Shrimp Salad with Avocados

This Shrimp Salad with Avocados is full of fresh flavors! It’s light and refreshing, and sure to be your new favorite summer salad!

My Favorite Shrimp Salad Recipe with Avocados

This salad is seriously like nothing you’ve ever had before. I can say that with 100% full confidence. Maybe you’ve had a creamy shrimp salad before. Maybe you’ve had a yummy green salad topped with fresh shrimp before. 

But I know – I just know – you’ve never had a creamy green salad with avocados, topped with fresh shrimp, that also has a pop of flavor brought to you by bite-size sections of fresh grapefruit!

I’m right, right? So, are you ready for this crazy good unexpected flavor combo? If so, you’ve GOT to try this Shrimp salad.

Recipe Ingredients

I see you side-eying me about this long ingredient list. Don’t worry. I promise it’s easy and so worth it. Here’s everything you’ll need:

For the Shrimp

• olive oil
• medium shrimp, peeled and deveined
• salt and fresh ground black pepper

For the Salad

• salad greens (I like to use Spring Mix)
• avocado, sliced or diced
• grapefruit, peeled and sectioned (you can also use canned or jarred grapefruit sections)

For the Dressing

• garlic
• fresh lemon juice and lemon zest
• salt and fresh ground black pepper
• extra virgin olive oil
• dijon mustard, optional

How to Make Shrimp Salad

There are three steps to getting this salad together. First, we’ll cook up the shrimp, then we’ll assemble the green salad, and last, we’ll top it all with our slightly sweet but tart salad dressing. 

How to Cook the Shrimp

1. Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat.
2. Season the shrimp with salt and pepper.
3. Transfer the shrimp to the skillet and cook them for about 2 minutes per side, or until the shrimp is completely opaque and pink. 
4. Remove the shrimp from the pan and set them aside for 5 minutes.

How to Make the Salad

1. In a large salad bowl toss the salad greens.
2. Add the avocado slices and grapefruit to the salad. Then, top it with the cooked shrimp and set it aside.

How to Make the Salad Dressing

1. In a mixing bowl combine the garlic, lemon juice, lemon zest, salt, and pepper. Whisk everything to combine.
2. Then, whisk in the olive oil. Taste and adjust salt and pepper to your taste.
3. Drizzle the salad dressing over the salad.
4. Toss gently to coat. Serve. 

Tips for the Best Shrimp Salad

Follow these tips for the most refreshing summer salad:

• If you are serving this at a party or for a large crowd, simply double or triple the recipe. 
• For this salad, I recommend using peeled and deveined shrimp and removing the tail. You want to be able to pop each shrimp into your mouth right along with a large bite of salad. 
• If you don’t have or can’t enjoy grapefruit, you could use mandarin oranges in place of the grapefruit sections. 
• This salad is best served fresh. I wouldn’t recommend storing the leftovers for later or making it ahead of time. 
• You could cook the shrimp and make the dressing ahead of time and combine the salad at a later time. 

Serving Suggestions

• This salad is perfect to serve as an appetizer or for a light meal. If you’re serving it as an app, I really like to serve it alongside a fresh summery flatbread pizza, with pita chips and a dip, or just this simple homemade flatbread!
• You could add some sides to your meal like grilled fresh veggies or corn on the cob. 
• To make this shrimp salad a bit more hearty, I love to serve it with tortilla chips or on top of a warm tortilla or tostada!