The Best Cocktail Sauce Ever Recipe
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This easy Best Cocktail Sauce Ever Recipe is a zesty homemade sauce that beats any store-bought brand – make in 5 minutes with just 5 ingredients! It has the perfect balance of tangy flavor and a hint of heat, making it the ultimate cocktail sauce to pair with shrimp, oysters, scallops, and more!
A quick, from-scratch recipe that’s been a reader and family favorite for years is simple to make and far more tasty than anything you’ll find in the store. Whether you’re serving at a party or prepping a dinner of boiled shrimp, scallops, or having a shrimp boil, this is the recipe you’ll turn to again and again.
I’m pretty picky about my Cocktail Sauce. The bottled stuff doesn’t make the cut with me. That’s the reason I developed my own years ago. And it’s absolutely the best I’ve ever tasted – and the reason I call it the Best Cocktail Sauce Ever.
Why You’ll Love This Cocktail Sauce Recipe
- Ready in 5 Minutes: No cooking – just mix and refrigerate.
- Better Than Store-Bought: Offers a brighter, deeper flavor from simple ingredients.
- Customizable: You control the level of zesty and heat to your taste.
- Flavorful and Versatile: Perfect with shrimp, crab, oysters, and more.
- Make-Ahead Friendly: Tastes even better after chilling; stores well in the fridge.
Ingredients
Be sure to see the recipe card below for the full listing of ingredients, instructions, notes, and estimated nutritional information.
- Ketchup: Use your favorite mild-tasting brand with minimal ingredients.
- Horseradish: Adds a hint of zesty, spicy flavor. Adjust to your heat preference.
- Worcestershire Sauce: Adds savory depth of flavor. Use coconut aminos if soy-sensitive.
- Fresh Lemon Juice: Enhances the flavor with a fresh brightness.
- Stone House Seasoning: Optional – Try the sauce first, then mix in if desired. My house blend of salt, pepper, and garlic. The ketchup used may affect whether you need it.
- Hot Sauce: Optional – Can add if you want extra heat or serve on the side.
How to Make Homemade Cocktail Sauce Recipe
When serving seafood or an appetizer like shrimp cocktail, this fresh, zesty cocktail sauce is a must!
Step by Step Instructions
- Add ketchup and lemon juice to a mixing bowl.
- Add Worcestershire (or coconut aminos) to bowl.
- Combine fresh horseradish with the ingredients in the mixing bowl.
- All base ingredients are added to the mixing bowl.
- Whisk ingredients together til well blended. Taste and add more horseradish or hot sauce if desired. Add Stone House Seasoning if you wish.
- Serve immediately or refrigerate for about 30 minutes to chill and allow flavors to deepen. Keep refrigerated.
Recipe Success Tips
- Use Fresh Horseradish: Fresh makes a big taste difference—older jars lose potency.
- Use Fresh Lemon Juice: It adds a brighter flavor, but bottled real lemon juice works as well.
- Taste-Test Before Chilling: Adjust the seasoning to your taste before chilling.
- Chill for Best Flavor: Chilling a bit brings flavors together.
- Make a Double Batch: It is a favorite sauce that disappears quickly and stores well!
Storage Tips
- Store: Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks. If the ingredients have settled, stir before serving.
- Make Ahead: Prepare as directed. Store in an airtight container for 1-2 weeks or cover the serving bowl with wrap if serving within 1-2 days. If the ingredients have settled, stir before serving.
- Freeze: Store in an airtight, freezer-safe container for 3 months. Thaw in the refrigerator overnight. There may be a slight texture change once thawed. Stir to ensure it’s well combined before serving.
More Favorite Sauces
- horsey sauce – (Horseradish Sauce)
- comeback sauce
- homemade BBQ sauce
- enchilada sauce
- hollandaise sauce
- caramel sauce
Frequently Asked Questions
Homemade cocktail sauce kept in an airtight container in the refrigerator lasts up to 2 weeks. In an airtight, freezer-safe container, it can be kept in the freezer for up to 3 months.
It’s mild to medium, depending on the amount of horseradish. Start with the amount in the recipe and add more for heat if desired.
Cocktail sauce is delicious served with seafood. Try it with shrimp, scallops, oysters, and more!
Why This is the Best Cocktail Sauce Ever
With its balanced mix of tangy, spicy, sweet, and savory flavors, this homemade cocktail sauce surpasses any store-bought version. It’s quick and customizable, making it the sauce you’ll reach for time and again when serving seafood on your menu!
Homemade Cocktail Sauce Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 cups ketchup
- 2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 2 teaspoons horseradish, adjust to taste
- 1 teaspoon Stone House Seasoning, Optional, to taste
- hot sauce, Optional, to taste
Instructions
- Add the ketchup, lemon juice, Worcestershire sauce (or coconut aminos), and horseradish to a bowl. Mix together until they are well combined. Taste and add more horseradish or hot sauce as desired. Add the Stone House Seasoning if you believe it is needed as well.
- Keep refrigerated.
Notes
-
- Store: Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks. If the ingredients have settled, stir before serving.
- Make Ahead: Prepare as directed. Store in an airtight container for 1-2 weeks or cover the serving bowl with wrap if serving within 1-2 days. If the ingredients have settled, stir before serving.
- Freeze: Store in an airtight, freezer-safe container for 3 months. Thaw in the refrigerator overnight. There may be a slight texture change once thawed. Stir to ensure it’s well combined before serving.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Enjoy!
Robyn xo
I am from Lancaster county ,pa and this is the exact receipe that ived used for 55 years, good for you its great,quick and eazy.
Fantastic. Thank you
Enjoy it! Thanks!
Just made first time ever. it and I give it a 5 out of 5 star. The cocktail sauce was a delight to have and it was WAY better then the jared commercial stuff. I used natural and organic ingredients and WOWIE was this the way to go. While making it I had decided to cut the recipe in half then without realizing until done I only cut the 2 cups of ketchup in half and the rest of it I used the full recipe. O MY GOSH if you like a little Zing to your Zang then DO THIS! No kidding you I thought I ruined the recipe at this point but my husband and I loved it even more. Can’t thank you enough for this recipe. ( : YUMMY!
So glad you enjoyed it and I love that you upped the kick in it! I know I’d love it that way, too as I’m always adding a bit more spice than everyone else! 🙂
This is the best. Thank You
I’ve always mixed ketchup and horseradish, now I know to add the lemon and Worcestershire sauce. No doubt that will take it over the top! You know I’m pinning it!
I just wanted to tell you I made this and it is AWESOME!!
I pinned it to my “Tried It & Liked It” board. Thank You!
Cool. Thank-you!
Try Italian rose …I get it at walmart it’s the best I ever ate including ho made ..it’s in the refrigerated section
If you add just a table of vodka, it becomes transportative….
It’s perfect!!! Exactly how I make mine except I measured ingredients this time! Nothing better than fresh cocktail sauce with boiled shrimp.
Souds perfect!
That bottled stuff doesn’t cut it for me either. Your sauce looks way more yummy!