Spicy Cocktail Sauce

Skip the boring bottled stuff and whip up this boldly seasoned Spicy Cocktail Sauce in just 5 minutes. It is the perfect dip for shrimp, crab, and any seafood!

With a fiery blend of horseradish, garlic, and hot sauce amping up the flavor, this easy homemade recipe is irresistibly zingy with a spicy kick.

It's easy to make your own cocktail sauce and this recipe is hands-down my favorite! I love that it comes together in just minutes with a handful of ingredients, but packs so much more bright, fresh flavor than any store-bought sauce. 

My custom blend of fiery horseradish, zesty lemon, and savory garlic makes such a good sauce for dipping tender shrimp or sweet crab. It is the best cocktail sauce and will be a hit at any party! 

What is Cocktail Sauce?

Cocktail sauce is a condiment featuring ketchup and horseradish that is typically served as a dip for poached shrimp or crab. 

Some classic cocktail sauce recipes also include lemon juice, Worcestershire sauce, and hot sauce. The flavors marry together to balance savory depth with bright acidity.

Cocktail sauce can be purchased ready-made from the grocery store, but I love whipping up this fast homemade version because it has more flavor and you can control the spice level!

What's the difference between cocktail sauce and seafood sauce?

The main difference is that seafood sauce contains mayonnaise as a base, whereas the base for cocktail sauce is generally just ketchup.

Both recipes typically contain ketchup, Worcestershire sauce, lemon juice, and hot sauce. One other difference in addition to not having mayonnaise is that cocktail sauce uses horseradish whereas seafood sauce does not. 

Both pair well with seafood but offer slightly different flavors.

Key Ingredients

Ketchup - Ketchup provides tangy tomato flavor and sweetness. Use a high-quality ketchup for the best tomato taste.

Horseradish - This recipe calls for prepared horseradish, which is a little milder than freshly grated. For an even more pungent flavor, use 3-4 tablespoons of fresh horseradish. 

Worcestershire - Worcestershire adds savory depth to the sauce. In a pinch soy sauce can be used instead, though it will have a little different flavor. 

Lemon Juice - The acidity from the lemon juice adds brightness and balances the flavors. I use freshly squeezed but bottled juice is fine too.

Garlic - This is the secret ingredient that adds another layer of heat. I recommend using freshly minced garlic as it adds more kick than garlic powder.

Hot Sauce - A vinegar-based sauce like Tabasco works best for this recipe. Control the level of spice by adjusting the amount added. Traditional cocktail sauce recipes use just a few dashes, while this spicy version starts with 1 teaspoon.

How to Make Spicy Cocktail Sauce

• This spicy sauce comes together so quickly! Simply combine all of the ingredients in a small bowl.
• Taste and adjust the seasonings.
  • Add additional horseradish for extra bite.
  • Add more Tabasco sauce if you like really spicy flavors.
  • Add more fresh lemon juice for brightness. You can also serve with lemon wedges.
  • Add ⅛ teaspoon of black pepper for warm flavor.
• Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes before serving. This allows time for the flavors to blend.

Pro Tip: Get a head start on party prepping! This recipe can be made several days in advance.

Serving Ideas

• Seafood Dipping Sauce: The most popular way to use cocktail sauce is as a dipping sauce for shrimp, crab legs, or your favorite seafood.  This classic shrimp cocktail recipe will give you the most tender, succulent shrimp that is so good with this sauce.
• Bloody Mary: Add 2 ounces of cocktail sauce to 2 ounces of vodka, 2 ounces of tomato juice, and a dash of celery salt. 
• Topping: This recipe is a great condiment to add on top of omelets, burgers, or crab cakes for added flavor.
• Dip: Make a seafood dip. Pour the sauce over a block of cream cheese and top with fresh shrimp and crab.

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