Shrimp Cocktail Recipe (VIDEO)

Impress your guests with a homemade Shrimp Cocktail. Learn how to make the best oven-baked shrimp and zesty cocktail sauce. This is so much better than a store-bought shrimp ring.

Just like our Shrimp Ceviche appetizer or Pico De Gallo, this roasted shrimp and cocktail sauce tastes even better the next day after the flavors meld so this is an excellent make-ahead recipe. Watch the video tutorial below and see how easy this is.

This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy.

This recipe was adapted from Ina Garten’s Roasted Shrimp Cocktail from one of my favorite cookbooks, Back to Basics.

Shrimp Cocktail Recipe:

Shrimp Cocktail is an appetizer with cooked large shrimp or prawns served with a tomato-based zesty cocktail dipping sauce. It is often packaged in supermarkets as a “shrimp ring” and typically sold refrigerated or frozen. This homemade shrimp cocktail takes minutes to prepare and the flavor is so much better. Roasted shrimp are more flavorful than the boiled shrimp sold in supermarkets and you can’t beat a homemade cocktail sauce.

Shrimp Cocktail is impressive enough to serve at your New Years Party, for game-day, or when you need to satisfy that fierce craving for shrimp (remember it keeps well in the fridge).

What is the Best Shrimp for Shrimp Cocktail?

The extra-large shrimp (16-20 count per pound) look best in a shrimp cocktail ring. It also works great with the large shrimp (18-25 count per pound). We recommend 2 lbs of shrimp to feed a crowd. Look for fresh or frozen shrimp that is:

• Raw (uncooked)
• Fresh or frozen and thawed (most shrimp are sold frozen)
• Headless (head-on shrimp can get mushy)
• Wild-caught (if available)
• Tail-on (for easier serving)
• “EZ peel” or Already peeled and deveined (saves time)
• 100% shrimp without added ingredients

How to Bake Shrimp in the Oven:

Baked shrimp is so fast, easy and hands-off life our Baked Honey Cajun Shrimp or our popular Cheesy Stuffed Shrimp.  You don’t have to flip the shrimp and they turn out perfect every time. There’s something about roasting shrimp that amplifies their sweetness. If you prefer boiled, check out our easy boiled shrimp tutorial.

1. Rinse and thoroughly pat dry shrimp paper towels and place them on a large rimmed baking sheet.
2. Drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle with 1/2 tsp salt and 1/2 tsp black pepper.
3. Toss together, arrange in a single layer and bake at 450˚F.

Shrimp Baking Chart:

It’s important not to overbake shrimp or they will watery. Take them out when they turn pink and are just cooked through. For even baking, ensure that your shrimp are fully thawed and patted dry. Also, bake in a fully pre-heated oven at 450˚F so they bake up quickly and don’t juice out.

• Large 21 to 25 ct shrimp, bake 6-7 min
• Extra-large 16-20 ct shrimp, bake or 8-10 min
• Jumbo 11-15 ct shrimp (or U-15), bake 10-11 min

How to Make Shrimp Cocktail Sauce:

Shrimp cocktail sauce is easier than you think. Once you try homemade, you won’t want the store-bought sauce again!  It’s really just a matter of combining ingredients: ketchup, a mild chili sauce, prepared horseradish (sold in the refrigerator section of the grocery store), fresh lemon juice, Worcestershire sauce and a dash of hot sauce.

Add the horseradish sauce and hot sauce to taste depending on how much of a spicy kick you like. Just keep in mind the sauce does mellow out after refrigeration so I always make it slightly spicier than I think I need.

Our Best Shrimp Appetizers:

These shrimp appetizers are always the first to disappear at parties and always get rave reviews. For more appetizer inspiration, explore all of our Appetizer Recipes here.

• Coconut Shrimp (with 2-ingredient sauce)
• Shrimp Scampi – an easy, 1-pan recipe
• Shrimp Tacos – a famous copycat recipe
• Hot Shrimp Dip – creamy and cheesy
• Cucumber Shrimp bites – with guacamole

Watch the Shrimp Cocktail Recipe Video:

If you enjoyed this Shrimp Cocktail video tutorial, please subscribe to our Youtube Channel and click the bell icon so you can be the first to know when we post a new video. THANK YOU for subscribing!

Print

Shrimp Cocktail Recipe

5 from 5 votes

Prep Time: 22 minutes

Cook Time: 8 minutes

Total Time: 30 minutes

Impress your guests with this homemade Shrimp Cocktail Recipe. Learn how to make the best oven-baked shrimp and zesty cocktail sauce in just 15 minutes. This is so much better than a store-bought shrimp ring.

Author: Natasha of NatashasKitchen.com

Skill Level: Easy

Cost to Make: $ varies by shrimp size

Keyword: shrimp cocktail

Calories: 143 kcal

Servings: 10 people as an appetizer

Ingredients

Baked Shrimp Ingredients:

• 2 lbs raw shrimp 16-20 ct, peeled and deveined with tail-on
• 1 1/2 Tbsp olive oil
• 1/2 tsp sea salt
• 1/2 tsp black pepper
• 1 lemon cut into 4 wedges to serve (optional)

Shrimp Cocktail Sauce Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup ketchup
• 1/2 cup mild chili sauce we like Heinz
• 3-4 Tbsp prepared horseradish or add to taste
• 1 1/2 Tbsp lemon juice freshly squeezed, or to taste
• 1 tsp Worcestershire sauce
• 1/2 tsp hot sauce such as Tabasco, or to taste

US Customary - Metric

Instructions

1. Thaw shrimp according to package instructions, then rinse under cold water and thoroughly pat dry with paper towels. Place shrimp on a large rimmed baking sheet, drizzle with 1 1/2 Tbsp olive oil and sprinkle on 1/2 tsp salt and 1/2 tsp black pepper. Stir to combine then arrange shrimp in a single layer.

2. Bake at 450˚F for 8-10 min or until shrimp turn pink and are just cooked through.* As soon as they come out of the oven, test a shrimp for doneness then transfer all shrimp to a serving platter. If they stay on the hot baking sheet, they can get overcooked.

3. Combine all of the Cocktail Sauce ingredients, adding horseradish and hot sauce to taste (Add more if you love cocktail sauce with a spicy kick and less if you prefer a mild sauce). Cover and refrigerate sauce and shrimp for at least an hour or overnight. Serve chilled.

Recipe Notes

*If using smaller 18-25 count shrimp, roast 6–7 min

Nutrition Facts

Shrimp Cocktail Recipe

Amount Per Serving

Calories 143 Calories from Fat 27

% Daily Value*

Fat 3g5%

Saturated Fat 1g6%

Cholesterol 229mg76%

Sodium 1143mg50%

Potassium 192mg5%

Carbohydrates 8g3%

Fiber 1g4%

Sugar 5g6%

Protein 19g38%

Vitamin A 154IU3%

Vitamin C 14mg17%

Calcium 142mg14%

Iron 2mg11%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Nutrition Disclosure