A homemade shrimp cocktail is such a delicious classic! I think it has been made for every holiday for years, but it is still a treat. There are many ways to make this easy shrimp cocktail recipe, but I decided to go with the classic version. The shrimp cocktail can be made with a ready-made sauce, or you can use the delicious spicy cocktail sauce from this recipe. (or check out this cocktail sauce recipe)

Classic Shrimp Cocktail
- What do you need for making this shrimp cocktail?
How to make the shrimp cocktail
- What’s a shrimp cocktail without cocktail sauce?
Variations on the Famous Shrimp Cocktail
How many shrimps would you need per person

Classic Shrimp Cocktail

When I think of shrimp cocktail, I always get a strong feeling of nostalgia. Remember the days when a glass of shrimp cocktail was the standard appetizer wherever you went? And yet, this classic has not disappeared from the kitchen. And rightly so, because as simple as it is, a delicious shrimp cocktail is a lot of fun.

What do you need for making this shrimp cocktail?

First of all you will need shrimps. I like to use dutch shrimps which obviously will not be available everywhere in the world. The Dutch shrimp is also known as grey shrimp or common shrimp and they are small. You will also most likely find them already peeled and ready to eat. Below I have a quick video of my favorite Dutch fish brand where they show how best to de-vein and peel a prawn. The proces is the same for prawns and shrimps.

If you can get your hands on Dutch shrimps, that would be awesome, but obviously this shrimp cocktail can be made with any other kind of raw shrimp. You can use large shrimps too but for a shrimp cocktail I prefer to use smaller shrimp. It helps if they are already peeled and cleaned. I’m sure you’ll be able to find options for that in the grocery store.

Other than the shrimps itself you will need the sauce. Mine is based on mayonnaise combined with hot sauce, ketchup, tomato sauce and I like adding some horseradish sauce for extra kicks. You can also use a bit of worcestershire sauce or chili sauce. The sauce is pretty forgiving.

How to make the shrimp cocktail

If you’re using raw fresh shrimp, clean them thoroughly and rinse under cold water. Let them drain on paper towels so they will cook quickly in the pan. If you’re using frozen shrimp let them defrost first. I don’t like using shell-on shrimp for this recipe as that would make it hard to eat.

I quickly sautée the shrimps in a hot skillet until they turn beautifully pink. It takes just a few minutes to have the shrimp cook to the desired consistency. Obviously a large shrimp will take a bit longer. As soon as they are cooked remove from the pan and set them aside while you work on your spicy sauce.

What’s a shrimp cocktail without cocktail sauce?

Of course, this delicious appetizer is not complete without cocktail sauce. There are now many recipes for making your own cocktail sauce, and you can also buy it ready-made if you have a favorite brand. Be sure to check which one you like best, one sauce for shrimp cocktail is not the other.

Making your own homemade cocktail sauce is also super easy. All you really need is mayonnaise and ketchup. The rest is totally optional. I like to make my cocktail sauce with a few spicy elements. You can make your shrimp appetizer as spicy as you want. Apart from the ingredients for the sauce I like adding a little bit of fresh lemon juice to make it fresher.

Variations on the Famous Shrimp Cocktail

Once you have the base for your shrimp cocktail and the cocktail sauce, you can add flavorings. Think about a teaspoon of horseradish sauce, hot pepper sauce, and ground paprika. I’ve also seen recipes that add whipped cream or whiskey to the cocktail sauce. You can add some red onion, black pepper or lemon zest to this easy appetizer.

You can serve the shrimp cocktail with some lettuce like I did here or go wild and serve it with tortilla chips. The crunch of the tortilla would be perfect with the cocktail and it would be a good way to scoop up the succulent shrimp from the glass.

How many shrimps would you need per person

Well that largely depends on the type of shrimp and the size of shrimp you’re using. If I’m using Dutch shrimp I use roughly 200 grams (1/2 pound) per 4 people. It’s an appetizer after all. But if you’re using jumbo shrimp or larger shrimp in general it might be sufficient to have just 2 or 3 per person. The good news is that this is a fairly light appetizer so it would work really well with a bit heavier main dish like the lamb shoulder or the rack of lamb for instance.

If this is your first time making a shrimp cocktail it’s best to practice how to clean and de-vein the shrimps and to check how long they need to cook. Also check this easy appetizer with phyllo dough and shrimps.