Easy Shrimp Macaroni Salad with Bacon Recipe

Shrimp Macaroni Salad is a delicious twist on your favorite summer side. With succulent shrimp and smoky bacon, this recipe is perfect for barbecues, potlucks, and parties. In fact, this bacon pasta salad is the perfect summertime dinner too!

This shrimp macaroni salad recipe is a great recipe for dinner!

Made using simple ingredients, you can make this into the perfect side dish or serve this shrimp salad as the main entree.

Each bite packs a little flavor punch, showing that the cooking process is a breeze! 

Fresh shrimp is the key to making this easy macaroni salad, in my opinion.

You can get small shrimp or larger shrimp from the grocery store that is already prepped and ready to cook. This saves you extra time, for sure! 

There’s also another reason why this is one of my favorite salads. Once the shrimp cooks and is added to the tender pasta, it creates a family favorite for even the pickiest eaters! 

There is so much flavor in this creamy shrimp pasta salad – you’re going to be hooked! 

Shrimp Macaroni Salad

Cold pasta salad recipes are great for the warmer weather months, and creamy dressings are just so refreshing.

Loaded with vegetables, protein, and fresh herbs, this shrimp and bacon pasta recipe is a flavorful side or satisfying meal.

Pasta salad with shrimp is a salty, sweet, and savory combination that can’t be beat. You’ll love this version that tastes just like a Po’ Boy sandwich!

Craving a hot meal instead? Try Shrimp Macaroni and Cheese or Cajun Shrimp Pasta when you need something to warm you up inside and out.

Ingredient Notes and Substitutions

• Shrimp – As a shortcut, use frozen shrimp that is already peeled, deveined, and cooked. Just thaw and rinse before adding to the bacon pasta salad!
  
• Pasta – You don’t have to use elbow macaroni for shrimp macaroni salad — in fact, I prefer large bowtie noodles because they are similar in size to the shrimp. 
  
  But, any short or small pasta will work. The small pieces just go better with the texture of this shrimp pasta salad recipe. 
  
• Bacon – Save your kitchen from splatters and cook bacon in the oven or in the air fryer! Once cooked, let it cool and crisp up before chopping it into smaller pieces.
  
• Veggies – Celery, bell pepper, and red onion add plenty of crunch to shrimp and bacon pasta, plus it makes it extra colorful as well!
  
• Dressing – This starts with a creamy oil and mayo base, with plenty of tang from Dijon Mustard and lemon juice. 
  
  Feel free to swap some or all of the mayo with Greek yogurt instead.
  
  I prefer the creamy dressing of the original recipe, but you can any type of dressing or dressing ingredients that you want. 

Tips for Making Pasta Salad with Shrimp

• Salt the water. This goes for just about any pasta salad recipe! Salted water adds flavor to the pasta and helps enhance the other flavors in the shrimp macaroni salad.
  
• Fresh vs frozen shrimp. While I prefer using frozen because it saves time, you can certainly use fresh if you prefer. 
  
  You’ll need to peel and devein the shellfish (if it doesn’t come that way), then boil until shrimp turn pink and are a loose ‘C’ shape.
  
• Add extra veggies. This is an easy way to bulk up bacon shrimp pasta even more. 
  
  Fresh peas, tomatoes, spinach, zucchini, cucumbers, or broccoli would all be great additions.

Serving Suggestions

Bacon shrimp pasta salad is the fresh and savory dish you didn’t know you needed! 

Enjoy it as an easy weeknight dinner alone or with a side of crusty bread. It’s also easy enough to throw together for last-minute picnics and potlucks.

I think shrimp and bacon pasta would be tasty alongside smoker recipes like chicken wings and pork belly burnt ends too.

Kitchen Tools You’ll Need

• Large Colander – You will need this to drain both the pasta and shrimp.
• Sharp Knife – This recipe requires some chopping. A good, sharp knife is always handy to have in the kitchen.
• Measuring Cup – You want to get the dressing measured and mixed up completely before adding it to the pasta salad.

Bacon Pasta Salad FAQ

Enjoy!

With love, from our simple kitchen to yours.

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Originally published July 2018, updated and republished July 2024

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