co*cktail Sauce Recipe (2024)

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Forget about the bottled stuff, this homemade co*cktail Sauce recipe is so much better than anything you can buy at the store. A short list of easy to stock ingredients creates this zingy condiment in about 5 minutes!

My Homemade Tartar Sauce recipe is another easy seafood sauce that rivals store-bought.

co*cktail Sauce Recipe (1)

I recently bought some gorgeous shrimp for shrimp co*cktail and was positive I had a bottle of co*cktail sauce (or fish ketchup, as my boys have always called it) in my pantry. Well, nope! No sauce.

I had two choices. Mix up a homemade co*cktail sauce or skip the shrimp co*cktail. I went with the former and oh my!

I was shocked at how easy it is to create a super fresh, super delicious co*cktail sauce with ingredients I always have on hand. Why in the heck did it take me so long to do this?

co*cktail Sauce Recipe (2)

I will now and forever make co*cktail Sauce from scratch. No more store-bought sauce for me.

Table of contents

  • co*cktail Sauce Ingredients
  • How to Make co*cktail Sauce
  • Storage Tips
  • Serving Suggestions

co*cktail Sauce Ingredients

co*cktail Sauce Recipe (3)
  • Ketchup – Sweet and tomato-based – ketchup is the foundation for a good classic co*cktail Sauce.
  • Horseradish– I have made this recipe with both cream-style horseradish and extra hot horseradish and they were both great.
  • Worcestershire Sauce – Adds a bit of umami flavor.
  • Lemon – Fresh lemon juice is a must. It really wakes up the flavor and helps balance it out.
  • Freshly ground black pepper – Just a pinch for flavor.
  • Tabasco Sauce – Add a little or a lot or leave it out altogether for a delicious, but milder sauce.

A big bonus to making your own co*cktail Sauce is that theheat can easily be adjusted by increasing or decreasing the horseradish and Tabasco. Make a super mild, kid-friendly sauce or spice it up as much as you’d like.

co*cktail Sauce Recipe (4)

How to Make co*cktail Sauce

co*cktail Sauce Recipe (5)
  1. In a small bowl, combine the ketchup and 1 tablespoon of the horseradish.
  2. Add the lemon juice, Worcestershire sauce, pepper, and Tabasco.
  3. Taste and add additional horseradish and/or hot sauce, if needed.

The sinus clearing zing in co*cktail sauce comes from horseradish. I recommend starting with a small amount and working your way up to the flavor you’re after.

Storage Tips

If you plan to use the co*cktail Sauce within a day or two, just cover the bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate until ready to serve.

For longer storage, transfer the sauce to an airtight container before refrigerating. The acid in the lemon and ketchup should help it stay fresh and tasty for up to two weeks.

co*cktail Sauce Recipe (6)

Serving Suggestions

What goes with co*cktail sauce? It goes beyond simple shrimp co*cktail!

  • A triple batch of this recipe can be used to make a stunning Mexican Shrimp co*cktail.
  • Serve it as a dipping sauce for Air Fryer Fish Sticks or Crispy Baked Fish.
  • Mix a little into a simple meatloaf recipe or spread it over the top before baking.
  • Place a small bowl on a platter with homemade Crab Cakes for a delicious appetizer.
  • Use co*cktail sauce for dipping Everything Bagel Pigs in a Blanket.

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co*cktail Sauce Recipe (7)

co*cktail Sauce Recipe

5 from 2 votes

Forget about the bottled stuff, this homemade co*cktail Sauce recipe is so much better than anything you can buy at the store. A short list of easy to stock ingredients creates this zingy condiment in about 5 minutes!

Course: Condiment

Cuisine: American

Author: Valerie Brunmeier

Keyword: co*cktail sauce recipe

Print RecipePin RecipeRate Recipe

Prep Time:5 minutes minutes

Total Time:5 minutes minutes

Servings: 6

Ingredients

  • ½ cup ketchup
  • 1 to 2 tablespoons prepared horseradish, as needed (extra hot or creamed)
  • 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice, or to taste
  • ¼ teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
  • Pinch of freshly ground black pepper
  • Few drops of Tabasco, to taste

Instructions

  • In a small bowl, combine the ketchup, 1 tablespoon of the horseradish, lemon juice, Worcestershire sauce, pepper, and Tabasco. Taste and add additional horseradish and/or hot sauce, if needed.

