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Classic Shrimp Cocktail with Sauce

This classic shrimp cocktail is a simple yet elegant appetizer featuring perfectly cooked extra jumbo shrimp served ice-cold with a zesty homemade cocktail sauce. Just boil, chill, and mix — and you’re ready to impress.

Succulent shrimp hanging on the rim of a cocktail glass filled with a red drink.

Shrimp cocktail is one of those timeless appetizers that never goes out of style. With minimal ingredients and just a few simple steps, you can have a platter of perfectly chilled, tail-on shrimp ready to serve in under 30 minutes.

The homemade cocktail sauce takes this recipe from good to great — it’s a tangy blend of ketchup, chili sauce, lemon juice, and just enough heat from horseradish and Tabasco. Serve it in a martini glass, on a platter of ice, or however you like to present your shrimp for a special occasion.

Why You’ll Love It

Quick and easy. From stovetop to serving in about 25 minutes, with no fancy prep.

Elegant and timeless. A cold shrimp cocktail is always a crowd-pleasing classic.

Homemade flavor. The cocktail sauce is tangy, bold, and customizable to your taste.

Great make-ahead option. Shrimp and sauce can both be chilled in advance.

Steps to Make This Recipe

  1. Peel and devein the shrimp, leaving the tails on. Rinse and set aside a bowl of ice water.
  2. Bring a pot of salted water to a boil. Add the shrimp and cook for 2 to 3 minutes, or until pink and just curled.
  3. Transfer the cooked shrimp immediately to the ice water to stop cooking.
  4. Once cooled, drain and refrigerate until ready to serve.
  5. Combine all cocktail sauce ingredients in a bowl. Stir, cover, and refrigerate until serving time.
  6. Serve the cold shrimp with lemon wedges and cocktail sauce on the side.

⏲️ Make-Ahead Tip

Cook and chill the shrimp up to a day ahead, and make the cocktail sauce in advance. Keep both covered and refrigerated until serving time.

Recipe Variations

  • Add aromatics to the boil. Try a few lemon slices, peppercorns, a bay leaf, or crushed garlic in the water to infuse the shrimp with subtle flavor.
  • Adjust the heat. Add more or less horseradish or Tabasco to the sauce to suit your taste.
  • Use smaller shrimp. If using smaller shrimp, reduce boiling time to about 1½ to 2 minutes.
  • Try store-bought sauce. If you’re short on time, use a good bottled cocktail sauce and jazz it up with lemon juice or hot sauce.

Serving Suggestions

  • Serve chilled on a bed of crushed ice or in cocktail glasses.
  • Pair with lemon wedges and crisp white wine or sparkling water.
  • Add to a seafood platter for a holiday buffet or dinner party appetizer.

How to Store and Reheat

Store: Keep cooked shrimp refrigerated in an airtight container for up to 2 days.

Sauce: The cocktail sauce can be made up to 3 days in advance and stored in the refrigerator.

Reheat: Shrimp cocktail is meant to be served cold — no reheating needed!

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Classic Shrimp Cocktail

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Enjoy this delicious shrimp cocktail as an appetizer or extra-special snack. The homemade cocktail sauce is amazing!

  • Author: Diana
  • Prep Time: 20 minutes
  • Cook Time: 5 minutes
  • Total Time: 25 minutes
  • Yield: 10 appetizer servings 1x
  • Category: Shrimp
  • Method: Stovetop
  • Cuisine: American

Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 pounds extra jumbo shrimp (about 20 per pound)
  • 1/3 cup ketchup
  • 2/3 cup chili sauce *
  • 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
  • 1/8 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 tablespoon prepared horseradish (optional)
  • Dash salt (or to taste)
  • A few drops of Tabasco sauce (or to taste)
  • Lemon wedges (for serving, optional)

Instructions

  1. Prep the shrimp. Peel the shrimp, leaving the tails on. With a sharp knife, make a shallow cut down the back of the shrimp and remove the dark veins. Rinse under cold water. Fill a bowl with ice and water; set aside.
  2. Cook the shrimp. Bring a pot of salted water (1 tablespoon salt per quart) to a boil and add the shrimp. Cook for 2 to 3 minutes or until the shrimp turn pink and slightly, to resemble a loose “C.” Immediately transfer the cooked shrimp to the ice water to stop the cooking process.
  3. Chill the shrimp. Drain, cover the bowl, and refrigerate the shrimp until serving time.
  4. Make the cocktail sauce. In a bowl, combine the ketchup, chili sauce, lemon juice, Worcestershire sauce, horseradish, salt, and Tabasco sauce. Stir to blend thoroughly. Cover and chill the sauce until serving time.
  5. Serve. Serve the shrimp ice cold with the cocktail sauce.

Notes

* Note: This recipe uses classic American-style chili sauce, such as Heinz. It’s a thick, tomato-based condiment with mild spices — not to be confused with Asian chili-garlic sauce, which is much hotter and more pungent. Look for it near the ketchup in the condiments aisle.

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 4 pieces
  • Calories: 106
  • Sugar: 4.8 g
  • Sodium: 685.4 mg
  • Fat: 0.5 g
  • Carbohydrates: 6.7 g
  • Fiber: 0.5 g
  • Protein: 18.7 g

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