Seafood salad deviled eggs take classic deviled eggs and load them up with a creamy shrimp and crab salad instead of a plain yolk filling. The shrimp gets a quick trip on the grill for smoky flavor, then it’s chopped and folded together with crab meat, celery, shallot, and a creamy mayo-mustard base.
The result is a two-bite appetizer that’s rich and packed with texture. It’s the kind of dish that gets emptied first at any potluck or cookout.
I’ve spent years developing grilling recipes for competition barbecue and backyard cookouts alike, and shrimp is one of my favorite proteins to throw on the grill because it cooks in minutes and picks up smoky flavor fast.
This recipe came together because deviled eggs are a permanent fixture on my party table, and I wanted a version that felt a little more special than the classic mayo-and-mustard filling.
What Are Seafood Salad Deviled Eggs
Seafood salad deviled eggs are a mashup of two appetizer classics: creamy seafood salad and deviled eggs. Instead of filling the egg whites with a plain mashed-yolk mixture, you fold grilled shrimp, crab meat, celery, and shallot into a creamy mayo-mustard base (with the mashed yolks stirred in too) and scoop it into the egg halves. You end up with all the briny, creamy flavor of a seafood salad in a bite-sized, party-ready form.
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Cook Shrimp: Season shrimp with oil and rub. Heat grill to medium-high heat. Grill shrimp a few minutes per side. Cool. Chop. You’ll need 1 cup of chopped shrimp for the filling. Save 12 pieces to top the eggs.
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Make Filling: Halve eggs, remove yolks. Mash yolks with a fork. Mix in mayo and mustard until smooth. Stir in celery and shallot. Gently mix in chopped shrimp and crab meat. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
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Fill Eggs: Scoop seafood salad into egg halves. Garnish with a dusting of paprika. You can also add diced green onions or chives.
How to hard boil eggs: Place a pot of water on the stove. Bring to a boil. Add the eggs to the water and boil for 10 minutes. Remove from the heat and let sit for 5 minutes. Place in an ice bath for 10 minutes. Crack and remove shells.
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
What you’ll need
- Shrimp: Raw peeled and deveined shrimp works best for easy prep.
- Olive Oil and Girls Can Grill Chicken Rub: Seasons the shrimp before grilling. Any all-purpose grilling rub works if you don’t have the Chicken Rub on hand.
- Hard Boiled Eggs: The base of the dish. Instructions for hard boiling eggs are included below. But I buy the pre-boiled eggs when I’m in a hurry.
- Mayo and Yellow Mustard: Creates the classic creamy, tangy base for the filling.
- Celery and Shallot: Add crunch and a little sharpness to balance the richness of the mayo.
- Crab Meat: Real lump crab meat gives the best flavor, but imitation crab works as a budget-friendly substitute.
- Salt and Pepper: To season the filling to taste.
- Paprika: For garnish and a pop of color.
Substitutions: Swap the shrimp for grilled scallops or skip it altogether and double up on crab for an all-crab filling. Green onions or chives make a great addition or garnish.
See the full recipe card above for servings and a full list of ingredients.
How to Make Seafood Salad Deviled Eggs
Start by hard boiling your eggs, then grill the shrimp before assembling the filling.
Step 1: Hard boil the eggs
Place a pot of water on the stove and bring it to a boil. Add the eggs and boil for 10 minutes. Remove from heat and let sit for 5 minutes, then transfer to an ice bath for 10 minutes. Crack and remove the shells.
GCG PRO TIP: Or cheat like I do sometimes and buy the pre-hardboiled eggs at the grocery store.
Step 2: Season and grill the shrimp
Toss the shrimp with olive oil and Girls Can Grill Chicken Rub. Heat the grill to medium-high heat and grill the shrimp for a few minutes per side, until opaque and firm.
GCG PRO TIP: Shrimp cook fast. Pull them the moment they turn opaque so they don't turn rubbery.
Step 3: Chop the shrimp
Let the shrimp cool, then chop. You’ll need 1 cup of chopped shrimp for the filling. Set aside 12 smal pieces to use as a garnish on top of the finished eggs.
Step 4: Prep the eggs
Halve the hard boiled eggs and remove the yolks. Mash the yolks with a fork until smooth.
Step 5: Build the filling
Mix the mashed yolks with mayo and mustard until smooth. Stir in the celery and shallot, then gently fold in the chopped shrimp and crab meat. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
GCG PRO TIP: Fold the shrimp and crab in gently so you don't shred the crab meat or turn the filling mushy.
Step 6: Fill the eggs
Scoop the seafood salad filling into the egg white halves, mounding it slightly. Top each with a reserved piece of grilled shrimp and a dusting of paprika. Add diced green onions or chives for extra color, if you like.
GCG PRO TIP: You'll have about a cup of filling left over. See the Storage section below for ways to use it.
How to Serve Seafood Salad Deviled Eggs
Arrange the deviled eggs on a platter and serve chilled as part of a party spread, alongside other grilled appetizers. They’re a natural fit for holiday tables, potlucks, and summer cookouts.
Storage
Store leftover deviled eggs in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 days.
The extra cup of seafood salad filling can be refrigerated separately for up to 3 days. Serve it with crackers, use it for sandwiches, or scoop it into 6 more hard-boiled eggs. If you make more deviled eggs, don’t mix their yolks into the filling
GCG Pro Pitmaster Tips
- Don’t overcook the shrimp. A few minutes per side on a hot grill is all it takes, and they’ll keep cooking a little as they cool.
- Chop the shrimp into small, even pieces so every bite of filling has a good mix of shrimp, crab, celery and shallot.
- Make the filling and grill the shrimp a day ahead, then assemble the eggs closer to serving time so the whites don’t dry out in the fridge.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, imitation crab works well and is a budget-friendly substitute. It has a milder flavor than real crab, so you may want to adjust the seasoning to taste.
You can hard boil the eggs and grill the shrimp up to a day ahead. Assemble the filling and fill the eggs closer to serving time for the best texture.
Serve it as a dip with crackers, use it to make sandwiches, or stuff it into 6 more hard-boiled eggs. Just skip adding the extra yolks if you go that route.
Yes. To add more smokiness to these deviled eggs, cold smoke your hard-boiled eggs before moving onto the next step.
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