Shrimp Cocktail

Combining tender, flavorful shrimp with a zesty cocktail sauce, homemade Shrimp Cocktail is a favorite for its simplicity and elegance. With fresh ingredients, and a few easy steps, you can recreate this classic dish in your own kitchen.

Shrimp Cocktail

Shrimp Cocktail is a timeless appetizer that combines succulent shrimp with a tangy, flavorful cocktail sauce.

While it’s often enjoyed at restaurants, making shrimp cocktail at home is easier than you might think—and it can save you money while impressing your guests. Since you control the ingredients, you are also ensured the freshest and highest-quality shrimp and sauce.

Homemade shrimp cocktail is a simple yet sophisticated appetizer that’s perfect for parties, holiday gatherings, or a special night in.

In this guide, we’ll show you how to create the perfect homemade shrimp cocktail, complete with tips for cooking shrimp, making a classic cocktail sauce, and presenting your dish. Give this recipe a try and enjoy the satisfaction of serving a restaurant-quality shrimp cocktail made with love.

What Is Shrimp Cocktail?

Shrimp cocktail is a chilled appetizer featuring cooked shrimp served alongside a bold and tangy, tomato-based cocktail sauce. Known for its balance of sweetness, acidity, and heat, the sauce complements the delicate flavor of the shrimp, making it a universally loved dish.

What Shrimp Should I Use?

Raw or large jumbo shrimp are ideal. If you want to keep the tails on your shrimp for traditional presentation and easier handling, you will need to buy shrimp with the shells still on and peel yourself or look for raw shrimp with just tails on.

If possible buy shrimp that has already been deveined, as this is typically a time consuming process. In the grocery store, these are often labeled "easy peel" because the back has been opened to remove the vein. Fresh or frozen shrimp will both work for this recipe.

What's the Best Way to Thaw Frozen Shrimp?

Place frozen shrimp in a bowl of cold water for 15–20 minutes. Drain and pat dry before using.

How to Serve Shrimp Cocktail

Shrimp cocktail is served as an appetizer.

Serve yours over crushed ice in a large bowl or plate for a professional look.

To prevent the melting ice interfering with your dish, you can also place ice in a baggy in a bowl, and then place lettuce leaves on top to cover the bag. This will give the chill of the ice with a fresher presentation, and no melting mess.

Alternately, you can serve it with cocktail sauce in a chilled glass.

More Elegant Seafood Appetizer Recipes You'll Love

• Creamy Bacon Shrimp Bruschetta - Features crispy baguette topped with creamy herbed cheese spread, smoky bacon, and tender shrimp with bright garlicky tomato bruschetta.
• Smoked Salmon Deviled Eggs - Smoked salmon adorns deviled eggs with a creamy, tangy, herbed filling in an elegant twist on a classic appetizer.
• Air Fryer Crab Cakes - Golden, crispy patties packed with juicy crab meat, herbs, and spices. Healthier than fried, they’re easy to make, full of flavor, and perfect as an appetizer with tartar or remoulade.
• Crab Rangoon Dip - A creamy, cheesy blend of crab, cream cheese, and savory seasonings, served warm with crispy wontons or crackers.
• Shrimp Mold - Our personal family holiday must have dish that we make for the holidays! It's a creamy, savory appetizer made with shrimp, cream cheese, and flavorful seasonings, molded into a decorative shape. A retro classic that's perfect for parties and packed with flavor.

Shrimp Cocktail Video