Cocktail Sauce

Homemade Cocktail Sauce is made in minutes with this recipe that uses simple pantry staples! Ketchup, horseradish, lemon juice, Worcestershire sauce, garlic, and hot sauce are quickly whisked together. This sauce has the best flavor with a spicy kick and pairs beautifully with a wide variety of seafood including shrimp and oysters!

Whether serving with a Shrimp Cocktail platter or alongside oysters, there’s nothing like enjoying your own homemade cocktail sauce!

The spicy bite from the horseradish and Tobasco sauce complements the sweet and tangy taste of the ketchup to give you a sauce that pairs well with just about any seafood dish. (Even this Air Fryer Fish!)

Making it at home is simple to do and gives you a much more flavorful finished sauce.

With only 6 ingredients, and 5 minutes, you’ll have this cocktail sauce recipe whipped up and ready to go!

Ingredients

The simple ingredients you need to make this homemade shrimp cocktail sauce recipe include:

• Ketchup. This creates the base of the sauce, so make sure to choose one that you enjoy the taste of. Opt for a sugar-free type if you’re on a keto, Paleo, or Whole30 diet.
• Lemon juice. Fresh squeezed is best, however if you must use bottled pick a pure lemon juice.
• Hot sauce. Select your favorite chili sauce such as Tabasco, Frank’s Red Hot, or even Sriracha sauce.
• Garlic. Fresh cloves that have been crushed are ideal, but garlic powder may also be substituted.

How to Make Cocktail Sauce

The basic steps for making cocktail sauce are simple to follow. Please see the recipe card below for more detailed ingredient amounts.

Add to Bowl

Measure out the ketchup, lemon juice, horseradish, Worcestershire sauce, hot sauce, and garlic into a medium-sized bowl.

Whisk Until Smooth

Stir the ingredients together until well incorporated. A whisk does a good job of evenly dispersing all of the ingredients, but a fork may also be used.

Store in Refrigerator

You can serve this sauce immediately, but it gets better with time! Make it 24 hours in advance for the best flavor.

Make a Shrimp Cocktail Platter

To serve Fresh Shrimp Cocktail pour the sauce into a small bowl and place in the middle of a large plate with ice. Top the ice with peeled, deveined, boiled, and chilled shrimp. Garnish with parsley and fresh lemon wedges.

Dietary Modifications

The recipe you’ll find below is already dairy-free, vegetarian, and low-carb as written. Here are some adjustments and substitutions you can make to help it fit your other dietary requirements:

• Gluten-free – Select a gluten-free Worcestershire sauce such as Lea and Perrins.
• Keto – Look for a sugar-free ketchup.
• Whole30 and paleo – Use a sugar-free ketchup.
• Vegan – Make sure to select a vegan Worcestershire sauce without anchovies.

Storage

• To Prep-Ahead: Most of the ingredients are incredibly shelf stable which means you can completely make the sauce in advance.
• To Store: Place in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.
• To Freeze: This is not recommended as the sauce will change texture.

FAQs

Expert Tips and Tricks

• Go fresh. Use both fresh lemon juice and crushed garlic cloves for the best flavor.
• Mix well. Stir the ingredients together with a whisk to ensure they disperse evenly.
• Let it rest. For best results make the sauce 24 hours before serving and keep in the fridge.
• Pick favorites. Because there are so few ingredients you want to choose a ketchup and a hot sauce you really like the taste of beforehand.
• Mild or hot. Adjust the amount of hot sauce to your spice level preference.

Other Sauce and Dip Recipes

The following recipes go great with a wide variety of appetizers:

Teriyaki Sauce

Spicy Sriracha Mayo

Lime Crema

Secret Sauce

Avocado Ranch Dressing and Dip

Thousand Island Dip