Homemade Cocktail Sauce is so simple to make with only 4 ingredients. You will never want store bought sauce again. 

If you enjoy shrimp be sure to try hot shrimp dip , BBQ shrimp and shrimp etouffee.

One of my mom’s favorite things to eat is shrimp cocktail. If she didn’t feel like cooking, we would have that for dinner with potatoes and a vegetable. It was also served at every holiday meal and party. 

I never remember her buying cocktail sauce from the store. She always made it from scratch and would joke that she would disown me if she caught me buying store bought sauce.

Homemade is the way to go with cocktail sauce. The fresh ingredients makes such a huge difference in taste, it’s worth the few minutes it takes to make it. 

What you need

Chili sauce – I prefer this to Ketchup. It has a little bit of a bite and already tastes a little like cocktail sauce on it’s own. 

Prepared horseradish – Make sure not to use horseradish sauce because it contains other ingredients like mayonnaise. You can typically find it in the condiment aisle of the grocery store.

Worcestershire sauce – This adds a little saltiness.

Lemon juice – The juice adds acid to the sauce to help balance out the flavors. 

How to make

Scroll down for full printable recipe, ingredients and video.

This can be made in less than 5 minutes. An advantage to making it yourself is the ability to adjust the level of spiciness. 

If you like it more spicy, add more horseradish. If you like it extra tangy, add more lemon juice. 

• Stir all of the ingredients together in a bowl making sure to get the combined. Serve immediately or story in an airtight container in the refrigerator. 

Recipe Tips

• If you are making for a party, prepare it ahead of time and let chill. 
• Adjust the amount of horseradish to desired spiciness level. If you accidentally add too much, add more chili sauce or ketchup. 
• This recipe makes about 1 1/2 cups. It can be doubled for a large crowd or party. 

How long does it last?

Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.  

What to serve with homemade cocktail sauce

• I think the classic thing to use it with is shrimp cocktail. Choose your favorite cooked shrimp and serve alongside the sauce.
• It can also be served with oysters, calamari and crab.
• Crab cakes is another great way to enjoy this sauce. 
• Fish sticks – My kids like using it for dipping. 
• Shrimp and sausage dinner

What type of shrimp is best?

Shrimp are available in different sizes, along with tail on or off and shell on or off. They also come fresh and frozen.

If you are making a shrimp cocktail appetizer, it is recommended to buy tail on because it makes them easier to pick up and just looks nice on the plate. 

Shell or no shell is a personal choice. Leaving it on can add flavor but does make it a little more messy. 

Fresh or frozen shrimp is again a personal choice. I find that the frozen shrimp tend to be very fresh. If you are short on time, fresh is the way to go, just make sure to smell your fresh seafood before bringing it home. There should not be a “fishy” smell. 

More tasty condiments

• Tartar sauce – This is another great dipping sauce for seafood. 
• Chick-Fil-A sauce – Make this restaurant favorite at home with a few simple ingredients.
• Teriyaki Sauce – This easy homemade sauce is the base for chicken teriyaki. 

*** If you made this recipe, please leave a comment and rating below.