This homemade Cocktail Sauce recipe is just the ticket for your next seafood extravaganza. It's made with a mix of pantry staples and fresh ingredients for a delicious combination that's a must for your go-to condiments menu.
Easy Cocktail Sauce Recipe
Cocktail sauce is a classic seafood dipping sauce that everyone should know how to make. The marriage of horseradish and hot sauce plus fresh lemon juice and lemon zest combine with the seasonings for a stellar seafood accoutrement. The beauty of making it yourself is; you can adjust the amount of horseradish to suit your taste giving it more of a kick or less, depending on your personal preference.
How to Make the Best Cocktail Sauce Recipe
- Ingredients you'll need to make Homemade Cocktail Sauce: Ketchup, chili sauce (i.e. Heinz or similar private label brand) prepared horseradish, lemon juice, lemon zest, worcestershire sauce, sriracha or classic hot sauce and minced garlic cloves.
- Kitchen gadgets you'll need: A medium size bowl, whisk, measuring cups and spoons, a sharp knife and chopping board, lemon zester and a mason jar or similar airtight container for storing.
- Please note: The chili sauce used in this recipe isn't Asian chili sauce. It's typically found with the ketchup and other prepared sauces on the condiment aisle of most grocery stores. Asian chili sauce is typically sweet and includes crushed red pepper flakes or Asian chiles to give it a considerable punch of flavor. If you use it along with the horseradish and hot sauce, it may not be that pleasant to eat. This, coming from a family that loves to bring the heat to meal time!
- Serve this easy cocktail sauce with fried or grilled shrimp, prawns, grilled fish or fried fish, if that's your pleasure. You can also use it as an ingredient for making sauces for dipping meatballs, Southern sausage balls, pigs in the blanket, 'lil smokies or as a condiment for fish sandwiches, crab cakes, Louisiana po'boys and more. If you can imagine it, you can do it.
- Store this easy Cocktail Sauce chilled in the refrigerator for up to one week possibly a bit longer if kept well chilled. Use clean utensils each time you serve it for the best shelf life.
Southern Style Seafood Recipes to Serve with Cocktail Sauce
Now that you've got your cocktail sauce made, you'll need inspiration for what to pair with it. Seafood recipes you may like to try:
- Crispy Baked Flounder is oven fried and is a cinch to make.
- Best ever Shrimp Cocktail comes with an additional lemon dill sauce for dipping.
- Beer Battered Fish is sheer perfection as an entree, served on a toasted kaiser roll or turned into tacos.
- Air Fryer Shrimp is perfectly seasoned.
- Whip-up a batch of my Southern Fried Catfish and watch it disappear.
- Salmon Patties are just like my Mom used to make.
- Jumbo Lump Crab Cakes melt in your mouth.
- Broiled Lobster Tail from Wholesome Yum.
Thanks for visiting come back soon!
DISCLOSURE ~ IF A PURCHASE IS MADE USING ONE OF THE AFFILIATE LINKS ON THIS WEBSITE WE MAY EARN A SMALL COMMISSION AT NO ADDITIONAL COST TO YOU. THANK YOU!
Helpful Kitchen Items:
Cocktail Sauce
Ingredients
- ½ cup ketchup
- ½ cup chili sauce (i.e. Heinz or similar)
- 1-2 tablespoon prepared horseradish
- 2 tablespoon lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon lemon zest
- 2 teaspoon sriracha sauce or classic hot sauce adapt to taste
- 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 medium clove garlic finely minced
Instructions
- In a small bowl whisk together ketchup, chili sauce, horseradish, garlic, lemon juice, lemon zest, hot sauce, Worcestershire sauce and garlic. Chill for at least 4 hours or overnight before serving.
- Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 1 week. (Makes around 1 ¼ cup)
Patty
Do you know if this recipe is able to be canned? Sounds delicious! Thank you!
Melissa
Hi Patty, it's a great question, I haven't tested it. If you try it let us know how it goes.