Cocktail Sauce Without HorseRadish

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4.41 from 87 votes
Total Time 1 hour 5 minutes
Servings 2 to 4 servings

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This recipe for a cocktail sauce without horseradish will give you all of that deliciously tangy flavor you know and love with simple pantry ingredients. No horseradish? No problem!

Cocktail sauce without horseradish in dish with shrimp being dipped in
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If you’re no stranger to the blog, then you know that I have a slight passion for sauces! Sauces are the peanut butter to my jelly, the strawberry jelly to my donut, the cheese to my macaroni…you get the idea! A few favorites include my homemade buffalo sauce, 2-ingredient BBQ sauce, and this honey Sriracha sauce

When I can, I always prefer homemade sauces to store-bought. Not only are they more flavorful, but there are so many unnecessary add-ons in the premade options. I want to know exactly what I’m feeding my family, and the best way to do that is to make my sauces myself. 

This cocktail sauce is fresh, easy to make, keto, and (of course) horseradish-free. You can use it on seafood like shrimp, and I enjoy using it on other dishes too (more on that later!). Grab your apron and head to your kitchen. Homemade cocktail sauce without horseradish, coming right up! 

full shrimp platter with cocktail sauce and lemon slices on the side

Here’s what I’m going to teach you in this post: 

  • The ingredients you’ll need to prepare shrimp cocktail sauce without horseradish in just 5 minutes
  • Instructions on how to make cocktail sauce without horseradish and suggestions for what to eat with it
  • Answers to some commonly asked questions about making keto cocktail sauce with ketchup and lemon juice but no horseradish.

Have you ever wondered how to make cocktail sauce without horseradish? Whether you want to skip it for taste preferences, or you just don’t have any at home, you’re in the right place! 

prepared ingredients for cocktail sauce

How to Make Cocktail Sauce Without Horseradish 

A full printable version of this recipe with ingredient measurements is available at the bottom of this post.

STEP ONE: Gather your ingredients and combine them all in a small bowl. This homemade cocktail sauce without horseradish recipe will make about ¾ of a cup of sauce when finished. I use chili powder as a substitute for horseradish.

mix all ingredients together in a small bowl

STEP TWO: Once your ingredients are well combined, place the bowl in the refrigerator for at least one hour. The longer you can leave the sauce to set in the fridge, the better.

mix and combine well

STEP THREE: When you’re ready, remove the sauce from the fridge and enjoy it with shrimp, other types of seafood, and more!

What to Eat With Homemade Cocktail Sauce 

How Do You Keep Homemade Cocktail Sauce From Gelling Up? 

If you’ve tried to make shrimp cocktail sauce in the past, you may have noticed that it tends to gel up when it’s chilled. This is due to a reaction between the ketchup and horseradish. 

Ketchup is naturally high in pectin (due to the tomatoes) and horseradish is naturally high in acid — when the two come together it forms a jelly-like consistency. It will typically go back to normal when you stir it.

Otherwise, opt for a recipe with no horseradish, like this one! 

small bowl with wooden spoon swirled in cocktail sauce

How to Make This Shrimp Cocktail Sauce Milder 

Some cocktail sauce recipes rely on chili sauce instead of ketchup. I personally prefer to use ketchup with the addition of a little bit of chili powder (plus a few dashes of hot sauce) to get the tangy flavor I’m after. 

If you want a milder homemade cocktail sauce without horseradish you can omit the hot sauce and go easy on the chili powder. 

How Long Does Cocktail Sauce Last? 

Homemade shrimp cocktail sauce without horseradish will last for 1 to 2 weeks in the refrigerator. Make sure to store it in an airtight container. This particular cocktail sauce is best enjoyed fresh or 1 to 2 days after you’ve made it.

shrimp platter with shrimp being dipped in cocktail sauce without horseradish

Can You Freeze Cocktail Sauce Without Horseradish?

Yes, you can freeze homemade cocktail sauce without horseradish! Place a small amount in an airtight bag or container before you put it in the freezer. I also love the idea of putting the sauce in an ice cube tray for easy accessibility! When you’re ready to enjoy, let the cocktail sauce thaw in the fridge overnight. 

Your cocktail sauce without horseradish will keep for up to 6 months in the freezer.

