Crab Salad with celery and mayonnaise is a delicious and inexpensive delicious way to enjoy the classic Seafood Salad we all grew up with.
The flavor and childhood memories you have from being a kid are always so wonderful, I have always had nostalgic reactions to food I used to enjoy as a kid. That is why I tracked down the recipe for Pioneer Take-Out Fried Chicken. It was the ultimate in my childhood food memories.
How do you make imitation crab salad? With a mixture of celery, mayonnaise, paprika, dill and imitation crab meat.
I know it sounds a bit odd to mix seafood and mayonnaise but it is a classic preparation you find in tuna salad, on lobster rolls and even chicken salad. Protein and mayonnaise are fast friends in these salads. 
What kind of crab am I using in this crab salad recipe? I am using imitation crab meat, sometimes referred to as krab or krab meat. Don’t think that even though it isn’t actual crab meat that this isn’t still actual seafood. This is actually why many people refer to the salad as Seafood Salad.
Imitation Crab Salad (krab) is actually made with Surimi, a whitefish that is ground them binded with a starch to resemble a crab leg. Huffington Post wrote a great post about what exactly imitation crab (krab) is. I will say, nutritionally you’re better served purchasing actual crab meat, but for the purposes of this classic seafood salad, this is the ingredients you will find when you go to your grocer’s seafood counter.
I actually enjoyed making this recipe so much I made it into a crab salad sandwich to enjoy. My husband ate it on top of a bed of lettuce and added cherry tomatoes. However you find yourself enjoying the recipe, if you had it as a kid this will take you back to those memories. I do highly recommend the crab salad sandwich though, it was delicious!
Ways to enjoy this Crab Salad (Seafood Salad):
- Add it to a hoagie roll (see above), toast the roll, add lettuce then pile high with the salad.
- Add it to 1 pound of cooled shaped pasta for a Seafood Pasta Salad, just double the ingredients outside of the crab meat to flavor the pasta as well
- Add it to a cored out vine ripe tomato for a low carb presentation.
Looking for more summer salads?
- Italian Antipasto Pasta Salad
- Easy Greek Pasta Salad
- Mexican Avocado BLT Pasta Salad
- 10 Minute Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad
Now where is my Sony Walkman…
Tools Used in the making of this Crab Salad:
Mayonnaise: I’ve tried a number of different brands, this one is the most spot on flavor.
Spice Rack: I use this spice rack and fill up the bottles with freshly purchased spices. It’s basically one of the most beautiful things in my kitchen and when you’re working with a large quantity of spices, not having to hunt and peck through your cupboards makes everything go at warp speed.
Crab Salad (Seafood Salad)
Ingredients
- 1 pound imitation crab krab meat
- 1 shallot minced (you can use red onion if you need)
- 1/2 cup mayonnaise
- 1/2 cup celery minced
- 1/2 teaspoon paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon dill
- 1/4 teaspoon Kosher salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
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In a large bowl add all the ingredients together gently, stirring until well coated.
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Refrigerate for an hour before serving.
Great recipe! I added Old Bay seasoning, instead of paprika, and served it as lettuce wraps. Thank you – it was a great success!
Haven’t tried it yet. But sounds like b good in my own way. Thanks
Thank you, this is fantastic! I omited the paprika because I found the Spanish paprika overpowering to the sweet, delicate flavor of the truly superb flake Kroger krab I had. For a lazy version, powdered onion is good too. I’m going to tweak this slightly for sushi burritos, but this recipe is superb, I never would’ve thought to add dill. Thank you!!
Can this be baked on an english muffin with cheese in the oven? Wasn’t sure with using the mayo.
Yes as long as it’s not overheated, you’ll be fine.
Awesome! I used red onion and added some cucumber. Delicious!
This is one awesome recipe! Great way to get more fish into our diets. Super simple. Made it just as the recipe specified and I wouldn’t change a thing! Thanks!
Added 1/2 teaspoon dill & a few sprinkles of parsley. ??
oops–guess my last comment got deleted. lol
something to try–and i use this in all my protein-and-mayo salads–is some old bay seasoning.
i use it in chicken salad, tuna salad, and, now, “krab” salad.
great recipe, Sabrina. thanks for posting it. as i said before, it did take me back,,,
wow. making surimi salad, while having a ONE HUNDRED AND SEVENTY NINE DOLLAR SPICE RACK?? wow again…
but, yea. i, for one, cannot afford real crab right now.
this really did bring me back in time.
I just made this! Really good-thank you for sharing!
