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    Home » Recipes » Appetizer Recipes

    Cocktail Seafood Salad

    Published: Aug 22, 2024 · Modified: May 10, 2025 by Karin and Ken · This post may contain affiliate links. Leave a Comment

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    This cold Seafood Salad is a wonderful option if you want more seafood starter ideas! It takes a few minutes to put together and then the refrigerator does the rest of the work. I’ve made it a handful of times as a standalone dinner with a veggie side dish as well as a shareable appetizer in a BBQ spread. It’s so great during the summer when you don’t feel like cooking.

    Three glass bowls filled with lettuce and seafood cocktail with lemons and some cocktail sauce on the table.

    The flavors of this seafood cocktail are simple yet delicious! It contains real fish and a variety of flavors. I love the cocktail sauce served on top to give it a little zing. It’s the best seafood salad recipe I’ve ever prepared. It's just like my grandma taught me.

    If you like tasty seafood recipes, you will love Seafood Pot Pie and Seafood Baked Potatoes, Creamy Shrimp Pasta Salad or our Sweet Chili Bacon Wrapped Shrimp.

    Why You’ll Love This Seafood Salad Recipe

    • Great for parties: This seafood cocktail recipe is a hit at get-togethers. Everyone loves it!
    • Quick to prepare: It only takes 15 minutes to mix the ingredients of the seafood salad.
    • Bold flavors: With the seasonings and cocktail sauce, this salad has strong and yummy flavors.

    Ingredients

    Here are all of the components to make this salmon, shrimp, and crab cocktail. I used canned seafood because they are more readily available and cost-effective than fresh fish.

    Ingredients to make seafood cocktail on the table before mixing up.
    • Cocktail shrimp: Any size of fully cooked cocktail shrimp is perfect for this recipe. I like small or medium best so they are not much larger than the pieces of salmon and crab.
    • Salmon: Fully drain the can of salmon before adding it to the other ingredients. The red Pacific variety adds a pretty red color but you can use any kind.
    • Crab meat: Ensure that you drain the crab meat as well. I prefer the canned crab that includes the legs for more flavor and texture but any real crab will work great.
    • Veggies: I add chopped celery and green onion for color and texture. I also love the flavor of green onions with the seafood. The lettuce is saved for the end so the salad can be served on top.
    • Spices: I use dried parsley, onion powder, garlic powder, and black pepper. You may also add a pinch of salt if you would like.
    • Cocktail sauce: Most cocktail sauces have a little kick from the horseradish and I love it with shrimp. It’s also tomato-based so it adds some great acid to the salad.
    • Lemon: When serving, I add lemon wedges on the side so if you want a squeeze of lemon, you may add it. I totally recommend it!
    • Fresh parsley: For a splash of color!

    See the recipe card below for exact ingredient amounts, nutritional information, and detailed instructions.

    Variations

    • Seafood pasta salad: Make your favorite pasta and add it to the seafood salad to make a complete meal.
    • Spicy seafood cocktail: Add red pepper flakes or even diced fresh jalapenos for some heat.
    • Tropical seafood salad: Diced pineapple and lime juice are great additions to give this recipe tropical flair.

    How to Make Seafood Salad

    Here are the instructions to make this easy seafood salad recipe. It’s best made ahead and enjoyed the next day for maximum flavor.

    A glass bowl containing three different kinds of seafood.

    Step 1: Drain the seafood. Drain the the salmon and crab meat well and add them to a large bowl. Make sure the shrimp are drained and dried as well. Then, add them to the bowl as well.

    Vegetables and seasonings are added to the bowl of seafood on a table.

    Step 2: Add the veggies and seasoning. Stir in the celery, green onion, parsley, onion powder, garlic powder, and black pepper.

    Seafood cocktail mixed together with a wooden spoon in the bowl.

    Step 3: Cover and chill. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and put it in the refrigerator overnight to chill.

    A spoonful of cocktail sauce on side with the spoon next to the glass of seafood cocktail.

    Step 4: Serve. Add lettuce to the bottom of the serving bowls. Top it with the seafood salad and finish it with cocktail sauce and a lemon wedge. Enjoy!

    ⭐️ Hint: Give the seafood cocktail as much time to chill as possible I highly recommend overnight but at least 4 hours.

    If you love recipes like this, you may also enjoy this Seafood Dip Recipe.

    A glass dish featuring a seafood salad cocktail, garnished with a dollop of red sauce and a sprig of parsley, atop a bed of lettuce leaves.

    Storage Directions 

    • Refrigeration: Store leftovers in an airtight container or a tightly covered bowl for up to 3 days in the refrigerator.
    • Make Ahead of Time: Make this salad 24-48 hours before serving. The longer it stays in the fridge, the more the flavors will marry together.

    Serving Suggestions

    • Some great side dishes to serve with this seafood cocktail are Crock Pot Corn and this Hot Girl Salad.
    • I like enjoying fruit with this recipe. One of my favorites are these Grilled Mangos.
    • Potatoes and veggies are tasty with this dish, too. Try these Red Potatoes and my Asparagus Salad.
    Three glass bowls filled with a fresh seafood cocktail salad garnished with cocktail sauce and a sprig of parsley.

