Old Bay Shrimp Salad Recipe

This easy Shrimp Salad with Old Bay will have everyone coming back for seconds. It's simple to prepare and beautiful served on a croissant, crackers, toasts or in a buttered brioche bun. It's a true Maryland summertime experience!

After years of testing shrimp salad recipes, this is the one I return to over and over again. The recipe is fail proof and gives you plenty of room to customize the salad with fresh herbs, citrus and crunchy, fresh veggie mix-ins, while giving Old Bay center stage.

You'll love this fresh shrimp salad, along with Shrimp Pasta Salad, Tea Sandwiches for Seafood Lovers and Smoky Tuna Dip for all your summertime parties. 

Ingredients for cold shrimp salad:

Before we get to the step-by-step instructions, a few notes about the ingredients:

• Shrimp: for special occasions, I love serving large whole shrimp in this recipe. But any size of deveined shrimp works. And if you prefer, cut the shrimp into smaller, bite-sized pieces. 
• Mayo: I'm a Hellman's girl, but Dukes or any variety of real mayo is a good bet. 
• Celery: substitute ¼ teaspoon celery seed or a pinch of celery salt, if needed. If you prefer onions to celery, dice up the same amount of red onion.
• Herbs: chives and dill are my shrimp salad all-stars, but use what you have or what you love. Tarragon, fresh parsley (flat leaf), basil or green onions all work in this recipe.
• Dijon: substitute ½ teaspoon dry mustard or if you don't love mustard, add a few drops of Worcestershire Sauce for flavor and umami.
• Old Bay: substitute your favorite Cajun seasoning mix or make your own with my Old Bay Substitutes Guide.

Full ingredient list and measurements included in the printable recipe card below.

​Step by Step Instructions for Shrimp Salad with Old Bay

1. Cook shrimp

Add lemon juice, 1 tablespoon of Old Bay and raw shrimp to a small pot of boiling water. Turn off the heat, letting the shrimp poach for 2-3 minutes, until bright pink and cooked through. Drain and set aside.

2. Mix sauce ingredients

Mix mayo, Dijon, remaining Old Bay and lemon zest.

Then stir in the shrimp, celery, chives and dill. Taste and adjust seasoning. 

3. Garnish and serve

Chill in the refrigerator until service. Garnish with more chives and dill.   

How to Serve Shrimp Salad:

• Crackers: saltine crackers, triscuits and even tortilla chips are the perfect crunchy vehicles to get this shrimp salad into your mouth!
• Buns: a buttery grilled brioche hotdog bun lined with lettuce is the loveliest way to serve shrimp salad sandwiches. 
• Croissants: traditional shrimp salad piled high on a butter croissant is a one of the top icons in great lunch history. Buy them. Make them. Eat them. Live happier.
• Lettuce Wrap: butter lettuce makes a beautiful serving wrap for shrimp salad. Low carb and delicious!
• Avocado or Tomato: hollow out a tomato and fill it with shrimp salad for a retro vibe, or pile it onto a halved avocado on a bed of lettuce. 

How to Store Leftover Creamy Shrimp Salad:

Transfer leftover shrimp salad to an airtight container and keep in the refrigerator for up to 2 days. 

Print