This extra easy Shrimp Salad Sandwich recipe uses only 6 shrimp salad ingredients plus sandwich fixings. It's bright and flavorful with tender shrimp and Old Bay Seasoning served on a toasted ciabatta roll.
Shrimp salad sandwiches make an excellent Spring or Summer lunch with no cooking required.
Shrimp Salad Sandwiches are best in Spring, Summer, and early Fall when the weather is hot! Shrimp is fantastic on hot days since you can easily purchase them pre-cooked or cook them yourself quickly on the stove.
Simply serve with a side of chips for a picnic or fries at home, or pair these shrimp salad sandwiches with Creamy Avocado Pasta or Greek Tahini Pasta Salad. Add Coconut Date Balls or Chocolate Peanut Butter Balls as a side snack. For dessert, try my Mango Popsicles, Rocky Road S'mores Bites, Baked Strawberry Crumble Pie, or Blueberry Crumble.
For more shrimp recipes, check out my Blackened Shrimp Tacos, Shrimp Stir-Fry, Rice Paper Rolls, Dairy Free Shrimp Scampi, Easy Shrimp Paella, and Tomato Soup with Shrimp (Instant Pot).
For more quick Summer dinners, check out my Five Spice Chicken with Zucchini, Air Fryer Lemon Pepper Wings, Tuscan Chicken Salad, Dairy-Free Pesto, Vegan Pea Pesto Pasta Salad, Creamy Sun-dried Tomato Pasta, and One Pot Tomato and Basil Pasta.
How to make it (with photos)
Use these ingredient notes and step-by-step photos to guide you as you make this amazing shrimp salad sandwich recipe!
Ingredient Notes + Substitutions
You need only 6 ingredients for the Shrimp Salad and a few easy sandwich fixings to make these shrimp salad sandwiches.
Shrimp
It's important to dry cooked shrimp thoroughly to prevent the shrimp salad from getting watery. I like the small pre-cooked salad shrimp best, but they can be a pain to dry completely.
Cocktail shrimp or cooked medium-sized shrimp will also work. If using uncooked shrimp, add a little oil to a fry pan and fry on medium heat until cooked through and opaque with an internal temperature of 145 degrees F.
Old Bay Seasoning
Old Bay Seasoning is really delicious in seafood recipes! As a substitute, you could try a DIY version or similar spice mix, or consider using fresh herbs or a little dijon mustard to taste. Fresh dill and chives are great options to mix in or add as a garnish.
Ciabatta Rolls
Use any bread you like as a substitute! I simply prefer toasted ciabatta. I used Schaer gluten-free ciabatta rolls. For a substitute, these Gluten-Free Sandwich Bread or No Knead Gluten-Free Bread recipes work perfectly.
Hamburger buns, hotdog buns, and even lettuce wraps also work great in a pinch!
More Ingredient Notes
- red onion - Red onion is sweet and has the best flavor for Shrimp Salad. I do not recommend substituting other onion varieties.
- mayonnaise - Full fat mayonnaise is best. You can substitute a vegan mayonnaise for an egg-free option.
- butter lettuce - Any lettuce or leafy green will work as a substitute. I like butter lettuce because the leaves are crisp and green and make a small cup for the Shrimp salad to rest in so it doesn't squish out of the rolls.
- lemon - Lemon juice adds a nice bright flavor and is a crucial ingredient in Shrimp Salad. However, if you add it to the shrimp salad mixture, it often gets too watery. The trick is to squeeze it on at the end.
You also need celery and dried parsley to make this recipe.
See the recipe card for a full list of ingredients with quantities.
Step-by-Step Instructions
Learn how to make shrimp salad sandwiches in just 3 easy steps!
- Dry the shrimp thoroughly: Pat the shrimp dry with paper towels until they are as dry as possible and feel a little tacky to the touch. This will prevent your shrimp salad from getting watery.
- Shrimp Salad: To a medium mixing bowl, add the celery, red onion, old bay seasoning, and dried parsley. Mix thoroughly with a spoon, then add the mayonnaise. Mix thoroughly again. Add the shrimp and gently mix until well combined.
- Assemble the sandwiches: Add a piece of butter lettuce to the bottom of each toasted ciabatta roll. Then evenly distribute the shrimp salad. Squeeze a little lemon juice over each sandwich before adding the top bun.
Expert Tips
These expert tips will keep your shrimp salad sandwiches extra tasty and not a bit watery.
Add lemon juice at at the end.
If you've seen this reminder a couple times in this recipe post it's because it really is important! If you put the lemon juice in the shrimp salad, it can turn watery.
Don't add additional salt.
Most shrimp salad recipes have additional salt. However, this can cause the vegetables to release their water and make the shrimp salad thinner.
Dry the shrimp thoroughly.
No matter what size or shape the shrimp are, it really is important to dry them thoroughly before adding them to the other ingredients. This prevents excess water and will keep the shrimp salad nice and thick.
Recipe FAQs
Here I answered some frequently asked questions about this Shrimp Salad Sandwich recipe. Don't see your question? Leave it in the comments at the end of this post and I'll answer within two business days.
Store leftover shrimp salad in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Store the shrimp salad separately from the other sandwich ingredients, and assemble just before eating.
Cocktail shrimp work great in this recipe. Make sure to remove the tails and pat them dry beforehand.
Yellow onion has a much stronger flavor. I recommend using red onion.
Related shrimp recipes to consider...
Looking for other shrimp recipes like this Shrimp Salad Sandwich recipe? Check these out:
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📖 Recipe
Shrimp Salad Sandwich
Ingredients
Shrimp Salad
- 1 rib celery , diced
- ⅓ cup red onion , roughly chopped
- 1 ½ teaspoons old bay seasoning
- 1 teaspoon dried parsley
- ¼ cup mayonnaise
- 2 cups cooked shrimp , peeled and deveined and rinsed and dried thoroughly. I like the small salad shrimp best, but cocktail shrimp or cooked medium sized shrimp can also work.
Sandwich
- 6 ciabatta rolls , toasted
- 6 pieces crisp butter lettuce
- ½ large lemon , cut into wedges
Instructions
- Dry the shrimp thoroughly: Pat the shrimp dry with paper towels until they are as dry as possible and feel a little tacky to the touch. This will prevent your shrimp salad from getting watery.
- Shrimp Salad: To a medium mixing bowl, add the celery, red onion, old bay seasoning, and dried parsley. Mix thoroughly with a spoon, then add the mayonnaise. Mix thoroughly again. Add the shrimp and gently mix until well combined.
- Assemble the sandwiches: Add a piece of butter lettuce to the bottom of each toasted ciabatta roll. Then evenly distribute the shrimp salad. Squeeze a little lemon juice over each sandwich before adding the top bun.
Jenna says
Easy quick and delicious recipe for shrimp salad sandwiches. I really like the tips to keep it nice and thick. It worked great!