Golden Corral Seafood Salad – Straightforward Copycat Recipe

August 24, 2025

2

By Stephanie Manley Printed August 24, 2025

Arms down, among the best objects of Golden Corral’s salad bar is their seafood salad. They mix candy imitation crab meat with crisp celery and inexperienced onions, accompanied by a tangy dressing that makes this dish completely addictive. You’ll be able to recreate this crab salad recipe in minutes with only a handful of components, requiring no cooking.

Copycat Golden Corral seafood salad in a large bowl and salad tongs behind it.

This publish accommodates affiliate hyperlinks. As an Amazon Affiliate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

What makes this seafood salad so good?

You like treating your self to a Seafood Salad in a restaurant, however have you ever ever considered making it at dwelling? Most likely not. It could look like an excessive amount of of a problem, however this Golden Corral Crab Salad recipe is straightforward to arrange. With just some components and no cooking required, you possibly can whip up this creamy, chilly salad anytime you need, and it’s simply pretty much as good (and even higher) than the one you get on the chain.

The key to the decadence of this Seafood Salad is utilizing Further Heavy mayonnaise, which is thicker than atypical mayo. The added richness, mixed with the tangy ranch dressing, balances out the sweetness of the imitation crab, and the veggies add a pleasant crunch.

Golden Corral Seafood Salad components

For the ranch salad dressing, you’ll want:

Hidden Valley Ranch dressing combine – accommodates all of the seasonings for the proper ranch dressing.
Buttermilk – provides the ranch its signature tang and helps to skinny out the mayo for a extra pourable dressing.
Mayonnaise – offers the ranch dressing with its creamy, wealthy texture.

To complete the Golden Corral Seafood Salad, you’ll want:

Imitation crab meat – the first element on this salad. Imitation crab is made out of fish, normally pollack, and it’s less expensive than actual crab and has a barely candy taste.
Celery – offers crunch and a touch of bitterness that helps to steadiness out the richness.
Inexperienced onions – assist to brighten the salad and add a little bit of shade.
Inexperienced bell pepper – lends a light sweetness and a whole lot of crunch.
Further-heavy mayonnaise – provides extra richness to the salad. Further-heavy mayonnaise accommodates extra egg yolks and emulsifiers than atypical mayo. Though normally solely present in business kitchens, you possibly can purchase it on-line, though it is available in meals industry-sized containers. If you happen to can’t get it, the recipe will nonetheless style nice utilizing common mayo.
Ranch dressing (included recipe) – units this model of Seafood Salad aside with its vibrant and tangy taste.

Copycat Golden Corral seafood salad ingredients on a tray.

Learn how to make Seafood Salad just like the one on the Golden Corral

To arrange the ranch salad dressing:

In a small mixing bowl, whisk collectively all of the components.
Cowl the bowl with plastic wrap and stick it within the fridge whereas prepping the remainder of the salad.

To complete the Golden Corral Seafood Salad recipe:

Shred the imitation crab and place it right into a mixing bowl.
Finely slice the celery and inexperienced onions. Add the shredded imitation crab to the blending bowl.
Finely chop the inexperienced peppers and dump them into the bowl.
Stir within the additional heavy mayonnaise and the ready ranch dressing. Stir gently to combine the components and coat the imitation crab.
Cowl the bowl with plastic wrap and place within the fridge for at the least an hour. Stir earlier than serving.

Making copycat Golden Corral seafood salad.

What to serve with this Golden Corral Seafood Salad recipe

Seafood Salad makes for a terrific facet, appetizer, or facet dish. Beneath are three choices to show it into an actual meal.

Garlic bread. Matching crusty garlic bread with this Seafood Salad provides each taste and texture. Make your favourite model or attempt Marie Callender’s Garlic Toast. It’s additional crunchy and loaded with contemporary minced garlic, herbs, and a bit little bit of spice. The recipe requires shredded mozzarella and parmesan. You’ll be able to go away it off for those who don’t like cheese and seafood, however it provides an additional aspect that takes the combo to the subsequent degree of yum!

Beef tenderloin roast. Deal with your loved ones to a surf-and-turf supper by pairing this recipe with a beef tenderloin roast. Beef tenderloin could also be a bit dear, however its buttery taste and tender texture make spending the few additional {dollars} worthwhile. Say goodbye to over- or undercooking the tenderloin by utilizing a meat probe for stress-free cooking.

Corn on the cob. When corn is in season, you possibly can’t do higher than making Crimson Lobster Chesapeake Corn. The candy corn, accompanied by loads of butter, a hearty shake of Outdated Bay Seasoning, and a sprinkle of salt, contrasts splendidly with the creamy richness of the Golden Corral Seafood Salad.

A bowl of copycat Golden Corral seafood salad.

Storage directions

Fridge Storage: Retailer in an hermetic container for as much as 2 days most because of the mayonnaise base
Meals Security: Discard if left at room temperature for greater than half-hour
High quality Examine: At all times carry out a sniff check and stir nicely earlier than serving leftovers
No Freezing: This salad doesn’t freeze nicely resulting from mayonnaise content material

Copycat Golden Corral seafood salad in a large bowl and wooden salad tongs.

Extra Golden Corral copycat recipes

Favourite seafood recipes

Take a look at extra of my simple seafood recipes and the perfect salad recipes on CopyKat!