Keto Cocktail Sauce Recipe

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

Keto cocktail sauce is served with shrimp.

Shrimp cocktail is one of my favorite restaurant appetizers (deviled eggs are 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 version to go with boiled shrimp. This easy recipe contains four ingredients, is ready in five minutes, and you can - and should - make it ahead of time.

Ingredients and Variations

The ingredients needed to make a keto cocktail sauce.

See the recipe card for exact measurements. Here are my comments on the ingredients.

Unsweetened ketchup: I use the Primal Kitchen brand. It's delicious and always makes me wonder why so much sugar is added to regular ketchup.
Horseradish: I really like the Bubbies brand, which is quite potent!
Worcestershire sauce: A very small amount (just ½ teaspoon) adds great flavor to the sauce. You can double it for enhanced umami flavor.
Hot pepper sauce: I like the Organic Harvest brand. Just like the horseradish I use, it's quite potent. Double the hot sauce if you enjoy spicy food.
Optional: Add a teaspoon of sweetener (or the equivalent in stevia) to make it even closer to the traditional recipe.

Instructions

The detailed instructions and step-by-step photos are included in the recipe card. Here's a quick overview.

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.

SO much better than store-bought sauce, which has no flavor (other than ketchup!). I also used extra-hot horseradish. Next time I will leave out the Tabasco, but that is a personal preference. Thanks so much for this PERFECT recipe!
Victoria
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Recipe 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?

This would depend on the brand you use. 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.

How long can I keep this sauce?

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

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.

Recipe Card

5 from 17 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 below
▢ 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.
I don't add a sweetener. However, several readers commented over the years 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 an airtight container in the fridge for up to a week. Give it another 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 and Variations

Instructions

Recipe Tip

Recipe FAQs

Serving Suggestions

Recipe Card