🦀 Crab Salad (Seafood Salad)
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Chill Time: 30 minutes (recommended)
Servings: 4–6
⭐ Ingredients
- 1 pound imitation crab meat, chopped or shredded
- 1 shallot, minced
- ½ cup celery, finely minced
- ½ cup mayonnaise
- 1–2 Tbsp lemon juice (adjust to taste)
- 1 tsp Old Bay seasoning (optional but excellent)
- 1 tsp Dijon mustard (optional, adds brightness)
- 2 Tbsp fresh parsley, chopped
- Salt & pepper, to taste
🧑🍳 Instructions
1. Prepare the crab
- Roughly chop or shred the imitation crab meat with your hands or a knife.
- Shredding gives a deli-style seafood salad texture.
2. Combine the vegetables
- In a mixing bowl, add:
✔ minced shallot
✔ minced celery
✔ chopped parsley
3. Make the dressing
In the same bowl or a separate one, mix together:
- mayonnaise
- lemon juice
- Old Bay
- Dijon mustard (if using)
- salt & pepper
Taste and adjust seasoning — add more lemon for brightness or mayo for creaminess.
4. Add the crab
- Add the crab meat to the bowl.
- Fold everything together gently until fully coated.
5. Chill
- Cover and refrigerate at least 30 minutes to allow flavors to blend.
- Tastes even better after a few hours.
🍽️ Serve With
- On crackers
- In a sandwich or hoagie roll
- In lettuce wraps
- With cucumber slices
- Over a salad
- As a dip with pita or tortilla chips
💡 Tips & Variations
Make it more like deli-style seafood salad
- Add 2 Tbsp finely diced red bell pepper
- Add 1 tsp sugar (very common in deli versions)
Make it healthier
- Use half mayo, half Greek yogurt
Make it spicy
- Add 1–2 tsp sriracha or chili crisp
- Add minced jalapeño
Upgrade the flavor
- Add ½ tsp garlic powder
- Add chopped dill or green onion