This shrimp cocktail recipe with my favorite homemade cocktail sauce is so quick and easy for the best shrimp cocktail recipe ever.
This recipe is brought to you by Kroger
I believe you can never have too many quick and easy appetizer recipes at your disposal. Recipes like my classic gazpacho, blistered shishito peppers, and herbed Parmesan crisps are ones I always reach for when I’m entertaining and time is limited. This shrimp cocktail recipe is another easy appetizer that fits any season and every appetite. It also makes a healthy, low-fat snack paired with a simple salad they’re the perfect take-to-work lunch or fast supper.
In This Post
Why You’ll Love It
- This classic shrimp cocktail recipe is so fast and easy to prepare, making it the perfect appetizer to throw together on the fly
- It’s made even simpler by using frozen shrimp
- My easy homemade cocktail sauce is the ultimate and truly makes this the best shrimp cocktail recipe ever
What is Shrimp Cocktail Made of?
- Frozen shrimp—nothing makes a fast appetizer even faster than having a bag of frozen shrimp in the freezer
- My homemade cocktail sauce—it’s a total game-changer for this shrimp cocktail recipe
- Lemon—for serving and for presentation
- Crushed ice—for presentation (I arrange the shrimp directly on top and not only does it look fancy, but it keeps the shrimp fresh and cold).
Shrimp Cocktail Sauce Ingredients List
With just 5 ingredients, this cocktail sauce is super easy to make and serve on the side for the classic spicy tomato bite.
Here’s what makes this cocktail sauce rock:
- Chili sauce—Instead of ketchup, I use Kroger’s Chili Sauce for a milder tomato taste with a bit of extra spice
- Horseradish—I use prepared hot horseradish and this crucial ingredient is what gives cocktail sauce its trademark flavor
- Ground mustard—for a bit more zest
- The chili sauce is doctored with horseradish and dry mustard for that classic bite of cocktail sauce heat
- Worcestershire sauce—a dash of Worcestershire sauce adds that savory umami flavor
- Lemon—a squeeze of lemon juice adds a fresh citrus note that seals the saucy deal
Find the complete recipe with measurements below.
What’s the Best Shrimp for Shrimp Cocktail?
This shrimp cocktail recipe starts with a bag of Kroger’s extra large frozen Simple Truth Organic Peeled and Deveined Cooked Large Shrimp that you’ll find in my freezer at all times. The shrimp are cooked in their shells to seal in their flavor, then peeled and deveined making them easy to serve.
The Simple Truth line of organic products are all USDA-certified organic, meaning they are:
- Produced without the use of synthetic fertilizers, genetic engineering, sewage sludge, or irradiation.
- No artificial preservatives, antibiotics, and no added hormones.
- Produced by organic growers and handlers that are certified by third-party agencies, state or private, or other organizations that the USDA accredits.
For these organic shrimp, all the work has been done to make the low-fat, high-protein shrimp easy to serve. There’s no peeling or slicing and they’re flash-frozen at harvest to ensure freshness.
see more: 15 Holiday Appetizers with 5 Ingredients or Less
How to Make Shrimp Cocktail From Frozen, Cooked Shrimp
I use the same method to thaw frozen cooked shrimp as for frozen uncooked shrimp.
- The best way to thaw shrimp is to thaw the bag of frozen shrimp in the refrigerator overnight or for about 8-10 hours. I usually place mine in a bowl to catch any drips if they occur. Then, rinse with cold water and chill until ready to serve.
- To quickly thaw your shrimp, dump the shrimp from the package into a large bowl and submerge in cool water for 15-20 minutes, changing the water once or twice and breaking the shrimp apart as they thaw. Drain the water and refrigerate until ready to use.
Is it Better to Boil or Steam Shrimp for Shrimp Cocktail
If you only have uncooked shrimp on hand, you can quickly cook before serving. Private Selection’s Wild Caught Key West Pink Jumbo Pink Shrimp is one of my favorites for uncooked shrimp. You can quickly cook in boiling water or use my cooking method below to add a touch more flavor to the little crustaceans.
