This easy crab macaroni salad recipe is a crowd-pleasing side dish for potlucks, summer cookouts, picnics, and more! It's creamy, flavourful, and simple to make with simple ingredients!
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This is one of my favourite salads to make for big gatherings, especially in the summer! It tastes delicious with BBQ and everyone loves the addition of crab in it!
I like to call it my "fancy" macaroni salad, because unlike my classic Hawaiian macaroni salad, this one has lumps of delicious crab pieces in it! If you like this crab salad, then you should also try this imitation crab salad too!
If you love making pasta salad for big crowds, then you may also like this creamy cheddar macaroni salad, zesty Italian pasta salad, chicken tortellini pasta salad, and this caprese pasta salad too!
Why this is the best recipe
- Easy: it's easy to prepare with simple ingredients and easy-to-follow steps!
- Lots to share: this recipe makes a big batch, large enough to share any big crowd!
- Delicious: you won't be able to get enough of the creamy texture and lumps of crab!
Ingredients
- Elbow Macaroni
- Mayonaise
- Milk
- Lemon Juice
- Salt & Pepper
- Fresh Dill
- Imitation Crab Meat
- Celery
- Red Onion
See the recipe card below for the ingredient measurements.
Step-by-Step Instructions
- Cook the pasta: Cook the macaroni according to the instructions on the package. Drain and rinse with cold water and then transfer it to a large bowl.
- Make the dressing: In a separate bowl, mix the mayonnaise, milk, lemon juice, salt, pepper, and fresh dill together. Then, fold in the crab, celery, and red onion.
- Assemble the salad: Pour the dressing over the macaroni noodles, and mix until the noodles are fully coated. Cover and refrigerate for up to 1 hour before serving. If the noodles absorbed a lot of the dressing, just mix in a couple of tablespoons of milk and it will become creamy.
Storage and Leftovers
Store any leftovers covered tightly with plastic wrap or in an airtight container(s) in the fridge for up to 1 week.
Helpful Tips
- If the noodles absorb much of the dressing after chilling the salad in the fridge, just add a couple of tablespoons of milk, and it will become creamy.
- Rinsing the noodles with cold water after draining them make it so that the noodles stop cooking and keeps them from sticking to each other.
- Consider making this salad in advance (such as the day before you plan to serve it). This gives the salad more time to develop and intensify its flavour.
Frequently Asked Questions
This can happen if the noodles aren't rinsed with cold water because the noodles will absorb most of the dressing and expand. If this happens, just add a little bit of milk and it will become creamy immediately.
Yes, feel free to use fresh or canned crab instead of the imitation crab if you prefer.
It will last up to 1 week in the fridge. You may notice after a couple of days it will start to dry out, in this case, just add some milk to loosen it up and make it creamy again.
Serving Suggestions
This salad tastes delicious paired with BBQ hot dogs, sausages, hamburgers, chicken thighs, and steak! It also goes great with other summer side dishes like these prosciutto-wrapped asparagus!
Print📖 Recipe
Easy Crab Macaroni Salad Recipe
- Total Time: 15 minutes
- Yield: 12
Description
This easy crab macaroni salad recipe is creamy and delicious! The perfect summer side dish for any occasion!
Ingredients
- Elbow Macaroni: 1 pound
- Mayonnaise: 1 and ½ cups
- Milk: ¼ cup
- Lemon Juice: 2 tablespoons
- Salt: 1 and ½ teaspoons
- Pepper: ½ teaspoon
- Fresh Dill: 3 tablespoons, roughly chopped
- Imitation Crab Meat (flakes, sticks, etc.): 1 pound, roughly chopped
- Celery: 2 stalks, diced
- Red Onion: ⅓ cup, diced
Instructions
- Cook the pasta: Cook the macaroni according to the instructions on the package. Drain and rinse with cold water and then transfer it to a large bowl.
- Make the dressing: In a separate bowl, mix the mayonnaise, milk, lemon juice, salt, pepper, and fresh dill together. Then, fold in the crab, celery, and red onion.
- Assemble the salad: Pour the dressing over the macaroni noodles, and mix until the noodles are fully coated. Cover and refrigerate for up to 1 hour before serving. If the noodles absorbed a lot of the dressing, just mix in a couple of tablespoons of milk and it will become creamy.
Notes
If the noodles absorb much of the dressing after chilling the salad in the fridge, just add a couple of tablespoons of milk, and it will become creamy.
Rinsing the noodles with cold water after draining them make it so that the noodles stop cooking and keeps them from sticking to each other.
Consider making this salad in advance (such as the day before you plan to serve it). This gives the salad more time to develop and intensify its flavour.
Nutrition facts are for informational purposes only. We are not responsible for any errors. We have tested the recipe for accuracy, but your results may vary. Please note that this is not medical or nutrition advice. Seek advice from a licensed professional if you need advice. We are not liable for any damages caused by your use of this content.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 5 minutes
- Category: side dish, salad
- Method: chill
- Cuisine: american
Zen says
This is delicious!
Andrea says
I'm glad you enjoyed it!!
Kayla says
Such a great and simple recipe! My partner and I found it easy to follow, and we made it for our family — everyone really enjoyed it. Will definitely be making this again!
Andrea says
I'm so glad everyone enjoyed it! Thank you for the comment 🙂