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This Homemade Cocktail Sauce recipe takes just 5 minutes to make with no cooking, just stir and taste. This batch makes about 1½ cups (roughly 12 servings), with a 6-ounce small-batch option if you need less. The method is simple: ketchup, prepared horseradish, a squeeze of lemon, a splash of Worcestershire, and my chili-garlic twist. The flavor is bright, tangy, and zippy with adjustable heat – keep it mild or dial it up.
Why This Cocktail Sauce is the Best ever
- 5 minutes, no cooking. Just stir and taste – done.
- Makes about 1½ cups (about 12 servings). Small-batch (6 oz) option in the notes.
- Easy method. Ketchup + prepared horseradish, a squeeze of lemon, a splash of Worcestershire, and my chili-garlic twist.
- Flavor hook. Bright, tangy, and zippy with adjustable heat – mild to whoa, you decide.
I played with the amounts a little bit, this recipe is amazing. I’m planning on serving this at a birthday party this weekend. I can’t wait for everyone to taste it!
– billie
Classic Cocktail sauce is a zippy condiment generally served with cold seafood like shrimp, lump crabmeat, oysters, or clams. If you’ve had a shrimp cocktail (or you eat a lot of seafood), you’ve probably had it before, but I bet you’ve never had it like this!
A bottle of cocktail sauce is just fine from the grocery store, but homemade is where it’s at. Tested across multiple shrimp-party platters and weeknight seafood dinners, this is my go-to cocktail sauce for balanced heat and brightness. It’s not only fabulous for the ever popular shrimp cocktail but we put it on our oysters, fried fish, and those frozen fish sticks my kids love so much as an alternative to tartar sauce.
My dipping sauce is the perfect complement for all kinds of seafood (Dungeness crab legs, anyone?) and you can make it in advance for parties and holiday gatherings. The best part is that when you make your own cocktail sauce, you can tweak the recipe to give it more kick (hello, horseradish!), make it milder (good-bye, horseradish!) and customize it to your family’s preferences.
Ingredients for Cocktail Sauce
Here’s a list of simple ingredients you’ll need for this easy seafood sauce recipe. For the full measurements, scroll down to the recipe card.
- Ketchup – The base of this cocktail sauce recipe. You can use your favorite brand or my homemade ketchup recipe.
- Chili Garlic Sauce – Adds heat and sweetness. You can use regular chili sauce if you’d like, which is the more traditional option.
- Horseradish – Fresh Horseradish adds a unique kind of heat; it’s pungent and sharp and it gives cocktail sauce its signature flavor.
- Worcestershire Sauce – For depth and lots of umami.
- Lemon Juice – Lemon is always good with seafood, but it’s especially good in this recipe because the acid adds a counterbalance to the horseradish.
- Hot Sauce – For a little more heat, I like to use hot sauce like Tabasco Sauce. You can skip this if you find the horseradish spicy enough.
Ingredient Substitutions
| Ingredient | Why it’s here | Easy swap | How to swap (ratio) | Notes & flavor impact |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chili-garlic sauce | Gentle heat, garlicky depth, body | Classic chili sauce (e.g., Heinz) + pinch of minced garlic | 1:1 for the chili-garlic sauce; add a tiny pinch of garlic to taste | Keeps it classic and slightly sweeter; add a dash of hot sauce if you miss the kick. |
| Prepared horseradish | Signature zestiness and heat | Freshly grated horseradish | Start with ½ the prepared amount, then add to taste | Fresh is hotter and more volatile, creeps up fast. Adjust in ½-tsp increments. |
| Lemon juice | Brightness and balance | White wine vinegar | 1 Tbsp lemon = 2 tsp vinegar | A touch sharper; whisk in and taste, add a pinch of sugar if it reads too tart. |
| Worcestershire sauce | Savory backbone (meatiness + molasses notes) | Fish sauce (tiny splash) | Use ¼–½ tsp fish sauce in place of 1 tsp Worcestershire | Adds clean saltiness without sweetness; go light, too much can dominate. |
Small-batch note: If you’re making a 6-oz batch, keep the same ratios, just scale everything down and add heat in tiny increments.
How to Make Cocktail Sauce
You’re just a few minutes away from the best homemade cocktail sauce recipe ever! Here’s what you’ll need to do.
