Transform one of your favorite classic pasta dishes into a delicious Summer side dish with this shrimp scampi pasta salad recipe. This delicious dish uses frozen shrimp scampi making it quick and easy to prepare. Tossed with pasta and crisp veggies in a bright flavorful creamy dressing perfect for entertaining.

Spring and Summer kitchen in my house looks a lot different than cold weather months.

Meals get lightened up with less heavy sauces and lighter proteins, quick and easy prep with minimal use of the oven heating up the house.

That doesn’t mean I don’t crave things, like shrimp scampi for example.

I had to give it a refreshing Summer spin, and turned those flavors into a creamy shrimp scampi pasta salad that is light, refreshing and makes a perfect lunch or side dish for dinner.

WHAT IS SHRIMP SCAMPI MADE OF?

At it’s most basic, shrimp scampi is a really simple dish. A classic comfort food if you will. Some of the best ones are really that simple.

A classic shrimp scampi sees lightly pan fried shrimp, sauteed with olive oil, fresh garlic, crisp white onion, and a pinch of optional red pepper flakes.

The semi-cooked shrimp are then tossed in a white wine butter sauce, & simmered until done. Then it can be served over a bed of pasta, or tossed with pasta before serving.

Shrimp scampi is an amazing dish. Add in the pasta, and it’s total comfort food. By now y’all know comfort food is never wrong around here.

But a heavy butter laden dish has colder weather written all over it.

So we changed things up, and took a short cut to turn it into this creamy shrimp scampi pasta salad that’s perfect for any potluck or party style occasion.

WHERE DID SHRIMP SCAMPI COME FROM?

Would it surprise you to know that the classic Shrimp Scampi pasta you know and love is actually an Americanized version and an Italian classic?

Scampi, in fact, are actually tiny lobster-like soft pink shelled crustaceans. They’re other common name is langoustines.

As with many other things, when this dish came across the sea, Italian immigrants gave it a bit of a different name.

This time they kept the familiar word scampi, but swapped the protein out for the more common and available to source shrimp and added shrimp to the title.

This made it appealing to both Italians & Americans alike.

Ingredients Needed

The ingredient list for this dish is pretty simple, especially thanks to a handy little frozen shortcut.

Pasta – You can use any shape of pasta you prefer. Although dressing tends to cling to certain types of pasta better than others.
Shrimp Scampi – 1-2 pounds of frozen shrimp scampi, depending on if you want the dish to be mostly pasta or a more even ration of both.
Mayonnaise – Use any brand you’re familiar with and like, but make sure it’s real mayonnaise. Miracle Whip/ Salad Spread have their time and place, but this pasta salad recipe isn’t it.
Lemon – The freshly grated zest of one lemon
Garlic – Freshly minced garlic is highly recommended, but you could use store bought minced garlic if that’s what you have on hand.
Vegetables – This pasta salad uses a blend of crisp celery, tangy green onion, and juicy tomatoes.

That’s it!

The only other thing needed is a couple tablespoons of the seasoned juices from the cooking shrimp scampi. More on that in a second.

Once you’ve gathered all your ingredients you’re ready to begin.

How To Make

Shrimp scampi can seem intimidating to make, but this shrimp scampi pasta salad is super easy and perfect for any level of home cook to master and serve to impress.

Start by cooking the pasta according to the package directions. Strain the cooked pasta, then run it under cool water tossing until cool to the touch. Set it aside.

Now cook your frozen shrimp according to the package directions.

Take out a couple of the plumpest ones, and set them aside. Scoop a couple tablespoons of the seasoned juice up, and transfer it to a small bowl and set aside.

Remove the rest of the shrimp, using a slotted spoon, to a waiting cutting board. Roughly chop them, then wipe the skillet clean.

In a large mixing bowl add the cooked pasta, celery, onions, & tomatoes. Gently toss them to evenly combine.

To a smaller medium sized mixing bowl, add the mayonnaise, zest, garlic, and shrimp butter/drippings. Whisk until everything’s evenly the mixture’s smooth & creamy.

