The shrimp cocktail salad turns an old favorite from 50 years ago into something new and fresh that you’ll be proud to serve to family and guests. All you need are a salad bowls, a mixing bowl, and some food staples you should keep in your kitchen.

Shrimp cocktail salad is an updated version of the appetizer.

Pick up some super cheap (3 or 4 for a dollar) custard cups from a dollar store to add a finishing touch to this salad. Once you have them, you’ll find quite a few more uses for these pieces in the future.

Two clear glass custard cups. — You can get these small glass custard cups at the Dollar Tree

I always make sure I have some items that are super handy, easy to thaw, and keep me from having to fret over not having the ingredients I need. Above all, I always have something on hand when I need to throw something together for dinner.

Shrimp Cocktail Salad You Can Make in a Flash

I make shrimp salad several different ways, and the shrimp cocktail salad is the easiest one in my repertoire. It is not only quick but it is also delicious.

It requires no cooking. You assemble it in a matter of minutes. Serve it with a side of crusty bread and butter or a plate of cheese and your favorite crackers.

Small cooked shrimp in a bowl — Fully cooked frozen cocktail shrimp that I thawed in the refrigerator

First, start with fully cooked shrimp.

Bowl of shrimp with cocktail sauce — Cocktail sauce on the shrimp

Then add some cocktail sauce. Most store-bought sauce is good, regardless of the brand.

Shrimp coated in cocktail sauce — Shrimp covered in cocktail sauce

After that, stir the sauce into the shrimp until all of them are coated.

Bottle of Tabasco sauce to add to the shrimp cocktail — Tabasco sauce adds flavor.

The cocktail sauce is all you need on the shrimp, although the Tabasco sauce makes it even better.

Ring of mixed salad greens and cherry tomato halves — Mixed greens with halved cherry tomatoes frame the shrimp cocktail

Since this is a salad, you’ll need some veggies. Besides, they add texture and crunch to the meal.

Let each person add dressing to the greens. A good one is this lemon garlic salad dressing, or you can use dressing from a bottle.

Easy-to-Make Nutritious Meal

Salad bowl filled with mixed greens, tomatoes, and a shrimp cocktail in the center — This shrimp cocktail salad adds a festive touch to the dinner table any time of year.

Finally, place the shrimp cocktail into the center of the salad ring. If you don’t have custard cups, you can carefully scoop the shrimp cocktail mixture into the center.

Remember that if you have the right ingredients on hand, dinner can be super quick, easy, budget-friendly, and nutritious! Although this shrimp cocktail salad can be served at any time, it is one of our favorite holiday meals.

Yield: 2 salads

Shrimp Cocktail Salad

Name: Shrimp Cocktail Salad
Prep time: 10 min
Total time: 10 min
Yield: 2
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 2 cups cooked small shrimp; 1/2 cup cocktail sauce (the red one); Dash of Tabasco (optional); 8 cups mixed salad greens; 1/2 cup halved cherry or grape tomatoes; 4 tablespoons salad dressing (whatever kind you like); 1 avocado cut into 8 slices lengthwise (optional)

Refreshing, delicious, and easy to assemble, this salad is perfect for lunch or dinner.

Prep Time 10 minutes

Total Time 10 minutes

Ingredients

2 cups cooked small shrimp
1/2 cup cocktail sauce (the red one)
Dash of Tabasco (optional)
8 cups mixed salad greens
1/2 cup halved cherry or grape tomatoes
4 tablespoons salad dressing (whatever kind you like)
1 avocado cut into 8 slices lengthwise (optional)

Instructions

In a medium mixing bowl, combine shrimp and cocktail sauce. If you like extra spicy food, add Tabasco. Stir until all of the shrimp are coated.
Divide salad greens into two equal portions and arrange them in a ring on salad plates or large, shallow bowls.
Place the halved tomatoes evenly on top of the greens.
Drizzle salad dressing over the salad.
If you like avocado, place the slices on the side of the salad.

Nutrition Information

Yield

Serving Size

1/2 of ingredients
Amount Per Serving Calories 540Total Fat 27gSaturated Fat 4gTrans Fat 0gUnsaturated Fat 20gCholesterol 314mgSodium 2288mgCarbohydrates 38gFiber 9gSugar 16gProtein 38g

The nutrition information is a product of online calculators. I try to provide true and accurate information, but these numbers are estimates.

Shrimp Cocktail Salad Updates an Old Favorite