Our classic Shrimp Cocktail recipe is the easiest fun and festive appetizer. Juicy, tender shrimp paired with a zesty homemade cocktail sauce that’s so much better than store-bought.
Shrimp Cocktail is Instant Elegance in 5 minutes.
Shrimp Cocktail is Instant Elegance in 5 minutes.Shrimp Cocktail is my go-to when I need an appetizer that’s easy but feels elegant, especially during the holidays. It comes together in 5 minutes, but always looks impressive on the table. All you need for homemade cocktail sauce is ketchup, horseradish, and lemon juice and the flavors are so worth the tiny bit of extra effort.
Check out more of my holiday appetizers, like Classic Cheese Ball, Potato Skins, Blistered Shishito Peppers, Spinach Artichoke Dip, and Baked Brie.
How to make Shrimp Cocktail:
Mix Ingredients: It's as easy as mixing together ketchup, lemon juice, and prepared horseradish. Stir well, then be sure to taste it and adjust to your liking: add more horseradish for extra kick, or more ketchup for a milder flavor.
Chill and Serve: Refrigerate the cocktail sauce for at least one hour (or for up to one week ahead of time!). Serve it cold with cold, cooked shrimp arranged on a platter.
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Recipe
Easy Shrimp Cocktail Sauce
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 cup ketchup (homemade or store-bought)
- 1 teaspoon lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon prepared horseradish
- 1 ½ lbs large, cooked, tail-on shrimp* , rinsed with cold water
Instructions
- Add all ingredients to a bowl and mix well to combine.1 cup ketchup, 1 teaspoon lemon juice, 1 teaspoon prepared horseradish
- Taste and adjust to your preference (more horseradish if you want it spicier and more ketchup if you want it mellower).
- The sauce can be made ahead and refrigerated for several days in advance. Serve cold with shrimp.1 ½ lbs large, cooked, tail-on shrimp*
Notes
Nutrition
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*I originally shared this recipe December 2015. Updated October 2019 and December 2023 and November 2025.
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I only needed a little cocktail sauce so I used 1/2 cup ketchup. Knowing that we like our sauce more spicy, I used 1 tsp. pf lemon juice as called for. However, I used 2 -21/2 tsps of horseradish. The sauce turned out great.
One teaspoon of horseradiish is not enough. Start with a tablespoon and go from there.
Lauren Thank You. I’m on the other side of the world and we Americans were craving the good old shrimp cocktail with the authentic cocktail sauce. You saved us. It’s just scrumptious.
How long do you think we can keep this in the fridge? Freezer?
Happy New Year!
Lauren, I think I’ll keep using mine. Much better and everyone loves it.
1 Cup Heinz Chili Sauce
Generous squeeze of lemon juice
1 generous tsp hot horseradish (or more)
Mix; refrigerate and enjoy!
“From scratch!” First ingredient is ketchup. Smh.
Yep–Here’s my homemade ketchup recipe (also linked in the ingredient list): https://tastesbetterfromscratch.com/homemade-ketchup/
I used 3/4 C ketchup with two heaping top of prepared horseradish, 1 tsp lemon juice and added 1/2 tsp old bay seasoning. Personally more flavorful and less ketchup taste. The ads popping up on your site made it difficult to write this comment, btw
Several recipes call for ketchup as the base! My recipe which I developed from tending bar in a high end dining place years ago: one bottle of chili sauce combined with equal amount of ketchup! That’s the old school base! Everything else can be used for taste! I made my bloody Marys with horseradish, olive and lime juice! Other ingredients are my secret but easy to figure out! PS…. Use canned tomato juice not the pre made stuff!