Alright, let’s be real..shrimp cocktail is great, but it’s time for an upgrade! This Roasted Shrimp Cocktail packs all the garlicky flavor and is paired with a homemade cocktail sauce that’s way better than anything you’ll find in a jar.
I'm a shrimp fanatic. It's my favorite seafood to cook up because it's easy to make fancy and can take on all kinds of flavors.
So when I host, I usually prepare one shrimp dish like my Bacon Wrapped Shrimp (so good!) or my Shrimp Ceviche.
It surprises guests because they don't usually expect something so "fancy" but little do they know, all these shrimp recipes are super easy!
Prepping Your Shrimp
First things first: look for the largest shrimp you can. I get jumbo or collosal because no one's here for tiny shrimp. Look for U-10 (collosal) or 11/15 (jumbo) on the bag. This tells you how many are in the bag per pound. The smaller the number, the less the shrimp but the BIGGER they are.
Then clean them by removing the vein on the curved end. Simply run a sharp knife down the back and run it under water until the poop digestive tract slips out.
I prefer to leave the tails on because shrimp with tails just look...fancier, and they also serve as a little handle for dipping. 🙂
Then I coat the raw shrimp in a simple mixture of olive oil, garlic, parsley, and a bit of red pepper flakes and a sprinkle of salt and pepper to bring everything together.
Roasting Tips For Tender Shrimp
Shrimp cooks very fast so roasting it at a high temperature is recommended. Overcooking shrimp is the only thing you can do wrong with this recipe so keep an eye on the timer.
Roast at 400°F for about 7-8 minutes or until they turn pink and are firm to the touch. It's okay to take them out too early rather than too late. We want tender, juicy shrimp not dry and rubbery shrimp.
📝 Save this recipe for later!
Let us email it to you, so you can come back to it later!
Homemade Cocktail Sauce
Store-bought cocktail sauce is a hit or miss. Some are flat out awful and some are just okay. But to keep things interesting and homemade, I recommend quickly mixing up your own if you have the ingredients on hand.
For my tartar sauce, I mix up ketchup (because it’s classic), horseradish (for that sharp bite), and chili crisp (for a touch of spice and crunch). You could also use hot sauce. Then, squeeze in some lemon juice to brighten it all up, and finish it with a dash of Worcestershire sauce because it adds a touch of umami goodness.
Taste it, adjust to your liking, and boom, you’ve got a sauce that’s perfect for dunking your roasted shrimp into. It’s tangy, a little spicy, and so so good!
Serving Tips
Once your shrimp are done roasting, arrange them on a platter and serve with your homemade tartar sauce. Don’t forget to throw in some lemon wedges for extra flair and maybe a little garnish of parsley because...you fancy! 🙂
No your roasted shrimp cocktail doesn't need to be served warm. You can prepare it the day before and serve it chilled if you wish.
Other Shrimp Appetizers
📖 Recipe
Roasted Shrimp Cocktail w/ Homemade Cocktail Sauce
Ingredients
- 2 lbs uncooked shrimp, peeled, deveined & tails on (See note*)
- 2-3 large garlic cloves, sliced thinly
- 1 tablespoon fresh parsley, minced
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
- ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
Cocktail Sauce
- ½ cup ketchup
- 2-3 tablespoons prepared horseradish
- 1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lemon juice
- ¾ teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
- ¼-½ teaspoon hot sauce or chili crisp (*See note)
📝 Save this recipe for later!
Let us email it to you, so you can come back to it later!
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 400°F.
- Prepare the shrimp by peeling and deveining them. I highly recommend leaving the tails on for easy handling and a nice presentation.
- Arrange the cleaned shrimp on a baking sheet, drizzle with olive oil, and add garlic, red pepper flakes, parsley, salt and pepper. Spread them out in a single layer and roast for 7–9 minutes, until they turn pink, firm, and perfectly cooked.
- Let the shrimp cool while you whip up the sauce by mixing ketchup, horseradish, lemon juice, Worcestershire sauce, and hot sauce or chili crisp. Chill until ready to use.
- Serve the shrimp alongside the cocktail sauce and enjoy!
Comments
No Comments