The BEST Homemade co*cktail Sauce Recipe (2024)

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It’s incredibly easy to make your own homemade co*cktail sauce and it’s a million times better than anything you’ll pick up in the store! This homemade co*cktail sauce complements my classic shrimp co*cktail recipe perfectly, not to mention that you can also use it in my Shrimp Dip recipe as well!

The BEST Homemade co*cktail Sauce Recipe (1)

Why anyone would ever consider buying co*cktail sauce is a mystery to me, it’s just so simple to make at home and tastes SO much better! If you usually hit the shopping aisle for your co*cktail sauce you’ll definitely change your mind once you give this homemade version a try. All you need are a few ingredients that you probably already have stocked in your kitchen!

How To Make The BEST Homemade co*cktail Sauce

This is a really quick recipe and it’ll be done before you know it!

  1. Start by mixing all of the ingredients together, slowly adding the horseradish until you get it to your own preferred level of spice! If you like a super zesty taste then add more horseradish and if you prefer it a bit milder just add less. The best thing about making your own sauce is you can adjust the portions according to your own taste.
  2. You can add more sugar after this if you like – it’ll balance out the flavours.
  3. If you’re not ready to serve right away, just store in an airtight container for 3-4 days in the refrigerator until needed.

Tips And Tricks For Making The BEST Homemade co*cktail Sauce

  • If you want to cut down on sugar content, try making your own ketchup to use. Alternatively, you can look out for ketchup that doesn’t contain high fructose corn syrup.
  • This sauce will keep for a week in the fridge so I often make a batch of it at once, but it all depends on how much you think you’ll use up.
  • If your sauce gets a little too spicy for your liking, you can add some extra ketchup to take a bit of tanginess out of the horseradish.
  • As well as serving it with shrimp co*cktail, this sauce also works great as a light dip for a crudites platter!
  • It’s important to let the mixture sit a while before serving to let the flavours come together. Otherwise, it’s just going to taste like super spicy ketchup!

The BEST Homemade co*cktail Sauce Recipe (2)

How to Make this co*cktail Sauce Low Carb

  • Use a low sugar ketchup like this one. It makes all the difference in the carb count!
  • If the low sugar ketchup isn’t sweet enough on its own, sprinkle in your preferred sugar-free sweetener.
  • Sometimes the no sugar ketchup is lower in sodium and you might need a bit of salt as well.

The BEST Homemade co*cktail Sauce Recipe (3)

More Recipes You Might Enjoy:

Buffalo Shrimp Kale Salad

How to Make Creamy Sweet Chili Sauce (Dipping Sauce, Fry Sauce)

Shrimp Caesar Salad

Hope you enjoy it!

Happy cooking!

Love,

Karlynn

The BEST Homemade co*cktail Sauce Recipe (4)

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The BEST Homemade co*cktail Sauce Recipe (5)

The BEST Homemade co*cktail Sauce Recipe

This really is the best homemade co*cktail sauce that you can adjust the flavors to your liking! I have tips and tricks to make this low carb as well!

5 from 4 votes

The BEST Homemade co*cktail Sauce Recipe (6)

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Prep Time
10 minutes
Course
Appetizer
Cuisine
American
Servings
8
Calories
35
Author
Karlynn Johnston

Ingredients

  • 1 cup ketchup
  • 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 teaspoon horseradish then adjust this to taste
  • 1 teaspoon lemon juice
  • 1/2 teaspoon brown sugar then adjust to taste
  • 1/4 teaspoon powdered garlic optional
  • 1/4 teaspoon hot sauce optional

Instructions

  • Mix all of the ingredients together until they are well-combined. Adjust the amount of horseradish slowly, adding more until it tastes as spicy as you like! This is a very personal thing so this will vary for each of you!

  • Add in more sugar if desired. The sugar cuts the acidity of the ketchup and lemon juice just enough to balance out the flavors.

  • Store in a closed container in the refrigerator until you are ready to use.

Recipe Notes

Nutrition is for one ounce of sauce. Everything will vary depending on the brands that you use in this recipe.

See my tips in the post above for making this sauce lower in carbs.

Nutrition Information

Calories: 35kcal, Carbohydrates: 8g, Protein: 1g, Fat: 1g, Saturated Fat: 1g, Sodium: 286mg, Potassium: 101mg, Fiber: 1g, Sugar: 7g, Vitamin A: 154IU, Vitamin C: 2mg, Calcium: 5mg, Iron: 1mg

All calories and info are based on a third party calculator and are only an estimate. Actual nutritional info will vary with brands used, your measuring methods, portion sizes and more.

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Karlynn Johnston

I’m a busy mom of two, wife & cookbook author who loves creating fast, fresh meals for my little family on the Canadian prairies. Karlynn Facts: I'm allergic to broccoli. I've never met a co*cktail that I didn't like. I would rather burn down my house than clean it. Most of all, I love helping YOU get dinner ready because there's nothing more important than connecting with our loved ones around the dinner table!

Learn more about me

Site Index Sauce Seafood Shrimp

Reader Interactions

Comments & Recipe Tips Share a tip or comment!

  1. Kathy says

    Reply

    Absolutely Delicious and rated Better than the Jar from a friend who loves!!! co*cktail Sauce! keeper recipe for sure!

