Keto Cocktail Sauce Recipe

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It's easy to make this keto cocktail sauce! Simply replace the sugary ketchup with unsweetened ketchup. It tastes just like the restaurant version. This easy recipe contains four ingredients, is ready in five minutes, and you can - and should - make it ahead of time.

Keto cocktail sauce is served with shrimp.

Shrimp cocktail is one of my favorite restaurant appetizers (deviled eggs is another one), but I always feel guilty when I order it because it's high in sugar. I don't know why it took me so long to make a homemade keto cocktail sauce to go with boiled shrimp - it's so easy to make. If you're like me and enjoy shrimp cocktail, you can now enjoy it freely, even on a low-carb diet!

Ingredients

You'll only need a few ingredients to make this flavorful sauce. The exact measurements are listed in the recipe card below. Here's an overview of what you'll need:

Unsweetened ketchup: I use the Primal Kitchen brand. It's delicious! It always makes me wonder why do they need to add so much sugar to regular ketchup.
Horseradish: I really like the Bubbies brand, which is quite potent! I get it at Whole Foods.
Worcestershire sauce: A very small amount (just ½ teaspoon) adds great flavor to the sauce.
Hot pepper sauce: I like the Organic Harvest brand. Again, it's quite potent.

Variations

Add a teaspoon of sweetener (or the equivalent in stevia) to make it even closer to the traditional recipe.
Double the Worcestershire sauce for enhanced umami flavor.
Double the hot sauce if you enjoy spicy food.

Instructions

The detailed instructions for making this sauce are included in the recipe card below. Here are the basic steps:

In a small bowl, whisk together the ingredients.

Cover and chill until ready to use. This will allow the flavors to meld.

Mix again before serving. Serve with steamed or boiled seafood.

Dipping a shrimp into keto cocktail sauce.

Expert Tip

This sauce improves after an overnight stay in the fridge because resting allows the flavors to meld. So it's a good idea to make it ahead - at least an hour before you plan on using it, and ideally, the day before.

Recipe FAQs

Can you eat a shrimp cocktail on the keto diet?

Yes! You just need to make a low-sugar sauce. To make it, you can use any recipe you like. Simply replace the regular, sugary ketchup with unsweetened ketchup and omit the sugar (or replace it with a sugar-free sweetener).

Should I add a sweetener?

I don't. However, several readers commented that they added a small amount of sugar-free sweetener, and the sauce tasted exactly like a restaurant one.

How much horseradish should I add?

The brand of prepared horseradish I use is quite potent, so I only use one tablespoon. Depending on the brand you use, you might need to add up to two tablespoons. It's best to start with less, then taste and decide for yourself.

Serving Suggestions

The obvious use for this sauce is to serve it with boiled shrimp.
It's also very good with other types of seafood, such as oysters, clams, crab, and scallops.
Try it as a topping to simply prepared fish such as grilled salmon.
Use it to top meatloaf.
Serve it as a dip for prosciutto-wrapped mozzarella.
It's great as a dip for keto chicken nuggets.

Storing Leftovers

You can keep this sauce in the fridge, in an airtight container, for up to a week. Give it another good stir before using it.

You can also freeze it for up to three months. I like to freeze it in ice cube trays and then place the frozen cubes in freezer bags.

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Recipe Card

5 from 15 votes

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It's easy to make this keto cocktail sauce! Simply replace the sugary ketchup with unsweetened ketchup. It tastes just like the restaurant version.

Prep Time5

Total Time5

Course: Appetizer

Cuisine: American

Servings: servings

Calories: 15kcal

Author: Vered DeLeeuw

Video

Ingredients

▢ ½ cup unsweetened ketchup
▢ 1 tablespoon horseradish - see notes
▢ ½ teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
▢ ½ teaspoon hot pepper sauce

Instructions

In a small bowl, whisk together the ketchup, horseradish, Worcestershire sauce, and hot pepper sauce.
Cover and refrigerate until ready to use.
Mix the sauce again before serving.
Serve with poached or boiled shrimp.

Notes

The horseradish I use is quite potent, so I only use one tablespoon. Depending on the brand you use, you might need to add up to two tablespoons. It's best to start with less, then taste and decide for yourself.
I don't add a sweetener. However, several readers commented that they added a small amount of sugar-free sweetener, and the sauce tasted exactly like a restaurant one.
You can keep this sauce in the fridge, in an airtight container, for up to a week. Give it another good stir before using it. You can also freeze it for up to three months. I like to freeze it in ice cube trays and then place the frozen cubes in freezer bags.

Nutrition per Serving

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Disclaimers

Most recipes are low-carb and gluten-free, but some are not. Recommended and linked products are not guaranteed to be gluten-free. Nutrition info is approximate. Please verify it independently. The carb count excludes non-nutritive sweeteners. Please read these Terms of Use before using any of my recipes.

Keto Cocktail Sauce

Ingredients

Variations

Instructions

Expert Tip

Recipe FAQs

Serving Suggestions

Storing Leftovers

More Sauce Recipes

Recipe Card