If you ever wanted to learn how to make a shrimp cocktail sauce with steamed shrimp, you're in the right place and mom's recipe is so much better than a store-bought shrimp ring..
This appetizer for shrimp cocktail is a must every night on a cruise ship for my husband and I, we just love this appetizer and the sauce is marvelous.
Served before dinner with even a few more assorted appetizers, we can really make this a whole meal by itself.
This appetizer is the most asked for on holidays especially Christmas Eve as part of the 7 Fishes in our family, however, is typically served in warmer weather seasons since it's a perfect light appetizer in the summer.
If you wanted an easy recipe, look no further, this is the easiest shrimp cocktail recipe on the planet and if you would prefer another sauce try our recipes for over 14 kinds of dipping sauces!
Scroll down to get this easily printable recipe with step-by-step instructions.
Homemade Shrimp Cocktail
This sauce is versatile, so you really can use it with any seafood, so don't worry if you have leftover cocktail sauce.
A Shrimp Cocktail is an appetizer with large cooked shrimp or prawns served with our homemade cocktail dipping sauce that has just the right spice and flavors and is garnished with some fresh lemon it certainly is a memorable starter when serving guests if you're hosting a dinner party.
Seriously, the presentation just using a few cocktail glasses lined with lettuce or frilly parsley will impress anyone you serve this to.
I just love being served shrimp cocktail with all the garnishes it's so easy to assemble and looks like it came from a 5-star restaurant.
Easy shrimp cocktail with step-by-step instructions in minutes, ditch the supermarket rings, this is superior over those.
Other Substitutions
- smoked salmon
- lobster in small bites
- haddock baked in butter cut into small pieces
- steamed crab legs
- sauteed scallops wrapped in bacon
- Chilean sea bass cubes sauteed in butter
Tips
- use any kind of shellfish you prefer cooked
- shrimp is cooked when it turns pink, ( most seafood cooks very quickly)
- do not overcook seafood
- freshly minced garlic adds a nice flavors
- add chopped parsley to the top of the dill for garnish
- shrimp can be put on skewers for large parties ad cocktail sauce in a serving bowl
- tails are usually left on for presentation and are easier to handle, but you can remove them
- clean the shrimp with a shrimp knife to remove the black vein in the middle
- If you prefer to bake these instead of steaming the shrimp:
- Bake at 450 degrees extra-large shrimp for 8 to 10 minutes (16-20 counts per pound), large shrimp for 6 to 8 minutes (18-25 count per pound)
More Recipes We Love
Italian Christmas Eve Seafood Recipes
Best Fried Fish Recipe Coatings
Stuffed Flounder with Shrimp and Crab
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Shrimp Lovers
This light seafood appetizer is great for snacking on, brunch, or just a light lunch.
We love this cocktail sauce on Rock Shrimp, Tiger Shrimp, Red Shrimp, and so many other seafood so this is a very versatile seafood sauce.
Let us know how you like our version of this recipe mom made this special for guests and holidays and now I make it often.
Mom's Style Shrimp Cocktail

Yield: 8
Prep time: 10 MinCook time: 5 MinTotal time: 15 Min
Easy steamed cocktail large pink shrimp with homemade cocktail sauce. An easy appetizer that every seafood lover will adore before a great meal.
Ingredients
- Shrimp Preparation:
- 1 lemon, halved then quartered
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- pinch of salt and black pepper
- Optional: 1/2 cayenne pepper
- 24 (2 pounds) extra-large raw cleaned or large shrimp cleaned and deveined with tail-on or off depending on your preference
- Cocktail sauce:
- 1/2 cup chili sauce
- 1 cup ketchup
- 1 tablespoon horseradish
- 1 dash Worcestershire sauce
- Juice of 1/2 lemon
- 1/2 teaspoon Tabasco
- 1/2 clove garlic, finely minced
- 1 tablespoon Italian Parsley chopped
- For garnish
- Lettuce leaves
- lemon wedges
- ice cubes
- parsley leaves
Instructions
- Clean shrimp removing the black vein in the back and leaving tails on or off for presentation it's your preference.
- Two Cooking Methods:
- Steam the shrimp in a heavy-duty saucepan with a steam basket
- Immediately drain and pour shrimp over an ice-filled strainer leaving just the ice to cool the shrimp.
- Remove the ice from the strainer just before assembly and place the shrimp in a bowl, toss with salt, garlic powder, black pepper and drizzle with fresh lemon (around 2 tablespoons)
- Pan Fry Method: saute shrimp in a small fry pan with 3 tablespoons olive oil adding all seasonings with the shrimp with garlic, salt, pepper till pink around 4 to 6 minutes. Set aside to cool then assemble the shrimp on ice with instructions below.
- While the shrimp is cooling make the cocktail sauce.
- Mix all the ingredients in a small bowl until well blended.
- Assembly:
- Note: this can be done for individual servings or in a large bowl the same way as below.
- Line a small dessert bowl, martini glass, or any clear bowl with parsley, dill or lettuce.
- Add ice cubes to the bottom of the glass and cover with some lettuce or another green to hide the ice
- Line shrimp around the edge of the glass add lemon wedges or serve the lemon separately in a dish.
- This is for presentation and serving guests, so it's totally optional.