  • Cover and refrigerate until ready to use.

Nutrition

Serving: 1.5 tablespoons · Calories: 22 kcal · Carbohydrates: 6 g · Protein: 0.2 g · Fat: 0.04 g · Saturated Fat: 0.01 g · Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.02 g · Monounsaturated Fat: 0.01 g · Sodium: 195 mg · Potassium: 67 mg · Fiber: 0.2 g · Sugar: 5 g · Vitamin A: 103 IU · Vitamin C: 2 mg · Calcium: 5 mg · Iron: 0.1 mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated using generic ingredients, and is an estimate not a guarantee. For more accurate results, please refer to the labels on your ingredients at home.

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co*cktail Sauce Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is co*cktail sauce made of? ›

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.

What can I use instead of 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 will homemade co*cktail sauce last in the refrigerator? ›

According to the USDA, bottled co*cktail sauce can last in the fridge after it's been opened for up to six months like ketchup. But how long does homemade co*cktail sauce last in the fridge? The general consensus is one to two weeks.

What do you call ketchup and mayo mixed together? ›

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.

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.

What can you eat shrimp with besides co*cktail sauce? ›

There's a nice variety of seafood sauces to choose from: co*cktail Seafood Sauce, Tartare, Marie Rose / Thousand Island, or a Thai Chilli Lime Sauce for something fresher.

What is a substitute for horseradish? ›

Daikon and black radish are great swaps for fresh, raw grated horseradish, though they aren't as fiery and will yield a milder, juicier end product. Because of this, use twice as much daikon or radish as horseradish, though it will still be milder than horseradish.

What is a fancy word for co*cktail sauce? ›

Synonyms for co*cktail sauce
  • seafood sauce. n.
  • newburg sauce.
  • remoulade sauce.
  • shrimp sauce.
  • thousand island dressing.
  • aioli.
  • chipotle mayo.
  • dijon mustard.

Is shrimp with co*cktail sauce healthy? ›

As far as finger food goes, shrimp co*cktail is nutritionally one of the healthier options out there. Consider: One large shrimp has just 7 calories and almost no fat yet packs more than a gram of protein.

Is Thousand Island the same as seafood sauce? ›

It's worth noting that thousand island dressing is pretty similar to Marie Rose sauce, sometimes called seafood sauce or co*cktail sauce in the UK. This is the stuff that Brits put on their shrimp co*cktail, thus different from here in North America where we use a mixture of ketchup and horseradish sauce.

How to tell if co*cktail sauce is bad? ›

Visible discoloration or mold is a sure no-go, as is any sliminess. While the sauce is meant to be pungent and tangy, an intensely sour or unpleasant odor or taste is certainly a sign that it is past the point of no return.

Can ketchup go bad? ›

Yes, ketchup can go bad. If unopened, commercial ketchup “can last for up to a year in your pantry,” says Okegbe, but once opened and refrigerated, it should ideally be consumed within six months. If left in the pantry once opened, use up the ketchup within a month to be safe.

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

You can store unopened jarred co*cktail sauce at room temperature up until its expiration date. Once opened, though, it is far more ideal to store the sauce in the refrigerator, where it will last for up to six months. If you are storing homemade co*cktail sauce, the guidelines differ, however.

Is co*cktail sauce unhealthy? ›

co*cktail Sauce is healthy, but it also has several nutritional values and health benefits. This tomato-based condiment is fat-free and adds advantages to the other ingredients like garlic, lemon, horseradish, etc. However, the sauce has high amounts of sugar and salt in it.

What's the difference between ketchup and co*cktail sauce? ›

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.

Is there any alcohol in co*cktail sauce? ›

"co*cktail sauce" is a bit of a misleading name since, despite all these varying mix-ins, the appetizer isn't made with alcohol. Instead, the name refers to the dish's prevalence in Prohibiton-era eateries and how it was served inside a co*cktail glass.

Is Heinz chili sauce the same as co*cktail sauce? ›

There are only five ingredients in co*cktail sauce, and you probably have most of them in your cupboard already. Ketchup and chili sauce are added in equal parts. Heinz chili sauce has a tomato base, like ketchup, but it isn't sweet. Strangely, in defiance of its name, it doesn't contain chilis.

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