Pour the dressing over the pasta mixture & toss to evenly combine.

Cover the pasta, & chill for 2-3 hours before serving.

It has all the magical flavors of the original shrimp scampi with pasta, but this version turns it into a dish best served cold. Turning one of the best comfort foods into the perfect cold pasta dish for entertaining.

Storing

You can store this pasta salad in an air tight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Do NOT store it for longer since it contains seafood.

TIPS & TRICKS

When scooping the shrimp butter juices out of the pan, be sure to also get the seasonings- that’s where the majority of the flavor will come from, not just the butter alone.
Taste the dressing before adding it to the pasta salad. If it doesn’t have enough shrimp scampi flavor, continue adding slightly cooled drippings until it suits your taste.
Pasta likes to continue soaking up sauce while it sits, so it may dry out some during storing. If that happens just mix in a tablespoon or two of extra mayonnaise and add seasonings, if desired.

Other Summer Pasta Salad Recipes

The flavors of your favorite shrimp & pasta comfort food have been throw into a mixing bowl and turned into a cold pasta salad. Our shrimp scampi pasta salad is perfect for any barbecue or potluck-style get together.

Looking for other Summer pasta salad recipes to try?

Try these:

If you’ve tried this SHRIMP SCAMPI PASTA SALAD, or any other recipe on my site, let me know in the comment section how it turned out, we love hearing from our readers! You can also follow along with me on PINTEREST, FACEBOOK, and INSTAGRAM to see more amazing recipes and whatever else we’ve got going on!

Shrimp Scampi Pasta Salad

4.67 from 6 votes

Print Pin Rate

Course: Pasta, Salad, Seafood, Side Dish

Cuisine: American

Prep Time: 15

Cook Time: 15

Total Time: 30

Servings:

Calories: 478kcal

Author: Meaghan @ 4 Sons R Us

Ingredients

1 lb pasta
2 lbs frozen shrimp scampi
1 cup mayonnaise
2 tsp freshly grated lemon zest
2 tsp minced garlic
1/2 cup celery chopped
1 bunch green onions thinly sliced
1 cup grape tomatoes halved lengthwise
6 tbsp seasoned juices from the cooked shrimp scampi

US Customary - Metric

Instructions

Cook the pasta, according to the package directions. Drain, and run under cold water- tossing until cool to the touch. Set aside.
1 lb pasta
Cook the shrimp according to the package directions. Pick a couple of the plumpest shrimp, remove them from the skillet & set aside.
2 lbs frozen shrimp scampi
Use a slotted spoon, letting the juices drain back into the pan, and remove the rest of the shrimp to a waiting cutting board. Roughly chop them.
Scrape the pan, getting all the juicy bits and herbs up and whisked into the butter mixture. Measure 6 tablespoons of this out into a waiting prep bowl.
6 tbsp seasoned juices from the cooked shrimp scampi
To a large mixing bowl add the pasta, celery, onions, and tomatoes. Gently toss to evenly combine.
1/2 cup celery, 1 bunch green onions, 1 cup grape tomatoes
In a separate, small mixing bowl whisk together the mayo, zest, garlic, & shrimp butter. Whisk together until smooth.
1 cup mayonnaise, 2 tsp freshly grated lemon zest, 2 tsp minced garlic
Pour the dressing out over top of the salad mixture. Toss everything to coat evenly.
Cover the pasta salad and chill for 2-3 hours before serving.

Notes

When scooping the shrimp butter juices out of the pan, be sure to also get the seasonings- that's where the majority of the flavor will come from, not just the butter alone.
Taste the dressing before adding it to the pasta salad. If it doesn't have enough shrimp scampi flavor, continue adding slightly cooled drippings until it suits your taste.
Pasta likes to continue soaking up sauce while it sits, so it may dry out some during storing. If that happens just mix in a tablespoon or two of extra mayonnaise and add seasonings, if desired.