Cook dry macaroni in salted boiling water. Boil until macaroni is al dente. Drain aside.
In a small saucepan, add shrimp once water is boiling. Cook shrimp for 2 to 3 minutes or until shrimp turns pink/orange and opaque. Do not overcook. Drain.
Immediately transfer shrimp in a bowl with ice cold water for about 5 minutes to stop shrimp from further cooking. Then transfer to a plate, pat dry. Set aside.
In a large shallow bowl, combine mayonnaise, lemon juice, and light brown sugar. Mix well.
Assemble the salad. Add cooked macaroni and shrimp. Season with kosher salt, ground black pepper, garlic powder, and dill weed. Then add red onion, carrot, celery, and sweet pickle relish. Gently toss until ingredients are well-coated.
Chill before serving for at least an hour or two.
Notes
We used large fresh shrimp in this recipe. If you will buy frozen shrimp, opt for large or jumbo.TIPS:Do not use raw shrimp in your salad.Once shrimp turned pink or orange and opaque, remove from the boiling water. Immediately transfer to an ice cold water. Add more ice if needed. Do not overcook shrimp. Overcooked shrimp will be rubbery.Chill before serving. You may opt to refrigerate overnight. If you feel the need to add more dressing after it has been refrigerated overnight, simply add 1 or 2 tablespoons of mayonnaise, one at a time.