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The Best 5-Minute Homemade Cocktail Sauce Recipe

Close-up of vibrant red, chunky homemade cocktail sauce recipe served in a small white ramekin.

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Make this quick and easy homemade cocktail sauce in five minutes. This zesty, tangy dipping sauce tastes much better than store-bought versions and pairs perfectly with shrimp and all your favorite seafood.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 cup ketchup
  • 1/4 cup prepared horseradish (adjust for your preferred spice level)
  • 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
  • 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
  • 1/4 teaspoon hot sauce (optional, for extra heat)

Instructions

  1. Gather all your ingredients. You need only five common pantry items for this recipe.
  2. In a small bowl, combine the ketchup, prepared horseradish, fresh lemon juice, Worcestershire sauce, and hot sauce, if you are using it.
  3. Stir the mixture well until all ingredients are fully incorporated and the sauce is a uniform color.
  4. Taste the sauce. Add more horseradish for more bite or more lemon juice for more tang.
  5. Serve immediately with chilled shrimp, crab cakes, or oysters. For best flavor, chill the sauce for at least 15 minutes before serving.

Notes

  • For a spicier kick, increase the amount of prepared horseradish or add more dashes of your favorite hot sauce.
  • If you want a slightly sweeter sauce, add 1 teaspoon of brown sugar to the mixture.
  • This sauce tastes best when you let the flavors meld for a short time in the refrigerator.

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