Once you make this Homemade Cocktail Sauce Recipe, you’ll never want to buy the pre-made stuff again!

Pair this zippy and flavorful cocktail sauce with shrimp, crab, fried mozzarella sticks, burgers and so much more.

What Is Cocktail Sauce?

Cocktail sauce is a ketchup-based sauce that is perfect for dipping cooked shrimp in. It’s most popular with shrimp cocktail, but can also be used to enhance the flavor of eggs, omelets, crab, hush puppies and more.

The main ingredient in cocktail sauce is ketchup, but the second most important ingredient is horseradish sauce.

Horseradish sauce is found in the condiment aisle of the grocery store, near the ketchup. Look for “prepared horseradish” when buying it. Horseradish is a root vegetable that has quite the kick to it. It’s commonly found in other sauces like wasabi, or my Creamy Horseradish Sauce that’s great for steaks.

Ingredients In Cocktail Sauce

Here’s the basic list of ingredients you’ll need in order to make this sauce at home. As always, you can find the full printable recipe located in the recipe card below.

Ketchup
Lemon Juice – fresh is best, but you can use bottled if in a pinch
Worcestershire Sauce – adds a subtle savory flavor
Prepared Horseradish – this comes in varying heats, use your preference
Garlic
Black Pepper

ingredients in cocktail sauce on wooden table with shrimp

How To Make Homemade Cocktail Sauce Recipe

This recipe for easy cocktail sauce is as simple as combining all the ingredients together in a bowl, whisking and serving.

How To Store

As with most freshly made condiments, you’ll want to store this cocktail sauce in an airtight container in the fridge. Cocktail sauce can last for up to 6 months in the fridge if stored properly.

These are my favorite containers for storing sauces.

dipping shrimp in cocktail sauce

How To Use Cocktail Sauce

The most popular way to use cocktail sauce is in Shrimp Cocktail. Shrimp cocktail is cooked shrimp, usually served chilled, with the cocktail sauce served on the side.

Here are some more of my favorite ways to use cocktail sauce…

On crab cakes
With eggs or omelets
As a topping for burgers or hotdogs
Mixed into meatloaf for little extra zip

More Sauce Recipes To Try

Looking for more dips and sauces to make at home? Here are some of our favorites…

Creamy Horseradish Sauce – great for using on Prime Rib or Beef Tenderloin
Tartar Sauce – perfect for dipping my Crispy Beer Battered Fish
Hollandaise Sauce – a fantastic topping to eggs, seafood and vegetables
Homemade Enchilada Sauce – you’ll never buy the canned stuff again!

Plate of shrimp with lemon and cocktail sauce

I can’t wait for you to try this delicious and zippy sauce!

white bowl with cocktail sauce and shrimp

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