- Pour cocktail sauce on top of the lettuce, or place a small round container filled with cocktail sauce in the center (of the shrimp hanging off the side of the glass).
- Garnish with lemon, dill, or parsley.
Notes
Tips
- use any kind of shellfish you prefer cooked
- shrimp is cooked when it turns pink, ( most seafood cooks very quickly)
- do not overcook seafood
- freshly minced garlic adds a nice flavors
- add chopped parsley to the top of the dill for garnish
- shrimp can be put on skewers for large parties ad cocktail sauce in a serving bowl
- tails are usually left on for presentation, but you can remove them
- clean the shrimp with a shrimp knife to remove the black vein in the middle
- If you prefer to bake these instead of steaming the shrimp:
- Bake at 450 degrees extra-large shrimp for 8 to 10 minutes (16-20 counts per pound), large shrimp for 6 to 8 minutes (18-25 count per pound)
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Other Seafood Recipes to Try:
Seafood Lemon Scampi
Seafood Medley
it looks amazing ,claudia and the post is full of deep emotions!very wonderful job!
ReplyDeleterest in piece for the last margaret!
Shrimp cocktail is one of my go to things when I'm at a restaurant to order, healthy and delish! great pics Claudia :)
ReplyDeleteWhat a great post Claudia. I am a big lover of Shrimp Cocktail and could eat it as my main course too.
ReplyDeleteI am convinced when you are in NY again we need to meet up and share some good food together! We both seem to have a strong family connection to those we held dear (and hold dear) to our hearts!
Hi, Claudia,
ReplyDeleteLovely post and great recipe. I really love shrimp, even more than lobster. I've been cooking for a looooong time, and my favorite recipe of all is Shrimp Creole. I always make it on my birthday. It's better than any restaurant meal.
Thanks for leaving such a nice comment on my Eggs Fried in Breadcrumbs post and adding me as a friend on FBF. Your reason for starting a blog was the same as mine - have your recipes in one place as a sort of legacy.
I have to check out the rest of your recipes. Hope to get to know you better.
What a great photo of you and your mum. Ever since I was a little girl, shrimp cocktail has been one of my favorite appetizers. This post made my mouth water.
ReplyDeleteEvery Friday I post a Happy Hour recipe. I can't wait to try this. Delicious!
ReplyDeleteI love shrimp cocktail and yours looks so good I just want to reach into my screen and pluck out one of those shrimps and eat it.
ReplyDeletelooks delicious, wonderful pictures :)
ReplyDeleteI love shrimps ^_^ Wonderful pictures and very appetizing cocktail. Great ^_^
ReplyDeleteNice shrimp cocktail! It looks amazing and the presentation is spectacular!!!!
ReplyDeleteFood, memories. Family... life! GREG
ReplyDeletelooks great can't beat a good shrimp cocktail your mum sounds lovely, Rebecca
ReplyDeleteI cannot think of a better prep for shrimp for this type of appetizer - your Mom's sauce is so similar to my Momma's - must have been of the times... it's a favorite of mine too
ReplyDeleteGreat recipe and wonderful to read about your mom too!
ReplyDeleteNothing better of a polychromy of flavors and colors, love this shrimp cocktail.
ReplyDeleteYour photo as little girl is pure cuteness :)
Have a great week,
Gera
What a sweet post. A lot rung true for me in the article. I was born in 1959, same year as the photo. I lost my mom in 1997, just a few short years before your mom. And my mom always ordered the Shrimp Cocktail when we would go to The Nugget in Reno. I always associate shrimp cocktails with my mom. Thumbs up!
ReplyDeleteShrimp cocktail is the best. Growing up in Maryland, it was something I grew up with. I live in Florida as well and able to get shrimp easily and all year round. Lucky us! A very nice post about memories of your mom as well.
ReplyDeleteWhat a sweet tribute to your Mom. I love shrimp too - these look delicious!
ReplyDeleteYes time flies...such a cute picture, moms are always missed - lucky to have mine still...hmm shrimps, you can never get tired of shrimps, great cocktail item for sure!
ReplyDeleteI adore shrimp cocktail, any time anywhere! In an increasingly complicated world it truly is the simple recipes and the fond the fond memories that ultimately make us happy, yes?
ReplyDeleteI love the old photo of you and your mom. Very precious.
I am going to have to try his recipe. We make shrimp cocktail one or twice a month. The recipe I use makes a lot of sauce and I always throw half of it out.
ReplyDeleteShrimp cocktail is a wonderful retro recipe and yours looks divine.
ReplyDeleteThis is a wonderful retro recipe - shrimp cocktail is amazing and this is a perfect recipe.
ReplyDeleteAmazing! My new favorite appetizer recipe!
ReplyDeleteI loved making this appetizer, especially the Cocktail sauce. The lemon juice and parsley really brought the sauce to life for me. Definitely making again!
ReplyDeleteShrimp cocktail is so easy to make and is my go to appetizer anytime I am entertaining. This recipe was so good, the cocktail sauce was especially delicious! This is my new favorite recipe for an easy but flavorful shrimp cocktail!
ReplyDeleteSo much better than the shrimp cocktail of my childhood! I look forward to making again when friends come over next week.
ReplyDelete