Easy Cocktail Sauce

This shrimp cocktail sauce recipe is made with ketchup, horseradish, lemon juice, and a dash of salt and pepper. It’s quick, easy, and upgrades all your seafood recipes.

plated Cocktail Sauce with shrimp and lemon slices

Flavor: Cocktail sauce is the perfect combo of tangy tomato and spicy horseradish with a splash of lemon juice that goes with any kind of seafood.
Skill Level: 4 ingredients, one step, and one bowl are all you need for this easy recipe.
Swaps: Make an extra zesty cocktail sauce by using chili sauce instead of ketchup.

horseradish , worcestershire sauce , lemon , ketchup , salt and pepper with labels to make Cocktail Sauce

What’s in Cocktail Sauce?

Ketchup: Choose any ketchup you like! Try a low or no-sugar version for fewer carbs.
Horseradish: Horseradish is a root that’s been pureed and mixed with vinegar, giving it that distinctive spicy kick. It comes in basic, creamy, or with beets added for a pop of sweetness. We use the basic version for this recipe, but any one will work.
Seasonings: Lemon juice blends the ketchup and horseradish together, but for a flavor kick, stir in some homemade Old Bay seasoning or a Cajun blend that’s perfect for an old-fashioned shrimp boil. No Worcestershire sauce? No problem, use soy sauce or coconut aminos instead.
Variations: Add homemade cocktail sauce to a little bit of mayonnaise for a creamier dip or spread if desired. Make it extra spicy and add a few shakes of buffalo sauce, Tabasco, sriracha, sambal, or a little jalapeno juice.

adding ingredients to bowl to make Cocktail Sauce

Storing Cocktail Sauce

Keep leftover cocktail sauce in a jar with a tight-fitting lid in the refrigerator for up to a week.

Whisk leftover cocktail sauce into cream cheese and serve with fresh veggies, crackers, or tortilla chips.

Ways to Use Cocktail Sauce

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Cocktail sauce is a tangy, spicy dip, perfect for pairing with chilled shrimp.

Prep Time 5 minutes

Chill Time 30 minutes

Total Time 35 minutes

Cook ModePrevent your screen from going dark

Combine ketchup, horseradish, Worcestershire, lemon juice, salt, and pepper in a small bowl.
Mix well and refrigerate for 30 minutes before serving.

Optional Additions:

a few dashes hot sauce
replace 2 tablespoons of ketchup with chili sauce

Keep up to 1 week in the fridge.

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

Course Appetizer, Dip, Party Food, Sauce

Cuisine American

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