    Recipe Tips

    • Try other seafood: Squid and scallops are great additions to this seafood salad.
    • Use fresh herbs: To make this dish feel extra fresh and of restaurant quality, add fresh herbs such as chopped parsley, dill, or cilantro.
    • Don’t over season the salad: This recipe for seafood salad is meant to be light and fresh. Too many spices will overpower the natural flavor of the fish.

    Recipe FAQs

    Can I use frozen shrimp?

    Yes. Ensure it is thawed completely and that you remove any excess moisture before adding it to the salad. Also, make sure that you pick up fully cooked shrimp.

    Can I use imitation crab meat?

    If that is what you have access to or what your budget allows, it will work in a pinch. For a more authentic flavor, I highly recommend that you use real canned crab when possible.

    Can I freeze the leftovers?

    I do not recommend freezing this salad. It doesn’t thaw well because it becomes very watery. It’s best made fresh!

    A clear glass is filled with a seafood salad featuring shredded crab meat, lettuce, and a tomato slice, garnished with lemon slices and parsley.

    Video

    YouTube video

    More Delicious Seafood Appetizers

    Do you like seafood? Here are some more appetizer recipes you may also like to try!

    • A bowl of creamy shrimp pasta salad on the table with a fork and fresh ingredients to the side of the bowl.
      Creamy Shrimp Pasta Salad
    • Air fryer salmon bites on the table in a bowl with rice and lemon.
      Air Fryer Salmon Bites
    • Red Lobster Lobster Pizza Copycat
    • Stacked crab cakes on. plate, served with lemon wedges.
      Smoked Crab Cakes

    Ready to get cooking? Remember that you can print this recipe if you would like.

    A glass bowl of seafood salad garnished with a parsley leaf and dollop of red sauce on top, served on a bed of fresh lettuce.

    Cocktail Seafood Salad

    Karin and Ken
    This Seafood Salad is a fresh and cold seafood appetizer that just screams summer! It has three different kinds of fish and plenty of veggies and spices.
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 15 minutes mins
    Chill Time 8 hours hrs
    Total Time 8 hours hrs 15 minutes mins
    Course Appetizer
    Cuisine American
    Servings 3
    Calories 129 kcal

    Equipment

    • Measuring cups and spoons
    • can opener
    • Sharp knife
    • cutting board
    • mixing bowl
    • Fork
    • 3 Bowls

    Ingredients
      

    • 1 can (3.7 oz) small or medium sized cocktail shrimp drained and rinsed
    • 1 can (7.5 oz) salmon drained
    • 1 can (4.2 oz) crab meat   drained
    • 1 medium stalk celery diced
    • 2 stalks green onion green part only, diced
    • 3 leaves lettuce whole or shredded
    • ½ teaspoon dried parsley flakes
    • ¼ teaspoon onion powder
    • ⅛ teaspoon garlic powder
    • ⅛ teaspoon pepper
    • ¼-1/3 cup cocktail sauce 1-2 tablespoons per serving
    • 3 lemon wedges 1 per serving, if desired
    • 3 sprigs fresh curly parsley
    Get Recipe Ingredients

    Instructions
     

    • Gently combine drained canned salmon (use a quality brand that has a nice color) well-drained crab meat  (preferably with legs and other good parts of the crab) and drained small or medium sized cocktail shrimp in a bowl.
    • Add finely diced celery, chopped green onion (green part only) and dried parsley flakes, onion powder, garlic powder (optional) and pepper.
    • Cover and set in fridge overnight to chill or at least 4 hours, to allow flavors to blend together.
    • Serve in 3 small dessert size bowls.  Lay a lettuce leaf (or shredded lettuce) on the bottom of each dish.
    • Top with the seafood.  Add 1-2 tablespoons of seafood cocktail sauce on top. Garnish each with a sprig of fresh curly parsley and serve with lemon wedges.

    Video

    Notes

    • Try other seafood: Squid and scallops are great additions to this seafood salad.
    • Use fresh herbs: To make this dish feel extra fresh and of restaurant quality, add fresh herbs such as chopped parsley, dill, or cilantro.
    • Don’t over season the salad: This recipe for seafood salad is meant to be light and fresh. Too many spices will overpower the natural flavor of the fish.
    •  
    •  

    Nutrition

    Calories: 129kcalCarbohydrates: 0.003gProtein: 21gFat: 5gSaturated Fat: 1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 2gMonounsaturated Fat: 1gTrans Fat: 0.01gCholesterol: 78mgSodium: 266mgPotassium: 435mgVitamin A: 28IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 46mgIron: 1mg
    Keyword Seafood Cocktail, seafood salad
    Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

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    We have been attached at the heart and hip since the first day we met, and we love to create new dishes to keep things interesting. Variety is definitely the spice of life!

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