Easy Cocktail Sauce

Homemade Cocktail Sauce is a spicy sweet dip made with ketchup and horseradish that is typically served with shrimp cocktail. It’s easy to make at home in just a few minutes and tastes so much better than bottled.

This cocktail sauce recipe pairs perfectly with my Shrimp Cocktail, Crispy Fried Shrimp, or Spicy Garlic Shrimp.

Easy Cocktail Sauce From Scratch

I have been enjoying shrimp cocktail for as long as I’ve been alive it seems. It was always the first thing on the list for any family party, and my dad was usually the first one to break into the platter. While my mom would usually buy the pre-cooked shrimp at the butcher, she always used her own cocktail sauce recipe and it was always amazing.

When I asked my new husband to pick up some shrimp from the grocery store for this recipe, he came home with the 2 pounds of shrimp I’d asked for, and a bottle of cocktail sauce. When I asked him what in the world he was thinking buying a bottle, he simply stated that he was excited for the shrimp cocktail I was going to make. I shook my head and said, “No, no my dear. We make this stuff from scratch!”

He was skeptical that there would be a difference, but I made a believer of him in a matter of minutes. The fresh pop of flavors in this homemade cocktail sauce cannot be denied, plus it’s so easy you’ll never buy bottled again!

What Is Cocktail Sauce Made Out Of?

Here are the 5 ingredients you will need to make this delicious homemade cocktail sauce recipe:

• Ketchup – The sweetness pairs well with the spiciness of the horseradish and the tang of the lemon.
• Prepared Horseradish – This adds an element of heat to the sauce and really gives it a great flavor.
• Lemon Juice – Fresh is always best. To get the most juice from your fruit, roll it on the counter with the palm of your hand for about 20 seconds to release the juices.
• Worcestershire Sauce – Adds a savory, slightly tangy component.
• Salt – Just a pinch! You may not need to add salt at all; taste and add if needed.

How To Make Homemade Cocktail Sauce

• Stir the ingredients together in a small bowl until they are well combined.
• Be sure to taste your sauce and adjust the flavors to your liking, because everyone’s pallet is different!
• Store in a tightly sealed container in the fridge until ready to serve.
• Serve alongside some juicy shrimp for dipping.

How To Serve

Cocktail Sauce is a delicious spicy ketchup based sauce that is traditionally served with shrimp cocktail. Its fresh flavors and acidic pop make it an excellent choice as a pairing with a variety of seafood, like crab legs, oysters, calamari, or seafood cocktails. I like to place the shrimp on a pretty platter, with a small bowl of the cocktail sauce in the center.

To make the presentation even more beautiful, garnish with some fresh minced parsley and lemon wedges.

What To Do With Leftovers

This recipe makes a decent amount that’s perfect for a party. But if you happen to have leftovers, store the sauce in an airtight container for up to one week.

You can also freeze it for up to 4-6 months.

More Seafood Recipes to Try

• Tartar Sauce
• Salmon Patties
• Cheesy Baked Shrimp Dip
• Shrimp Ceviche
• Sheet Pan Lemon Pepper Shrimp

If you’ve made this recipe, please come back and leave us a star rating or a comment below. Or, tag us on social media @yellowblissroad or #yellowblissroad for a chance to be featured.

Cocktail Sauce

4.67 from 6 votes

Kristin Maxwell

A sweet dipping sauce made from ketchup, horseradish and seasonings, perfect for dipping shrimp or for other types of fish.

Prep Time 5 minutes mins

Total Time 5 minutes mins

Print RecipePin RecipeReview Recipe

Course Appetizer, condiment

Cuisine American

Servings 10 servings

Calories 31kcal

Ingredients

  

1x2x3x

• ▢ 1 cup Ketchup
• ▢ ¼ cup Prepared horseradish or more to taste
• ▢ 1 teaspoon Worcestershire Sauce
• ▢ 1 tablespoon Lemon juice or more to taste
• ▢ pinch of salt or more to taste

Instructions

 

• Stir together ketchup, horseradish, Worcestershire, 2 teaspoons lemon juice and salt in a small bowl until well combined. 
• Taste and adjust flavors to your liking.
• Cover and store in the fridge until ready to serve.

Notes

• The horseradish brings the heat. Feel free to adjust the amount to your liking.
• This recipe makes a decent amount that’s perfect for a party. But if you happen to have leftovers, store the sauce in an airtight container for up to one week.
• You can also freeze it for up to 4-6 months.

Nutrition

Calories: 31kcalCarbohydrates: 7gProtein: 1gFat: 1gSaturated Fat: 1gSodium: 249mgPotassium: 95mgFiber: 1gSugar: 6gVitamin A: 123IUVitamin C: 3mgCalcium: 7mgIron: 1mg

Nutrition information provided is an estimate and will vary based on cooking methods and brands of ingredients used.

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