Not to be confused with the leafy variety of salad - this Cold Shrimp Salad on Mini Croissants is one of my favorite easy lunches! We're going to take plump, seasoned and toss it in a mayo-based dressing. It's a restaurant-style meal that you can get right at home for a fraction of the cost.
If you've ever had seafood salad, this is very similar to that - but only uses shrimp as our main ingredient. It's a high-protein lunch option on its own; adding the salad to mini croissants with some crunchy Romaine and avocado really elevates the taste and presentation. My husband said it reminded him of a $25 plate you get at Pier 39 in San Francisco... that's exactly the luxurious lunch feel I was going for!
The Coined Breakdown
- Total Cost per serving (2 sandwiches): $3.08
- Total Cost (8 sandwiches): $12.31
- Those Other Guys: $16.99 per serving
Ingredients
- Large Shrimp - Some people use pre-cooked salad shrimp, but I recommend grabbing large shrimp and cooking from raw for the best texture and flavor.
- Mayonnaise - Most seafood salads, tuna salads, and chicken salads have a base of mayonnaise. You can make homemade mayo in just a few minutes, or use a favorite store-bought brand.
- Old Bay Seasoning - Old Bay is a quintessential seasoning for seafood. We're going to season our water with it to make a sort of "broth" to cook the shrimp in. Plus, we a add some more Old Bay to the shrimp salad dressing for flavor.
- Celery - A bit of fresh, crunchy celery is key to a great shrimp salad! Because we refrigerate the shrimp salad before serving, it tones down a lot of the "bite" that celery normally has. Don't skip this ingredient!
- Miniature Croissants - You really can serve this on your favorite thick bread - sourdough or brioche are some great options. However, croissants are my vessel of choice. They just make you feel so sophisticated! I use mini croissants to balance out the bread and filling.
Variations and Substitutions
Other Seafood Options: You can use this same recipe with imitation crab, real crabmeat, fresh lobster chunks, or even calamari!
Veggies: For even more crunch, add in freshly chopped red onion or bell peppers.
How to Make Creamy, Shrimp Seafood Salad
Step 1: Boil your shrimp just until pink, then drain and add it to an ice bath to cool down. Drain, chop them up, and set aside.
Meanwhile, add your dressing ingredients to a bowl. It's a simple mix of mayonnaise, dijon mustard, chopped celery, and Old Bay seasoning.
Step 2: Toss your shrimp in the dressing until it's completely combined.
Cover the bowl, and marinate in the refrigerator for about an hour for best results.
Serve on mini croissants with fresh lettuce, avocado, or even tomatoes.
Recipe Pro Tip
- Cook your shrimp from raw. For the best texture and flavor, use raw shrimp that you cook yourself instead of buying the pre-cooked shrimp. Those tend to be rubbery and not that tasty on their own!
Recipe FAQs
Cold Shrimp Salad can be served in tons of different ways!
- With crackers
- On top of sliced cucumbers
- Inside a lettuce cup; Try butter lettuce or Romaine
- On other types of bread like sourdough or focaccia
- Inside an avocado half
- With pasta; Make it more like a pasta salad
Yes. Because of the mayonnaise-based dressing, this salad must be kept and served cold.
For big parties or barbecues, I recommend placing the serving bowl on ice.
This salad will keep in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
Other Great Sandwich/Wrap Ideas You'll Love!
If you tried this Cold Shrimp Salad on Croissants Recipe, or any other recipe on my website, please leave a star rating and let me know how it went in the comments below. I love hearing from you! Thanks for visiting!
Easy Cold Shrimp Salad on Croissants
Equipment
- Large Pot
- Strainer
- Mixing Bowl with lid
- Chef's Knife
Ingredients
Shrimp Salad Sandwiches
- 1 pound large shrimp
- ½ tablespoon Old Bay seasoning
- 1 stalk celery
- ½ cup mayonnaise
- 1 teaspoon dijon mustard
- 1 teaspoon Old Bay seasoning
- 8 count mini croissants
Topping Ideas
- romaine lettuce leaves
- avocado slices
Instructions
- In a large pot, add the shrimp and ½ tbsp. of Old Bay seasoning. Let the water get to a boil.1 pound large shrimp, ½ tablespoon Old Bay seasoning
- Boil your shrimp for no more than 5 minutes, until they are pink and plump.
- Drain the hot water and add ice to the shrimp to cool it down. Then, drain the cold water and place the shrimp in the refrigerator while you prep the remaining ingredients.
- Dice the stalk of celery into small pieces.1 stalk celery
- Add the cooled shrimp, celery, mayo, dijon mustard, and 1 tsp. of Old Bay seasoning to a bowl. Stir until fully mixed and let it marinate in the refrigerator for about an hour.½ cup mayonnaise, 1 teaspoon dijon mustard, 1 teaspoon Old Bay seasoning
- Serve the shrimp salad on toasted mini croissants. I like to add a lettuce leaf and avocado to the sandwiches as well. Enjoy!8 count mini croissants, romaine lettuce leaves, avocado slices
Anonymous says
Love these sandwiches! My husband eats on croissants; I do lettuce wraps for low carb. The recipe is easy to scale up for more.
Shani H. says
Thank you for leaving a great review!