Love this recipe. The closest I’ve gotten to ukrops. The paprika did turn the salad red by next day
My first time making crab salad, and it turned out fabulous. Sooo Yummy.
What are your thoughts on using Miracle Whip instead of Mayonnaise?
It’ll adjust the flavor a bit but you can use it.
Where are all the carbs from??
Imitation crab and from the mayo.
Yesterday was the first time I made crab salad ! I made it in the morning because I knew I was going to be home late. The flavors had all day to marry. So I got home served it with ? cottage cheese and a lettuce salad ! It was awesome ! Family loved it ! Thank You for the recipe ! I shared it on FB !! 5 star all day !!!
Thanks, Diane. I’m so happy you loved it enough to give it a 5 star rating.
Even better with real lump blue crab meat. A real winner.
So far just reading your recipes makes me want to try several. I look forward to cooking with you.
Thanks, Gail.
Interesting. I’ve been buying it from the seafood department at my grocery store for years. I’ve never heard of it in a sandwich before. We’ve always used it as a side dish, like potato salad.
DELISH! & Easy to prep!
So I didn’t have dill (and that’s ok) and I didn’t have shallots and used a regular yellow onion instead. Followed the rest as instructed and it was pretty darn good! Totally better (and more fresh) then the deli!
Thanks!
So glad you enjoyed it!! Thanks for the 5 stars.
I am wondering what the difference is in using imitation crab meat to real lump crab meat is? Is there a difference in how the recipe will turn out?
You can make this recipe with either. Enjoy!
So so so good! We put it on a toasted Italian sub and topped it with tomatoes and avocado!
Very good. I used hot Hungarian paprika and it added just a hint of spice. I also used green onion instead of shallot.
Highly recommend
This was fantastic. We found it to be even better than deli/store bought. Better than any crab/seafood salad we have ever had before. Thank you so much. I had been agonizing about what to do with the package of crab I’d impulsively bought that was sitting in the back of our fridge for weeks. I served it on grilled hamburger buns. Can’t wait for things to go back to normal as these would be nice served as an alternative to dogs and burgers at a grill out.
Is there a recipe for replacing the mayo with an olive oil and vinegar
Olive oil gets thick in the fridge, if you want a high quality mayo, use avocado oil in your recipie
Easy to prepare and full of flavor. We loved it!
I am have it for supper tonight {5/20 /2020}you are the only told how much for each item thank you
Delicious and easy. This is the closest I have come to the flavor profile I am looking for and I think the only issue was I didn’t have enough celery so I skimped on it.
Hi there,
What mayo do you recommend? I don’t seem to see it in the recipe, but you do say what you use “is the best”…would love to know what it is!
Sorry, your comment got stuck in my spam filter. I prefer Best Food. Enjoy!
Have made this for years
I made up my own using imatation crab, mayo, celery, yellow onions, lightly cooked broccoli so it still has a good crunch to it, tomato’s and a couple dashes of lemon juice and salt! Amazing to me since I couldn’t find anything close to the kind IGA in Sabina (OH) had
Very good! I love the seafood salad that we buy from Shoprite. I tried making it at home previously and not as good. Used your recipe and took a taste test and it is almost exactly like the one from the store. I Think instead of using onions and old bay seasoning that i have used in the past, dill and shallots make the difference from just edible to ” i can’t wait to have another sandwich of this stuff”! . Thanks and i plan on having this for lunch multiple times next week at work! <3
YUM!! With or without the shallot/onion, it’s delightful. Try stuffing half an avocado with this mixture…it’s an even creamier way to eat this salad.
A food store chain named Shoprite (I’m in NJ) makes a wonderful seafood salad, as many times as i have tried to duplicate it it doesn’t come close, my wife makes it better then i do but always seems to be missing something. Hoping this will be the recipe i have been searching for, thanks in advance!
Fingers crossed!
Just made it! Fantastic!!! Thank you ooooh so much! XOXOXO
Do u use just ready to eat crab meat in container at the store, long green onions and can u add Steamed scallions!
Yes 🙂
my only suggesting to this is adding chopped peeled cucumber and more mayo. i actually use the cucumber instead of celery so both the kids and adults can eat it. kids tend to find celery quite demonic 🙂
i like the paprika addition, will try that next time. thx!
Thanks for the suggestions!
Is this the same salad that we can buy in a container at Top’s? I am trying to include more fish dishes for lunch and supper in my diet and I assumed that this wasn’t too bad a choice, but I don’t know what your serving size is. 310 calories for one cup? 4oz? Big difference and I am trying to keep track.
I’m not sure what the Top’s container size you are referring to, but a serving is about a 1/2 a cup.