- Combine. Add all of the ingredients to a mixing bowl.
- Mix. Whisk until everything is incorporated and the mixture is smooth.
- Taste. Check for seasonings and spice level. Add additional horseradish or hot sauce if you like a spicy cocktail sauce. Add salt and black pepper, if desired.
- Store or use. If you can let the sauce sit a few minutes before using it, that will allow the flavors to meld a bit. Transfer to a serving bowl and serve.
Adjust the Heat
Start mild with 1 Tbsp prepared horseradish per 1½ cups of sauce, then taste and add ½ tsp at a time until it hits your heat tolerance. Want extra kick? Add 3-6 dashes of hot sauce, tasting after every 2 dashes. For a small 6-oz batch, begin with 1-2 tsp horseradish and bump in ¼-tsp increments.
Tip: if using freshly grated horseradish, start at ½ the prepared amount, it’s much stronger. Let the sauce rest 5 minutes after adjusting; the heat blooms as it sits.
Storage & Make-Ahead: Up to 5 Days (Fridge)
- Airtight and chilled: Store in a sealed jar or airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
- Make it early: Mix it the night before (or morning of) so the flavors can blend.
- Before serving: Stir, taste, and add a squeeze of lemon or a pinch of horseradish if you want extra pop.
- Small-batch friendly: Same timeline for a 6-oz batch, just scale and season to taste.
Pro tip: Spoon what you need into a ramekin and keep the rest chilled—no double-dipping.It’s a fantastic centerpiece for a seafood tower or alongside this super popular Cheesy Crab dip!
What to Serve With Cocktail Sauce
This shrimp Cocktail Sauce is fantastic with just about any fish or shellfish. My favorite way to serve it is with this Garlic Roasted Shrimp Cocktail recipe but it’s also fabulous served alongside these Classic Crab Cakes with a few lemon wedges. It’s also a staple at many oyster houses, as it adds a great sweet heat to the brininess of the oysters.
We also love dipping into it with this crispy Coconut Shrimp!
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Cocktail Sauce Recipe
Equipment
- whisk
- measuring spoon
- measuring cup
Ingredients
- 1/4 cup ketchup
- 1/4 cup chili garlic sauce
- 1 tablespoon horseradish
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon hot sauce
Instructions
- Add the ketchup, chili garlic sauce, horseradish, Worcestershire sauce, lemon juice and hot sauce in a bowl.
- Whisk together the ingredients until combined.
- Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator until ready to serve.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Yes, use extra chili sauce plus a pinch of minced garlic and a few dashes of hot sauce for heat. It won’t have that classic “horseradish zing,” but it’s still tangy and delicious.
Up to 5 days in the fridge in a sealed container. Stir before serving and taste, add a squeeze of lemon or a pinch of horseradish if you want more pop.
Not quite. Chili sauce is like a spiced-up ketchup, slightly sweeter and seasoned. If you only have ketchup, you can substitute it 1:1 and add a tiny pinch of garlic and a dash of hot sauce to mimic the flavor.
haven’t tried it yet…but where did you get that FABULOUS serving spoon for the sauce. I want one !
I bought them at an asian market near me. I looked for them on Amazon but no luck.
I played with the amounts a little bit, this recipe is amazing. I’m planning on serving this at a birthday party this weekend. I can’t wait for everyone to taste it!
Thank you very much! We make this all the time when we have shrimp or other shellfish.
Oh wow , there is so much variety , really need to try this one too ..Thanks for sharing !!
Thank you!
Homemade is always better! This is super easy and looks delicious!
Oops meant to give it a rating too!
My kids adore shrimp…I need to try your sauce sometime for them!
Yes! Because i never have the store bought stuff when I need it. This is perfect and so much better!
I could eat this with shrimp all day every day!
Hi…proud to be on your mailing List..most of your recipes are saved and posted to my my social media accounts…The cocktail Sauce recipe is awesome but it is made of ready made Ingredients…I wish if possible to have similar recipe but to use fresh Ingredients and make it at Home…
Hi! I actually linked to my homemade ketchup recipe so that you could use that if you want it completely from scratch. Not everyone is that adventurous in the kitchen but I totally recommend it if you’re up for the time involvement. 🙂