I’m a die-hard dipper. Pile on the sauce, then give me some more, and make it bold! When it comes to seafood, one of the most quintessential sauces is Cocktail Sauce. This tomato-based sauce recipe has zing from the horseradish, tang from the lemon, and heat from the hot sauce. You’ll be amazed how budget-friendly and easy it is to make. There’s a good chance you already have most, if not all, of the ingredients to make this easy seafood sauce at home already!
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Quick 5‑Minute Cocktail Sauce
I was recently perfecting my air fryer fried shrimp recipe when I realized I didn’t have anything to pair it with. Instead of running to the store, I took a quick look in my kitchen and realized I had everything needed to make a zippy, fresh, and easily customizable cocktail sauce. Just some ketchup, prepared horseradish, lemon juice, Worcestershire, hot sauce, and simple seasonings…that’s it. After a little taste-testing, I landed on the perfect mix, and now I can make it bolder, tangier, or spicier whenever I want! Honestly, I’m never buying a store-bought cocktail sauce again.
Cocktail Sauce Recipe
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- ½ cup ketchup ($0.24*)
- 2 Tbsp prepared horseradish ($0.54**)
- ½ lemon (juiced ($0.29)***)
- ½ Tbsp Worcestershire sauce ($0.03)
- ¼ tsp hot sauce ($0.01)
- ⅛ tsp salt ($0.01)
- ⅛ tsp black pepper (freshly cracked, $0.02)
Gather and prepare all ingredients.
In a medium bowl, add all ingredients. Stir to combine.
You can eat right away or refrigerate.
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**Make sure to use prepared horseradish, not horseradish sauce—they aren’t the same. I found my prepared horseradish at Kroger’s.
***You can use bottled lemon juice instead of fresh (1.5-2 Tbsp of bottled lemon juice).
Serving: 1serving (¼ cup)Calories: 73kcalCarbohydrates: 20gProtein: 1gFat: 0.2gSodium: 821mgFiber: 1g
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nutrition disclaimer here.
how to make Cocktail Sauce step-by-step photos
Gather all of your ingredients.
Make the sauce: Add ½ cup ketchup, 2 Tbsp prepared horseradish, the juice from ½ a lemon, ½ Tbsp Worcestershire sauce, ¼ tsp hot sauce, ⅛ tsp salt, and ⅛ tsp black pepper to a bowl.
Stir well to combine. Now your homemade cocktail sauce is ready to serve!
This recipe for cocktail sauce lands at a nice balance of zesty and tangy. But you can think of it as your flavor base and adjust the ingredients to your liking. Want more spice? Stir in extra horseradish or hot sauce. Prefer it mild? Scale them back until it’s exactly how you like it.
Serving Suggestions
This easy recipe makes a great shrimp cocktail sauce. As mentioned earlier, I originally made it for air fryer fried shrimp, but it’s also delicious spooned over juicy grilled shrimp or served with crab cakes for a restaurant-style meal at home. You can even swap your usual tartar sauce for this zippy seafood sauce the next time you make crispy fish sticks. Basically, it pairs well with just about any seafood! But for something different, try it spread in sandwiches, as a dip for roasted veggies, or on a chicken burger!
You can also stir it into a Bloody Mary mix (it’s made with very similar ingredients) to make sure nothing goes to waste!
Storage Instructions
This easy cocktail sauce recipe makes a small batch (enough for two servings), but can be scaled up or down easily depending on how many people you’re serving. If you have any leftovers, store them in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 1-2 weeks. You can also freeze this recipe for up to 6 months, but note the texture might be different once thawed. I recommend using the sauce within 24 hours of thawing. Give the sauce a good stir before serving, as it can thicken in storage.