Homemade Cocktail Sauce

Name: Homemade Shrimp Cocktail Sauce
Prep time: 10 min
Total time: 10 min
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 1 – 6 oz can of tomato paste [see NOTES 1 for substitutions]; 3 Tablespoons of ground horseradish [see NOTES 2 for substitutions]; 1 tablespoon sriracha chili sauce (optional) [add more if not spicy enough]; ¼ teaspoon smoked paprika; 1 teaspoon garlic powder; 1 teaspoon onion powder; 1 ½ teaspoons sea salt; ½ teaspoon black pepper; 2 teaspoon fish sauce [see NOTES 3 for substitutions]; ¼ cup vegetable broth/stock (Use Code: JENNSMITH15 to 15% off at Gourmend); ¼ teaspoon of honey (optional) [see NOTES 4 for substitutions]

ByJenn Giam Smith January 23, 2025January 29, 2025

Discover this quick 5-minute classic cocktail sauce recipe that uses just a few simple ingredients and can be tailored to suit your taste preferences. Once you try it, you’ll never reach for store-bought cocktail sauce again!

This recipe yields about 8 oz of sauce

This post may contain affiliate links. That means I may make a small commission on items purchased through links in this post at no extra cost to you! Affiliate Disclaimer

Jump to Recipe·Print Recipe·Leave a Review

a bowl of cocktail sauce on a white table

I can’t even remember the last time I reached for a store-bought cocktail sauce! Making it at home has become my go-to choice! It all began with a simple mix of ketchup and horseradish, but over time, I was on a quest to create the ultimate thick and spicy cocktail sauce. I don’t know about you all, but my husband and I prefer that extra kick of heat!

Let me tell you, homemade is a game-changer! You probably have everything you need right in your fridge and cupboard, just waiting to be transformed into something spectacular. Once you try whipping this up yourself, I guarantee you’ll never go back to the jarred stuff!

The absolute best part? You can personalize it to match your taste buds! Not a fan of heat? Just leave out the sriracha! Want to turn up the spice dial? Go wild with extra sriracha! Craving a touch of sweetness? A drizzle of honey will do the trick. Prefer to skip the sweet stuff? No problem at all! The possibilities are endless, and the deliciousness is all yours! Ready to make it?

My Latest Food Videos

Cocktail Sauce Ingredients

Tomato Paste is the foundation for this classic Cocktail Sauce (typically it’s ketchup).

Horseradish is what gives the cocktail sauce its signature flavor. I personally prefer ground horseradish, which is courser than the creamy style. Just make sure that the horseradish you buy is stored with vinegar and salt. It gives it a briny flavor.

Worcestershire Sauce adds a bit of sweetness and umami flavor.

Jenn’s Notes:

Be sure to use ground horseradish and not fresh horseradish! Ground horseradish is still prepared horseradish, but not so much of a sauce. It’s chunkier and still has salt and vinegar added to it.

fish sauce adds tang, more umami, and salt.

Salt and Freshly ground black pepper boost flavor (but you don’t need a lot of either)

Sriracha Chili Sauce for spice, so add a little, a lot, or leave it out altogether.

vegetable broth/stock adds a little liquid to the paste to help break it up a little so you can actually dip.

honey adds that sweetness you usually find in ketchup (skip it if you would rather not have a sweetness).

Serving your cocktail sauce

The obvious is shrimp. I love playing with different ways to display my shrimp.

shrimp on a platter with a bowl of sauce

shrimp and sauce on a fan-shaped plate with a bowl of cocktail sauce at the bottom

shrimp one a round green and gold plat and a square bowl of sauce in the middle with one shrimp in the middle

shop the post

Thyme & Table Stoneware Ramekin, Black & White Dot, 2-Piece Set

Buy Now →

Yellowstone 12-Piece Ceramic Dinnerware Set, Rip Collection

Buy Now →

Storage

Your homemade cocktail sauce can be kept in an airtight container and stored either in your fridge or freezer. The will last:

Refrigerated: up to 6 months.
Frozen: up to 12 months.

Ello Duraglass Reusable Glass Condiment Containers with Leak Proof Plastic Lid, 4 oz, Set of 3

Buy Now →

Cooking with Kids

DISCLOSURE: These tips are generalized, and meant to be suggestive. Everything I’m sharing I do with my kids, and they are all different even within my own five. So please take these as suggestions or ideas and if you think your child needs more or less help, then go with what you and your child are comfortable with. Ultimately, you know your kids, do what YOU think is best.

measuring the ingredients and putting them into the bowl.
mixing the ingredients
plating the cocktail sauce and shrimp (let them get creative).

Did you try it, have questions?

Your feedback is important to me! Please let me know what you think of this mashed potato pancakes recipe in the comments, and don’t forget to rate this recipe using the star icons. Your input helps me improve future posts and the blog overall, and in the end, it all helps me to help YOU. Thank you!

Don’t forget to tag me on Instagram or Facebook, @jenngiamsmith #JennGiamSmith I will always share your posts on my stories and tag you! You can also share it on this post’s Pinterest Pin! Don’t forget to follow me on Pinterest for a steady stream of recipe (and other) inspiration!

It’s always wonderful to see loved ones coming together over delicious food.

Recipe Card powered by

Want to remember this post?

Pin it to your favorite Pinterest Board!

This Blog Post is ©2025 Jenn Giam Smith™; Jenn Smith, LLC; Always Jenn Smith (FKA Smith Country, LLC) See below for details

Please Be Respectful

All rights reserved. You may NOT sell, trade, share or redistribute this recipe in any way or use any of my photographs for your site. If you are linking back to this post to a list of recipes, giving credit for the recipe to myself and my site, you may use ONE photo. You must site me and my blog as the creators of the recipe and give credit for the photo. ©2025 Jenn Giam Smith; Jenn Smith, LLC

Jenn Giam Smith™; Jenn Smith, LLC is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com. As well as the Apple affiliate program now called the Performance Partners Program.

This site displays third-party ads and contains affiliate links, See terms and conditions for ALL affiliates.

Feel free to comment below or e-mail me directly if you have any questions.

Thank you for visiting!

Jenn Giam Smith

My name is Jenn, I'm wife to a true blue Wisconsin Man and mom of 5. I'm here sharing my passion for food, craft, family, & life (especially my love of Wisconsin)! I grew up in a food-oriented family. Most of my recipes are a mix of fun and easy (sometimes fast), and when I can... I add a bit of my family's Chinese-American-European roots.