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4.41 from 87 votes

Cocktail Sauce Without Horseradish

This recipe for a cocktail sauce without horseradish will give you the tangy flavor you know and love. No horseradish? No problem!
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 1 hour
Total Time: 1 hour 5 minutes
Servings: 2 to 4 servings
Save this recipe!
Get this sent to your inbox, plus get new recipes from us every week!

Ingredients 

  • ½ cup ketchup
  • 2 teaspoons chili powder
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • ¼ teaspoon granulated sugar
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon lemon juice
  • 6 dashes Worcestershire sauce
  • 4 dashes hot sauce

Instructions 

  • Combine the ketchup, chili powder, garlic powder, sugar, salt, lemon juice, Worcestershire sauce, and hot sauce in a small bowl. This will make almost ¾ of a cup of sauce. 
  • Refrigerate for at least an hour or until you are ready to use.

Notes

This cocktail sauce will last 1 to 2 weeks when stored refrigerated in an airtight container.

Nutrition

Serving: 1 | Calories: 39kcal | Carbohydrates: 10g | Protein: 1g | Sodium: 454mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 7g

This nutrition information is based on the exact products I used in this recipe. Brands and sizes of products could alter exact nutrition and should always be calculated independently.

Like this? Leave a comment below!

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Hi, I'm Samantha!

Welcome to Everyday Family Cooking. I’m Samantha, a stay-at-home-mom of 2. I’m here to make cooking easier for your whole family and help you find new recipes to put in your regular rotation!

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4.41 from 87 votes (79 ratings without comment)

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Recipe Rating




19 Comments

  1. Lisa says:

    5 stars
    This was a great last minute cocktail sauce for shrimp!

  2. Miles says:

    5 stars
    I love this!

  3. Anne says:

    5 stars
    Great sauce!

  4. Mikee says:

    5 stars
    Easy and perfect for the group.

  5. Tony says:

    This actually came out pretty good. Of course it didn’t taste quite the same as the Heinz brand, but all in all, I really liked the way it came out. I think the next time I will cut back the chili powder. I did add vinegar to the original recipe, and it did get a little closer.
    I will definitely make this again, thank you!!

  6. Debby says:

    This was amazing I just made it! Wow it’s fantastic. I only used 1 top of chili seasoning and added a dash of vinegar.
    Other than that I followed the receipe. Thank you so much. I won’t buy it again. ❤️‍🩹❤️😋😋😋😋

    1. Samantha says:

      I’m so glad you loved it, Debby! It just tastes so much fresher and more vibrant than the store bought!

  7. Kensie says:

    Wayyyy too spicy!! Only added 1 teaspoon of chilly powder instead of the suggested 2 and skipped the hot sauce, but even then.

    1. Sam says:

      Hi Kensie, Sorry this didn’t suit your tastes. Worcestershire sauce can be spicy depending on which brand you buy.

  8. CA2AL says:

    5 stars
    My family and I loved it. Thank you for providing this alternative to horseradish cocktail sauce recipe. 🙂

    1. Sam says:

      Hi CA2AL, You are so welcome! I’m glad you enjoyed it!

  9. 3GAjijic says:

    I did a lot of “winging it” because the decision to make or provide a cocktail sauce with our shrimp dish was last minute and I had no time to shop for specified ingredients. I use Tajin instead of chili powder and wasabi instead of hot sauce because I had those on hand. The results – preliminarily – are great. I’ll be curious to hear the comments of those I serve the dish to this evening.

    1. Sam says:

      Hi 3GAjijic, Wow, that’s an interesting combination. Thanks for your feedback!

  10. Vesra says:

    4 stars
    Wife wanted shrimp, which we had, and usually has cocktail sauce. We have none of that or horseradish. Thankfully this recipe came to the rescue. She likes it more than regular cocktail sauce and I even liked it and I’m a huge anti horseradish guy. Can’t stand the stuff personally. This is a winner. Only gave 4 stars because 5 would be perfect, and nothing in this world is perfect. But that 4 is the highest of honor, I promise.

    1. Sam says:

      Hi Vesra, Thanks for your feedback! I’m thrilled to hear both you and your wife enjoyed the recipe.

  11. Tammy says:

    5 stars
    Made this quickly at a time I was out of horseradish, it was delicious. Will make again

    1. Sam says:

      That’s great, Tammy! Thank you for your feedback!

  12. Funnyfarm says:

    5 stars
    This is great!!

    1. Sam says:

      Thanks for your feedback, Funnyfarm! I’m so happy to hear you enjoyed the recipe.