  2. 2pots2cook says

    Reply

    Absolutely amazing ! This will definitely become one of our evergreens ! Thank you and enjoy your day 🙂The BEST Homemade co*cktail Sauce Recipe (11)

    • Nolan says

      Reply

      Awesome co*cktail sauce!! My shrimp love it!!The BEST Homemade co*cktail Sauce Recipe (12)

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The BEST Homemade co*cktail Sauce Recipe (2024)

FAQs

Is co*cktail sauce made of ketchup and horseradish? ›

A combination of pungent horseradish and sweet ketchup make up the foundation of this classic co*cktail sauce, which is seasoned with lemon juice, hot sauce and a dash of Worcestershire. Drizzle it on a shrimp co*cktail or dab it sparingly on raw seafood.

Why does my homemade co*cktail sauce gel? ›

There is a natural reaction that occurs between the fresh horseradish roots and pectin in the tomato ketchup that can sometimes create a gel like consistency.

How do you keep co*cktail sauce from gelling? ›

That said, this tends to be more apparent once the condiment is left to rest in the fridge. So, one way to avoid gelling would be to simply keep the sauce at room temperature.

How long should I boil shrimp for shrimp co*cktail? ›

Add shrimp and cook just until pink and slightly firm to the touch, about 3 minutes. Drain immediately and cool under cold running water. To make co*cktail sauce, combine chili sauce, lime juice, horseradish, hot red pepper sauce, and Worcestershire sauce in bowl.

What is the mix of ketchup and mayonnaise called? ›

Fry sauce is a condiment often served with French fries or tostones (twice-fried plantain slices) in many places in the world. It is usually a combination of one part tomato ketchup and two parts mayonnaise.

What is co*cktail sauce made from? ›

The standard ingredients (in roughly decreasing proportion) are ketchup, horseradish, hot sauce (e.g., Tabasco, Louisiana, or Crystal), Worcestershire sauce, and lemon juice. A soufflé cup is usually set in the middle of the platter of oysters along with a co*cktail fork and a lemon slice.

Does homemade co*cktail sauce go bad? ›

If you are storing homemade co*cktail sauce, the guidelines differ, however. We recommend tossing from-scratch sauce after two weeks. While you can freeze co*cktail sauce, it is best not to, as it will change the texture. The best way to ensure no co*cktail sauce goes to waste is simply to use it more often.

What is a good substitute for shrimp co*cktail sauce? ›

Ketchup-Mustard Sauce

Equal parts ketchup and mustard make this the shrimp co*cktail sauce anyone can make since everything's already in the door of the refrigerator. I use Dijon mustard, but you can try a grainy, coarse mustard instead for some nice crunchy pops of mustard flavor.

How long is homemade co*cktail sauce good for? ›

But how long does homemade co*cktail sauce last in the fridge? The general consensus is one to two weeks. The acidity from the lemon and ketchup will help preserve it, but it won't last as long as those store-bought options. Don't think you can eat it that fast?

What happens if you don't refrigerate co*cktail sauce? ›

Refrigeration: To maximize shelf life, always store co*cktail sauce in the refrigerator. The cooler temperature helps slow down the growth of bacteria, preserving the sauce for longer.

Why is it called co*cktail sauce? ›

co*cktail sauce as we know it now was made after co*cktails with shrimp and other seafood became popular. In fact, the sauce was made to go with them.

Do boiled shrimp float when they are done? ›

Once the shrimp turns pink and floats to the top, it is cooked and ready to be removed from the pot.

Is it better to boil or steam shrimp for shrimp co*cktail? ›

Shrimp co*cktail FAQS:

Steaming is gentler on seafood, but boiling allows you to season the water, locking in more flavor. Why is my shrimp co*cktail watery? It's possible that you overcooked your shrimp or you didn't dry them enough.

Can you put frozen shrimp in boiling water for shrimp co*cktail? ›

Boiling shrimp is a quick and easy way to cook frozen shrimp, making them perfect for shrimp co*cktail or sushi rolls.

Does co*cktail sauce contain horseradish? ›

Directions. In small bowl combine ketchup, horseradish, a dash of Worcestershire, a squirt of lemon, and a dash of Tabasco sauce. Chill and serve.

Is co*cktail sauce the same as ketchup? ›

What is the difference between ketchup and co*cktail sauce by the way? Nick Coe: Not much. Basic co*cktail sauce is chili sauce, which is a type of ketchup that has more peppers… and then you add horseradish, Worcestershire sauce, and lemon juice.

Why does co*cktail sauce taste like ketchup? ›

co*cktail sauce is usually made of a combination of ketchup, horseradish, worcestershire sauce, and lemon juice. You can get fancy and add some black pepper, salt, Tabasco, and even chili sauce to the mix, or you can go super basic and just throw a bunch of horseradish into some ketchup.

What sauce is made from horseradish? ›

What Is Horseradish Sauce Made of? Prepared horseradish is a condiment made from grated horseradish (a spicy root vegetable in the mustard family) mixed with vinegar and salt. To make creamy horseradish sauce, it's then mixed with a creamy element such as heavy cream, sour cream, or mayonnaise.

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