To cook frozen (raw) shrimp for shrimp cocktail:
- Thaw. Thaw the shrimp as directed above then fill a large pot with water.
- Season. Add a bay leaf, the juice of ½ lemon, and 1 teaspoon of black peppercorns and bring to a boil then reduce to a rolling simmer.
- Boil. Add the shrimp and cook until they turn pink, about 3-4 minutes, then drain the shrimp from the poaching liquid and run cold water over them to cool. Chill until ready to serve.
see more: 31 Healthy Shrimp Recipes To Make Now
How to Make Shrimp Cocktail
For shrimp cocktail, it’s all about the presentation, and my favorite way to share this app is simple so they’re easy to nibble and nosh while sipping and socializing.
- Leave the tails on. For presentation, I always serve the shrimp on my platter with the tails on. Set a small dish to the side for discarding the tails.
- Crushed ice makes the base of the platter. I get mine from the meat and seafood department at my Smith’s aka Kroger where the butcher bags it up for me. Or, if you have an ice crusher, you can always do it yourself at home. Don’t crush the ice too fine as it melts quickly.
- Homemade cocktail sauce is a must. My favorite homemade cocktail sauce and a few wedges of lemon are all that’s needed to finish this easy app. Simply combine all of the cocktail sauce ingredients in a medium-sized bowl and stir until well blended.
Storage Tips
Leftover shrimp doesn’t keep fresh for long, so be sure to eat this shrimp cocktail platter within a day of making it. Leftover shrimp cocktail should be stored in an airtight container (or or on a platter covered with plastic wrap) in the refrigerator.
Can I Prep Shrimp Cocktail in Advance?
You can make the homemade shrimp cocktail sauce up to 3 days in advance. However, you should wait to cook the shrimp until the day you’re serving them.
Should I Use Fresh or Frozen Shrimp?
I prefer using cooked, shrimp (from frozen), but use whichever you prefer.
Recipe Tips for the Best Shrimp Cocktail
- If your shrimp will be sitting out at a buffet or party for a while, consider serving them by filling a bowl with ice and then submerging another bowl on top of the ice so the ice insulates and chills the bowl filled with shrimp. No mess, no fuss, all yum.
- Cooked, peeled, and deveined shrimp make serving homemade shrimp cocktail much easier. But any type of shrimp will do.
- For more spice, and to kick things up a notch, add a few dashes of hot sauce to your cocktail sauce.
More Easy Shrimp Appetizer Ideas
- Peel ‘N Eat Beer Steamed Shrimp
- Saucy Greek Baked Shrimp
- Pesto And Garlic Shrimp Bruschetta Recipe
- Stuffed Artichokes With Thai Shrimp Salad
- Grilled Shrimp Vietnamese Spring Rolls
If you make this recipe, please let me know! Leave a ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ rating on this recipe below and leave a comment.
The Best Shrimp Cocktail Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 pound Simple Truth Extra Large Peeled and Deveined Cooked Shrimp
- ½ cup Kroger Chili Sauce
- ½ lemon
- 2 teaspoons prepared hot horseradish
- ½ teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
- ½ teaspoon ground mustard
Instructions
- Thaw the shrimp in the refrigerator overnight and rinse with cold water, then set aside. Or, quick thaw the shrimp by placing them in a bowl then rinsing with cold water for 15-20 minutes, and drain. Chill until ready to serve.
- In a small bowl, mix the chili sauce with 1 tablespoon of fresh lemon juice, the horseradish, Worcestershire sauce, and ground mustard. Slice the rest of the lemon into wedges.
- Top a platter with crushed ice cubes and top with the shrimp and lemon wedges. Serve cold with the cocktail sauce on the side.
Notes
If you only have uncooked shrimp on hand, you can quickly cook before serving. Please see the blog post above for instructions on how to cook frozen, raw shrimp for shrimp cocktail.
Follow me on Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest for more Everyday Delicious Kitchen inspiration
As always, thank you for reading and supporting companies I partner with, which allows me to create more unique content and recipes for you. There may be affiliate links in this post of which I receive a small commission. All opinions are always my own.