Used all ingredients augmenting (including) with green onion, celery seed, and Old Bay Seasoning to taste; it turned out very well.
Glad to hear that!
Sounds great, could you use canned crab?
I wouldn’t recommend. This salad uses imitation crab and it’s not going to have a good consistency with crab from a can
I made this for a recent potluck and it got devoured by guests. Used about two tablespoons of fresh chopped dill, 1 and 1/2 lbs of imitation crab, a cup of shredded carrot, several spritzes of lemon juice, and farfalle pasta.
Delicious! I’m glad it was such a hit!!
Thank you for the wonderful recipe, I’ll definitely make it again!
So glad you enjoyed it!
Sabrina: Have you ever tried “Duke’s Mayonaise”? If so, what did you think of it? I know they have it down south, and I hear it’s an excellent mayo, so I’m wondering if it’s worth trying a jar from Amazon. BTW, last night I increased all of the ingredients, and made this into a Pasta & Crab Salad. I used seashell pasta, and also added a few drops of fresh lemon juice. OMG, was it ever delicious!
Yes and I LOVE it!!
Angela,
I love the seashell pasta idea! I don’t have that though, do you think I could use medium shells? Thanks !
I am from the mid atlantic area. We have many house brands such as Kroger’s. We also have Duke’s, Hellman’s, Krafts, JFG, and others.
I’ve tried just about all of them. Dukes and Hellman’s are the top two. Hellman’s has an off putting taste due to spice or spices added. For me, Duke’s is the Best. It only contains the three original ingredients when it was first created in the 1890’s. This is based on taste, not cultural bias
I was never a fan of crab salad until I had some recently so I decided to make my own. This recipe is very easy and it tastes great. The only reason I’m giving 4 stars is because the shallot has a really strong bitter taste and that kinda messed it up for me. Idk if it’s supposed to taste like that of not. I’ve never used them. Next time I’ll try using the red onion. Other than that, like I said it tastes great.
A country club I belonged to years ago served this over an English muffin with topped with melted Swiss cheese. It was called “Lion’s Gate” and it was one of my favorites!
Very good
Doubled the spices, added elbow pasta. A shredded carrot for color. Delicious filling meal!
Love Crab salad.
Absolutely love this recipe. I call it krab salad, but have my own variation that I call seafood salad I simply take the original krab salad and add some salad shrimp. It is incredibly delicious anyway you make it with or without the shrimp and or the pasta..
Can real crab be used ?
Yes 🙂
Weird question, has anyone tried this with Greek yogurt? Or does that sound gross? Lol
I would think you could, it would have a little more tang, but if you’ve never made it and don’t know what it’s supposed to taste like, I would think it would be fine.
Super easy. Made tonight and will definitely make it again. Served in pita pocket bread.
I added lemon juice and sarachi sauce. Yummy!
Yum!!
Quick question… Can I use dried dill for the 1/2 tsp or is that the measurement if using fresh?
This measurement is for dried. 🙂
Do you use dill seed or dill weed?
Dill Weed 🙂
I love eating it on a hoagie bun with sweet pickles! Yum! I just might have to try this recipe! ??
Seriously, this couldn’t be any better!
This sounds delicious, but I know the mayo is crucial to a great taste, but not too sweet. What brand do you recommend?
I prefer Best Foods. 🙂
Or it’s Hellman’s east of you.
Aldi’s Mayo IS Hellman’s. At least it tastes, spreads and looks identical to it. Can’t go wrong.
Is there a sub for dill
You could use rosemary instead or simply omit it all together. Enjoy!
Hellmann’s before any other!!!!!
Hellmann’s and Best Foods are one in the same. Depends on where you live.
This recipe has become a staple in our house. It is absolutely delicious! I usually fill a 1/2 avocado with the salad and eat it that way. So good!
That sounds amazing!
I just had my last Chemo Treatment yesterday and food looses it’s actual taste. After reading the reviews on your crab seafood salad, I went to the store to buy the crab meat and made the salad. I really missed having crab subs at Subway. Even with my taste nott being true, I really, really enjoyed this for my dinner tonight. I can’t wait for my taste buds too back to normal and I will make it again and again. So So good.
However, I toasted the bun with a bit of garlic salt, like in a review. I would not suggest doing this. Overly salty. Stay with a plain crusty bun, like a hoagie sandwich.
Thank you Sabrina. Your recipes are awesome. I gave you 5 stars, and it will probably be a 7 when I can truly taste it’s goodness eventually. Thank you.
