how much shrimp salad per person

How Much Shrimp Salad Per Person? A Helpful Guide to Perfect Portions

Determining how much shrimp salad to make per person can be tricky. You want to prepare enough so that everyone gets a satisfying portion, but not so much that you end up with loads of leftovers.

As a food blogger and home cook, I’ve made my fair share of shrimp salad over the years. Through trial and error, I’ve landed on some guidelines for how much shrimp salad per serving you should plan on.

In this article, I’ll share my tips for nailing your shrimp salad portions including

• How much cooked shrimp per person
• Salad dressing ratios
• Serving size guidance
• Shrimp salad recipe ideas

Let’s dive in!

How Much Cooked Shrimp Per Person?

The first step in determining how much shrimp salad per person is figuring out how much cooked shrimp you need per serving. Here are some general guidelines:

• For a main course shrimp salad, plan on 4-6 oz (about 8-12 medium shrimp) per serving
• For a side salad or appetizer, 2-3 oz (about 4-6 medium shrimp) per person is sufficient
• For shrimp salad sandwiches, figure 3-4 oz of shrimp (6-8 medium shrimp) per sandwich

The exact amount can vary based on the size of your shrimp as well as personal preferences. But using these ranges as a starting point helps ensure you have enough tasty shrimp in every bite!

Shrimp Salad Dressing Ratios

In addition to the shrimp, the dressing is key for delicious shrimp salad. You’ll want to use about 1/4 cup of dressing per 1 pound of cooked shrimp.

I prefer to make my own dressing with mayonnaise, lemon juice, herbs, and seasoning rather than using pre-made salad dressing from a bottle. This way, I can control the flavor and texture perfectly.

Some of my favorite homemade shrimp salad dressings include:

• Mayonnaise, lemon juice, dill, and Cajun seasoning
• Mayonnaise, lime juice, chili powder, cilantro, and garlic
• Greek yogurt, olive oil, lemon zest, oregano, and red pepper flakes

Play around with different herb and spice combos to find your perfect shrimp salad dressing ratio!

How Big Should a Shrimp Salad Serving Be?

When serving shrimp salad as a side dish, appetizer, or sandwiches, aim for the following serving sizes:

• As a side salad – 3/4 to 1 cup per person
• As an appetizer – 1/4 to 1/2 cup per person
• On bread or rolls – 1/2 to 3/4 cup shrimp salad per sandwich

For main dish salads, you can be a bit more generous with a full 1 1/2 to 2 cups of shrimp salad per serving.

Keep in mind you can stretch the shrimp salad further by serving it over lettuce or greens. The salad dressing will lightly coat the lettuce, making the servings seem even more abundant.

Shrimp Salad Recipe Inspiration

To give you an idea of how these shrimp salad portion guidelines translate into recipes, here are a few of my favorite go-to shrimp salad recipes for parties and potlucks:

Easy Main Dish Shrimp Salad

Serves 4

• 1 pound cooked medium shrimp, chopped
• 1 cup diced celery
• 1/2 cup diced red bell pepper
• 1/4 cup sliced green onions
• 1/2 cup mayonnaise
• 3 tbsp fresh lemon juice
• 2 tbsp chopped dill
• 1 tsp Old Bay seasoning
• Salt and pepper to taste

Combine all ingredients in a bowl and chill before serving. Spoon over lettuce, stuff into avocados, or serve in bread bowls.

Light Lemon-Dill Shrimp Salad Appetizer

Serves 8

• 1 pound cooked small shrimp, halved
• 1/3 cup diced celery
• 2 tbsp minced red onion
• 1/4 cup plain Greek yogurt
• 3 tbsp mayonnaise
• 2 tbsp lemon juice
• 1 tbsp lemon zest
• 2 tsp dried dill
• 1 tsp garlic powder
• Salt and pepper to taste

Gently mix everything together in a bowl. Cover and refrigerate for 1 hour. Serve chilled in lettuce cups, tomato cups, or endive leaves.

Spicy Southwest Shrimp Salad Sandwiches

Makes 4 sandwiches

• 1 pound cooked medium shrimp, chopped
• 1/3 cup diced red bell pepper
• 2 tbsp chopped green onions
• 1/4 cup mayonnaise
• 3 tbsp lime juice
• 1 tbsp adobo sauce from canned chipotle chiles
• 2 tsp chili powder
• 1 garlic clove, minced
• Salt and pepper to taste
• 8 slices bread, toasted
• Lettuce leaves
• Sliced avocado

Combine shrimp, bell pepper, green onions, mayo, lime juice, adobo sauce, chili powder, garlic, salt, and pepper. Place lettuce, shrimp salad, and avocado slices on 4 bread slices. Top with remaining toast.

Frequency of Entities:
mayonnaise: 6
lemon juice: 5
dill: 3
lettuce: 3
shrimp: 58