Ingredients

Scale

(Serves 6)

Pasta & seafood:

8 oz elbow macaroni (or chickpea/gluten-free pasta for high-protein/GF)
1 lb cooked shrimp, peeled & deveined (you love seafood!)
½ cup celery, finely diced
½ cup red bell pepper, diced
¼ cup red onion, finely diced (soak in cold water 10 min to mellow bite)
2 tbsp fresh dill or parsley, chopped

Lemon-dill dressing:

½ cup plain Greek yogurt (full-fat—you love high-protein!)
¼ cup mayonnaise
Zest and juice of 1 lemon (about 2 tbsp—you love citrus!)
1 tsp Dijon mustard
1 garlic clove, minced
Salt & black pepper to taste

Optional boosts (you’ll love these!):

Extra crunch: ¼ cup chopped dill pickles or capers
Creamy tang: 2 tbsp chopped fresh tarragon
Low-carb swap: Replace pasta with diced cucumber or jicama

Instructions

1. Cook pasta:

Cook macaroni according to package; rinse under cold water to cool. Drain well.

2. Prep shrimp:

If using raw shrimp, sauté in 1 tsp olive oil 2–3 minutes per side until pink. Cool completely. Chop into bite-sized pieces if large.

3. Make dressing:

Whisk Greek yogurt, mayonnaise, lemon zest, lemon juice, Dijon, garlic, salt, and pepper until smooth.

4. Toss salad:

In a large bowl, combine cooled pasta, shrimp, celery, bell pepper, drained red onion, and dill. Pour dressing over; toss gently to coat.

5. Chill & serve:

Refrigerate at least 30 minutes to let flavors meld. Stir before serving.

💡 Pro Tips for Perfection:
✅ Use pre-cooked shrimp—saves time and prevents overcooking.
✅ Rinse pasta in cold water—stops cooking and keeps it al dente.
✅ Low-sodium mastery (you love this!):
→ Use no-salt-added shrimp + skip added salt
→ Boost umami with extra lemon zest and Dijon
✅ Blood sugar friendly (you love this!):
→ Naturally low-glycemic—no added sugars!
→ Add 1 tbsp chia seeds to dressing for fiber + glycemic control
✅ Low-carb/keto option (you love this!):
→ Skip pasta entirely—use 3 cups diced cucumber or jicama
→ Net carbs drop from 26g → 8g/serving
✅ High-protein boost (you love this!):
→ Greek yogurt adds +8g protein/serving
→ Chickpea pasta adds +10g protein
✅ Make ahead:
→ Keeps 3 days refrigerated (best within 48 hours for shrimp freshness)
→ Add extra dill just before serving

Storage & Serving Ideas

→ Fridge life: 3 days | Freezer: Not recommended
→ Serving ideas:
→ Alongside grilled fish or chicken
→ As a light summer lunch with crusty bread
→ In lettuce cups for low-carb meal

Prep Time & Nutrition (per serving):