Hands down, one of the best items of Golden Corral’s salad bar is their seafood salad. They combine sweet imitation crab meat with crisp celery and green onions, accompanied by a tangy dressing that makes this dish absolutely addictive. You can recreate this crab salad recipe in minutes with just a handful of ingredients, requiring no cooking.
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What makes this seafood salad so good?
You love treating yourself to a Seafood Salad in a restaurant, but have you ever thought about making it at home? Probably not. It may seem like too much of a hassle, but this Golden Corral Crab Salad recipe is easy to prepare. With just a few ingredients and no cooking required, you can whip up this creamy, cold salad anytime you want, and it is just as good (or even better) than the one you get at the chain.
The secret to the decadence of this Seafood Salad is using Extra Heavy mayonnaise, which is thicker than ordinary mayo. The added richness, combined with the tangy ranch dressing, balances out the sweetness of the imitation crab, and the veggies add a delightful crunch.Â
Golden Corral Seafood Salad ingredients
For the ranch salad dressing, you’ll need:
- Hidden Valley Ranch dressing mix – contains all the seasonings for the perfect ranch dressing.
- Buttermilk – gives the ranch its signature tang and helps to thin out the mayo for a more pourable dressing.
- Mayonnaise – provides the ranch dressing with its creamy, rich texture.  Â
To finish the Golden Corral Seafood Salad, you’ll need:
- Imitation crab meat – the primary component in this salad. Imitation crab is made from fish, usually pollack, and it is much cheaper than real crab and has a slightly sweet flavor.
- Celery – provides crunch and a hint of bitterness that helps to balance out the richness.Â
- Green onions – help to brighten the salad and add a bit of color. Â
- Green bell pepper – lends a mild sweetness and a lot of crunch.Â
- Extra-heavy mayonnaise – adds more richness to the salad. Extra-heavy mayonnaise contains more egg yolks and emulsifiers than ordinary mayo. Although usually only found in commercial kitchens, you can buy it online, although it comes in food industry-sized containers. If you can’t get it, the recipe will still taste great using regular mayo.Â
- Ranch dressing (included recipe) – sets this version of Seafood Salad apart with its bright and tangy flavor.Â
How to make Seafood Salad like the one at the Golden Corral
To prepare the ranch salad dressing:
- In a small mixing bowl, whisk together all the ingredients.Â
- Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and stick it in the fridge while prepping the rest of the salad.Â
To finish the Golden Corral Seafood Salad recipe:
- Shred the imitation crab and place it into a mixing bowl.Â
- Finely slice the celery and green onions. Add the shredded imitation crab to the mixing bowl.Â
- Finely chop the green peppers and dump them into the bowl.Â
- Stir in the extra heavy mayonnaise and the prepared ranch dressing. Stir gently to mix the ingredients and coat the imitation crab.Â
- Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and place in the fridge for at least an hour. Stir before serving.Â
What to serve with this Golden Corral Seafood Salad recipe
Seafood Salad makes for a great side, appetizer, or side dish. Below are three options to turn it into a real meal.Â
Garlic bread. Matching crusty garlic bread with this Seafood Salad adds both flavor and texture. Make your favorite version or try Marie Callender’s Garlic Toast. It is extra crunchy and loaded with fresh minced garlic, herbs, and a little bit of spice. The recipe calls for shredded mozzarella and parmesan. You can leave it off if you don’t like cheese and seafood, but it adds an extra element that takes the combo to the next level of yum!
Beef tenderloin roast. Treat your family to a surf-and-turf supper by pairing this recipe with a beef tenderloin roast. Beef tenderloin may be a little pricey, but its buttery flavor and tender texture make spending the few extra dollars worthwhile. Say goodbye to over- or undercooking the tenderloin by using a meat probe for stress-free cooking.Â
Corn on the cob. When corn is in season, you can’t do better than making Red Lobster Chesapeake Corn. The sweet corn, accompanied by plenty of butter, a hearty shake of Old Bay Seasoning, and a sprinkle of salt, contrasts wonderfully with the creamy richness of the Golden Corral Seafood Salad.
Storage instructionsÂ
- Refrigerator Storage: Store in an airtight container for up to 2 days maximum due to the mayonnaise base
- Food Safety: Discard if left at room temperature for more than 30 minutes
- Quality Check: Always perform a sniff test and stir well before serving leftovers
- No Freezing: This salad does not freeze well due to mayonnaise content
More Golden Corral copycat recipes
Favorite seafood recipes
- Chinese Seafood Bake
- Joe’s Crab Shack Crab Dip
- Seafood Gumbo
- Seafood Pasta Salad
- Shrimp Pasta Salad
Check out more of my easy seafood recipes and the best salad recipes on CopyKat!
Golden Corral Seafood Salad
Ingredients
Homemade Ranch Dressing
- 1 package Hidden Valley Ranch dressing mix
- 1 cup buttermilk
- 1 cup mayonnaise
Salad
- 1 pound imitation crab meat shredded
- 1/2 cup finely sliced celery (no more than 1/4 inch)
- 1/2 cup finely sliced green onions
- 1/2 cup finely chopped green bell pepper
- 1/2 cup extra-thick mayonnaise
Instructions
- Combine all the ingredients for the homemade ranch dressing in a small bowl. Mix well and set aside.
- In a medium-sized mixing bowl, combine the crab meat, celery, green onions, green bell pepper, mayonnaise, and 1/2 cup of the prepared ranch dressing. Mix well.
- For best flavor, cover and refrigerate for 1 hour before serving.
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