Linda, from Windsor, Ontario, Canada.
Happy to hear that was your last treatment! Good luck on your journey!
I just made this earlier I added a bit of vine tomatoes and diced avocado… omg so delish!!! Thank you dor this!
This was really good! A hit for my kids too and under 5 that says a lot. I did add a bit more celery and used a sweet onion instead of a shallot. I also added a splash of lemon juice for some lightness. Will definitely make again!
So glad you all enjoyed it! I know how hard it is to please little ones at times. Thanks for coming back to let me know.
I had a little imitation crab meat left in the fridge and wanted to do something with it. So, I just gave this delicious recipe a try. It was really good!
So glad you enjoyed it, Angie!
I made this but tweaked as follows: used old bay seasoning, white onions and about two teaspoons of sugar. I did not have dill or even a substitute. Sugar was needed because the white onion was stronger than expected. It was a bit too powerful. Old bay is a seafood seasoning that I use almost anytime I have seafood and it was great in this salad. It came out delicious!
In the future, if you want to tame the taste of raw onions. Slice them as desired and then place them in a container and cover with very cold water. Let it soak for 10 mins. Best trick I’ve ever learned!
You!you!you! Makes teh most belicious krabkrab thingy eva! Dis recipe is illgal in Permabland, China
We love seafood salad. Well I had bought it at the store and decided I could make it so I did !! It turned out great ! I use Dukes mayo and sea salt as well. It doesn’t last long especially on a Ritz !
So glad you decided to make your own! Thanks for the 5 star rating, Gordon!
I’m going to try it
Love this recipe, ty!
How much red onion?
About 1/3 of a red onion.
This recipe is very easy, and the crab salad is delicious! Will definitely make this again!!!
Thanks for dropping by to let me know! I’m so glad you enjoyed it!
Made this at my sister’s house and she didn’t have paprika but I substituted cayenne pepper (not quite 1/2 tsp though), and it was DELICIOUS! We couldn’t wait a whole hour to eat it, will definitely make again!!!
you didn’t say what type of paprika ???
Just regular paprika 🙂
Oh, girl 🙂 You got the most Pinnable / Facebook / Twitter posting recipes around! I know every time I come here, I’ll be around for a few minutes at least…. blessings & beautiful food!
You’re so sweet, Robin. Thank you so much for the kind words!
Delicious recipe, husband loved it as do I.
I’m so glad you guys enjoyed it! Thanks for coming back to let me know!
Looks delish!
I add a tablespoon of Thousand Island dressing and two chopped hard boiled eggs.
I doubled it and used 1 pound krab and 1 pound salad shrimp. (The really little ones). I also added a few dashes of Louisiana hit sauce. Not enough for heat, but enough to give e it a little zing. A little fresh chopped parsley at the end, too.
We make sandwiches, eat it on crackers, on salad greens and sometimes, just off the fork!!
Thanks for the 5 stars Darin!
Thank you for a delicious recipe with imitation crab from someone who is allergic to shellfish!
So glad you enjoyed it Susan!
Would refrigerating the salad overnight ruin taste or texture?
Nope, just keep it in a sealed container and you’ll be fine.
This may sound like a strange question, but is there a reason you use imitation crab vs. real crab meat? I’d like to make this salad, as it looks delish! However, I prefer real crab meat. Will it be as good as your salad looks?
Everyone seems to use imitation crab so that’s why I used it. If you prefer real crab meat, feel free to use that instead. Enjoy!
The main reason for using imitation crab is it’s dirt cheap compared to the price of real crab! if I didn’t make it out of imitation I wouldn’t be able to make it at all!
It was really good. I did add chopped black olives and a little co-Jack cheese because I used to buy some at a grocery that contained those two items. I buttered the buns, sprinkled a little garlic powder toasted them and added the lettuce, so good. Tried it on a Ritz cracker, too, wry tasty!
I made this and took it to a pool party. It was a hit! I’m definitely making it again!
I mix mayo & sour cream together & add yellow, green, & red bell peppers. Delicious.
It was delicious thanks for the recipe my daughter & niece loved it?
Very tasty, I am sure it will be better after it’s in the fridge for an hour or two.
I made it but reduced the amount of ingredients, for two people, mostly I guessed.
I don’t know how you could go wrong with these ingredients.
Chris, this keeps well covered in the fridge.
I use sour cream instead of mayonnaise and it stays fresh for a week. Delicious!
