Easy Shrimp Cocktail

My favorite easy Shrimp Cocktail sauce recipe only requires three ingredients and a few seconds to make. You’ll never reach for store-bought cocktail sauce again!

Why I love this recipe:

• Easy and Elegant – If I want a fancy holiday appetizer in seconds, I always turn to shrimp cocktail. All you need is ketchup, horseradish and lemon juice to make homemade cocktail sauce.
• Delicious – Shrimp is expensive and deserves a sauce of equal quality. The flavor of this homemade cocktail sauce compliments the shrimp perfectly and is better than any of those pre-made options.

How to Make Shrimp Cocktail:

Combine: Add ketchup, lemon juice, and prepared horseradish to a bowl then mix well to combine. Taste and adjust to your preference (more horseradish if you want more of “punch” and more ketchup if you prefer milder.

Serve: Refrigerate shrimp cocktail sauce for at least an hour then serve cold, with cooked shrimp. Arrange on a platter and watch it disappear!

Make Ahead and Storage Instructions:

To Make Ahead: Shrimp cocktail sauce can be made several days in advance. Cover it tightly and store it in the refrigerator until ready to serve. 

Recipe

4.96 from 138 votes

Shrimp Cocktail Sauce

This easy Shrimp Cocktail sauce recipe is made with just three ingredients (ketchup, lemon juice and horseradish). It's so simple, takes a few seconds to make, and compliments the shrimp perfectly.

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AUTHORLAUREN ALLEN

COURSEAPPETIZER, SIDE DISH

CUISINEAMERICAN

SERVINGS6

CALORIES41

COST15

 PREP 5MINUTES MINS

 TOTAL 5MINUTES MINS

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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. 
• 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.

Notes

Shrimp: There are about 16-20 large shrimp in one pound, and I recommend buying about 1 ½ lbs. You can double the recipe to serve a larger crowd. Choose large, tail-on, frozen shrimp. Large shrimp fill the space in the platter beautifully, and tail-on are more flavorful and easy for guests to grab and eat. I prefer frozen, pre-cooked shrimp for ease in preparation (as long as it’s high quality). Shrimp sold at inland grocery seafood counters was likely shipped frozen, and thawed for display

Make Ahead Instructions: Shrimp cocktail sauce can be made up to one week in advance.  Cover it tightly and refrigerate until ready to use.

Storage Instructions: Keep leftover shrimp and sauce in the fridge.

Nutrition

Calories: 41kcalCarbohydrates: 11gProtein: 0.4gFat: 0.05gSaturated Fat: 0.01gPolyunsaturated Fat: 0.02gMonounsaturated Fat: 0.01gSodium: 366mgPotassium: 115mgFiber: 0.1gSugar: 9gVitamin A: 205IUVitamin C: 2mgCalcium: 7mgIron: 0.1mg