Crab, Pea, & Bacon Salad

The epitome of summer salads! 5-ingredient, 5-minute Crab, Pea & Bacon Salad is a yummy recipe packed with flavor and oh so easy to make!

A Spectacular Summer Salad

Okay, here’s the thing about this Crab, Pea, and Bacon Salad: It can be whatever you need it to be! It’s an outstanding side dish for picnics, pool parties, and potlucks. It’s fresh and flavorful and can be thrown together in minutes with only a few ingredients!

This bacon and seafood recipe also makes a luscious lunch! Add a side of fruit with some chips or crackers (club-style is my favorite), and it’s tasty enough for your best company! You can also toss in some chilled macaroni for a kid-friendly pasta salad! Or sprinkle some toasted hoagie rolls with Old Bay seasoning and turn this recipe into a sandwich that’s even better than chicken salad!

Other Recipes to Serve with Crab & Pea Salad

• Nothing screams summer more than this fabulous Fruit Pizza! Your favorite fresh fruit on a sugar cookie crust – SO good!
• This gorgeous, bright green Garlic and Herb Goat Cheese Ball makes a wonderful gourmet addition to every warm-weather get-together!

Ingredients

Protein: Crab meat (the imitation kind is ideal for this salad – it’s tasty, juicy, NOT fishy, and budget-friendly) – and bacon! Any kind will do, though thick-cut bacon cooked extra crispy gives a very nice crunch to this salad.

Veggies: Frozen green peas (rinsed and thawed) give a nice pop of fresh, bright green color and firm texture you can’t get from canned peas.

Dressing: mayonnaise and onion powder (NOT onion salt) combine for a light, creamy dressing with just the right flavor intensity to complement the chilled fresh salad.

How to Make Crab, Pea & Bacon Salad

STEP ONE: Combine the crab meat, thawed peas, and crispy, crumbled bacon in a bowl and stir well.

STEP TWO: In a separate bowl, combine the mayo and garlic powder and mix well.

STEP THREE: Add the dressing to the crab, peas, and bacon and stir until fully coated.

STEP FOUR: Cover the bowl with a lid or plastic wrap and chill for 2 to 12 hours before serving. If you like, top with a sprig or two of fresh dill, and enjoy!

Tips for Success

• This salad is open to experimentation! For a sharper, crispier variation, try adding some chopped red onion. Or toss in chilled macaroni, olives, and crumbled Feta for some Greek influence!
• To make an even healthier version of this salad, replace the mayo with plain Greek yogurt (or cut it into half mayo and half yogurt). It’s still delicious but with less fat and calories!
• There is no need to cook the frozen peas! Simply set them out early or run them under cold water to gently thaw. 
• This salad recipe is easy to double or even triple for entertaining large groups!

How Long Will Crab Salad Keep?

As with every mayonnaise-based salad (like tuna salad, egg salad, chicken salad, etc.), Crab, Pea, and bacon Salad is safe to eat for 3-4 days from the time you make it, provided it remains chilled and in an airtight container. 

If serving this recipe for an outdoor event or backyard barbecue, place the salad bowl over a larger bowl of ice to keep it safe in the heat for up to two hours.

Just What IS Imitation Crab?

When you order sushi, crab rangoon, seafood salad, crab cakes, or other “crabby” foods, more often than not, you’re getting imitation crab. This “fake” crab is made from white fish (usually pollack), with additional flavors, starch, sugar, and salt added to make it taste very much like authentic crab meat but way less expensive. It’s also pre-cooked so you can eat it straight from the package. You should note that artificial crab meat does have carbohydrates and gluten, so while it’s suitable for most people, it’s not ideal for every diet.

Other Spectacular Summer Salads!

• Summer Bounty Salad
• Summer Harvest Salad in a Jar
• Summer Wild Rice Salad
• Lemon Lime Berry Salad
• Summer Watermelon and Cucumber Salad
• Summer Coleslaw

*This post was originally posted on 07/05/2013.