So I do a lot of private chefing, and this is the recipe I use. You can do a lot of different things with it to make it your own. I do use 1/2 mayo and 1/2 Miracle Whip, and sometimes I sub lobster for some of the crab. I also use a can of drained sliced black olives. But the seasonings are the same every time, and the response it “This is the best crab salad I’ve ever tasted.” Every time!
Thanks for dropping by to let me know!
Made this today. So simple and great on Town House crackers!
Thanks for coming back and letting me know how much you enjoyed it!
Going to try it first thing tmr I love crab salad and like most brings back memories.
This is a GREAT recipe. Loved it!
Thanks Colleen!
I have made my crab salad adding mayo, green onions, minced celery, seasoning , cooked pasta,olives, frozen peas,and cheese, adding 1-2 lbs crab,depending on the croud
everytime there is a reunion I am asked to bring the Crab salad
I will have to try this as well!
going to try this…sounds great…love me some krab salad
I hope you enjoy it, Gary!
Thank you for the great recipe and it was very easy to make
So glad you enjoyed it, Brenda!
I am a picky eater so I left out the full and paprika. I did add some salad shrimp, I used hellmans mayo with some old bay to taste and a little red oinions. Fantastic!
Thanks for dropping by to let me know! I’m so glad you enjoyed it!
I agree with you if you are doing it from scratch using real ingredients. You’re making essential macros by eating it. (protein from the imitation crab and shrimp, fat from the mayonnaise and a little from the protein source and carbs from the celery and bread/crackers whatever your preference)
I was just looking around online at different recipes to see different ones that I can try.
This is very similar to my recipe except I also add a lot of celery seed.
I too grew up on those seafood subs from Subway and now my daughter grows up with the homemade version. Lol
So glad you found me then! I look forward to seeing you around the site!
Haven’t let it chill yet, but tasting after mixing- it was already a winner in my book! Thanks for the recipe for my craving!!
You’re welcome!
I made this seafood salad yesterday! I don’t care for mayo or Miracle Whip, so I mixed room temp cream cheese with sour cream until it was smooth and light weight. Hubby said I better keep the recipe – it’s the best seafood salad he’s had!
That sounds like a winner to me, Carol! Thank you so much for the 5 stars and also for the substitution recommendation that worked perfectly for you guys.
Most of the time I make mine with sour cream instead of mayonnaise.
It’s tasty!
Excellent recipe – I’d been longing for seafood sub and missing them because our local restaurants have stopped selling them. When I made your recipe, I wanted a little more zip and fewer calories so I used Kraft Miracle Whip instead of mayonnaise and included 2 tsp chopped garlic chives and 4 tsp sweet pickle relish. Served it on a hoagie with sliced cucumber and tomato for dinner. Then added 1 cup cooked brown rice left over from another meal and served on a bed of lettuce, cubed cucumber, cherry tomatoes and sliced yellow and orange sweet pepper for lunch the next day. I’ll definitely be repeating this with pasta or rice when I have some on hand.
That sounds delicious! Thank you for taking the time to come back and let me know how much you enjoyed it!
Love that you were able to customize on the fly! Thanks for letting me know how much you enjoyed it!
Do you use dried or fresh dill. The difference would be significant, so I would think you’d have clarified.
I used dried dill in this recipe. If I’m ever using fresh, I state that in the ingredient list since most people use dried herbs more often than fresh. Glad to clear up any confusion for you.
Just a little confused…the recipe yields 8 servings, but each serving is 1/4 of the recipe? Trying to be mindful of my calories, but can’t live without a little seafood salad!
My apologies, it was a weird glitch. The recipe is for four servings. I would sub lite mayonnaise to cut calories by 30% percent or so. Almost all the calories are found in the mayonnaise.
This would be a hit at any family function!
Thanks Jessica!
This seafood salad looks amazing. I can’t wait to try it. Thank you for sharing. I pinned and shared this recipe.
Thanks for the Pin, Amy!
Lol, I still have my Walkman! This looks fabulous. Reminds me of childhood summers 🙂
How awesome!
Oh YUM….one of my favorites! I would devour this!
Thanks Cathy!
That looks terrific, my husband would especially love this!
Thanks Kimberly!
Oh this recipe takes me back! I remember ordering this as a child too. I love the way your husband ate his!
Thanks Dorothy! I love how a simple taste of something can bring us back to such wonderful memories!
I love a good seafood salad!
Looks like such a delicious creamy salad!!
Thanks Amanda!
What if you don’t have kosher salt? Do you have to use kosher salt? I don’t use salt very much, so would appreciate your input?
I love the texture of the Kosher salt in this salad but you can use regular salt if you don’t have Kosher or a better substitute would be sea salt. Hope this was helpful!