Easy Crab Pasta Salad with Dill Dressing
Chilled pasta salad combining tender crab meat with diced bell peppers and green onions in a tangy sour cream and mayonnaise dressing. Fresh dill and honey mustard add brightness. Make ahead for parties or light meals.
Ingredients
- ½ cup sour cream
- ½ cup mayonnaise
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice, fresh or bottled
- 1 tablespoon honey mustardDijon mustard1:1condiment
sharper flavor
- 1 tablespoon dill, minced, fresh
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- 12 ounces medium shell pasta
- 1 pound crab meat, chopped, real or imitationshrimp1:1protein
similar texture and flavor
- ½ cup red bell pepper, diced
- ½ cup green bell pepper, diced
- ½ cup green onions, chopped
Instructions
- 1
Combine sour cream, mayonnaise, lemon juice, honey mustard, dill, salt, and black pepper in a small bowl.
- 2
Refrigerate the dressing until ready to use.
- 3
Cook the pasta shells according to package directions, drain well, rinse with cold water, and drain again.
- 4
Transfer pasta to a large bowl and add the crab meat, bell peppers, green onions, and dressing.
- 5
Mix well, cover, and refrigerate for at least thirty minutes before serving.
Tips
Use fresh crab meat for best flavor, but imitation works well and is more budget-friendly.
Refrigerate for at least thirty minutes to allow flavors to meld and the salad to chill thoroughly.
Do not skip rinsing the pasta with cold water to stop the cooking process and prevent mushiness.
Good to Know
Cover and refrigerate up to three days. Dressing may separate; stir before serving.
Prepare the dressing up to two days ahead. Cook pasta and assemble up to one day in advance.
Serve chilled. Garnish with additional fresh dill or lemon wedges if desired.
Common Mistakes
Do not skip the cold water rinse after cooking pasta to avoid a gummy salad.
Do not mix the dressing in too early; combine just before serving or a few hours ahead to avoid overly wet salad.
Do not use warm pasta; let it cool completely to avoid wilting vegetables and breaking down crab meat.