
Been making this shrimp salad 2 days in a row. SO good!
★★★★★
Beth Pierce
Thanks Mae! So glad that you like it!
Adrianne
This salad looks so creamy and delicious, the mayo sounds like it has great tang! The croissant is perfect, yummo!
★★★★★
Mairead
I love the flavor of dill with seafood, so this shrimp salad is just perfect in my book. The mayonnaise based dressing lemon and dijon mustard is a perfect pairing for the shrimp. Thanks for another great recipe.
★★★★★
Natalie
Move over chicken salad!! This was amazing & full of flavor! Great use of shrimp!
★★★★★
Betsy
This is such a great Northern European dish! I’ve had delicious things like this at Scandinavian restaurants before. It’s a refreshing and filling salad! So perfect on croissant or in a wrap! Love having this recipe so I can perfectly recreate one of my favorite Scandinavian foods! Delicious. Wonderfully delicious.
★★★★★
Irina
OMG! This shrimp salad looks and sounds mouthwatering!!!! I am going to make it ASAP! I am sold by your pictures!
★★★★★
maryanne
I’ve made these twice now! I love how fresh and tangy the shrimp salad dressing is!
★★★★★
Amanda Dixon
We just loved this shrimp salad! The dressing was perfectly creamy, and I love the little crunch the cucumbers added.
★★★★★
Anaiah
This shrimp salad was amazing as is and so simple to make. I made some extra so I’ll definitely try it as a sandwich for my next meal!
★★★★★
Serena
Such a great combo of shrimp and greens. Delicious salad!
★★★★★
Michaela
A perfect prawn salad recipe, it even tempted my son to eat his salad up!
★★★★★
Beth Pierce
Awesome! So glad that your son enjoyed it!!
Tara
This shrimp salad looks absolutely wonderful, especially paired with the croissant. I love all those flavors! Definitely perfect for celebrations.
★★★★★
Elizabeth
This was delicious! It’s gonna be on repeat all summer long at my house.
★★★★★
Jac
This was a success at my family BBQ. Everyone loved it 🙂
★★★★★
Alison
This is such a refreshing and flavorful summery sandwich! The butter croissant really puts it over the top!
★★★★★
Sandra
I love this salad!! So tasty and really delish!
★★★★★
Amanda Livesay
This is SO GOOD. I can’t believe I’ve been buying the store-bought kind for so long because this is a million times better.
★★★★★
Biana
This shrimp salad looks delicious! Will be a perfect lunch, served on croissant, what a great idea.
★★★★★
Erin | Dinners,Dishes and Dessert
Look at this delicious salad! This is so cool!
★★★★★
Vikki
This sounds so delicious! Definitely making ASAP
★★★★★
Jo
Perfect combination of shrimp and greens! We’ll definitely make this again!
★★★★★
Krystle
This was amazing, I’m going to be making it all summer long.
★★★★★
Amanda
Oh my gosh I cannot wait to try this, it looks fantastic!