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Four poached shrimp hooked over the rim of a glass filled with chunky cocktail sauce, with lemon wedges alongside

Classic Shrimp Cocktail

Prep 15 min Cook 5 min Total 20 min Servings 8

By Lukasz Jagiello

Published Oct 12, 2026 · Updated Oct 12, 2026

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About this recipe

I only post recipes that I have tried and verified and are good to my taste — all taste may vary.

Pulling the shrimp the moment they turn pink and curl into a C keeps them tender instead of rubbery.

Ingredients

Method

  1. 01

    Bring a pot of water to a bare simmer with the lemon halves, bay leaf, peppercorns and salt — never a rolling boil, which toughens shrimp.

  2. 02

    Slide in the shrimp and poach just until pink and curled into a C, about 2 minutes. Pull immediately into a bowl of ice water to stop the cooking.

  3. 03

    Stir together ketchup, horseradish, lemon juice, Worcestershire and hot sauce for the cocktail sauce.

  4. 04

    Drain and chill the shrimp. Hook them over the rim of a glass filled with the sauce.

Notes & swaps

  • Pulling the shrimp the moment they turn pink and curl into a C keeps them tender instead of rubbery.
  • Shrimp and sauce both hold a day ahead in the fridge, covered separately.

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