Wondering What to Serve with Shrimp Cocktail? We’ve gathered up all the best sauces and sides that will take your next shrimp cocktail from a delicious appetizer to an unforgettable dining experience.
Table of Contents
Best Side Dishes for Shrimp Cocktail
Shrimp cocktail is a timeless classic appetizer that has been around for years. Whether served at a fancy dinner party during the holidays or by the pool on a hot summer day, they are always a hit. Succulent shrimp are boiled with a variety of seasonings and typically draped over the edge of a small bowl of zesty cocktail sauce. It’s a simple, yet delicious dish.
But who says it has to stop there? With these recipes, you’ll turn a simple shrimp appetizer into so much more. With homemade sauces and salsa, fresh salads, and colorful veggies, each of these recipes complements sweet, juicy, and tender shrimp. Make sure you check out the tips listed at the bottom of this article on how to make the perfect shrimp cocktail.
Why We Love These Recipes
- Adds variety: Different sauces and tasty sides are a nice way to change up traditional shrimp cocktails.
- Easy to make: These sauces and sides are all hassle-free recipes that are super easy to make using simple ingredients.
- Versatility: These recipes don’t just complement shrimp cocktails. They can be enjoyed with different types of foods.
1. Zesty Ritz Crackers
2. Olive Garden Copycat Breadsticks
3. Air Fryer Ranch Oyster Crackers
4. Alabama Fire Crackers
5. Easy Garlic Butter Ciabatta Bread
6. Easy Semi-Homemade Seasoned Tortilla Chips
Sauce Recipes
7. Easy Dill Tartar Sauce
8. Easy Prawn Cocktail Sauce
The sauce pairs well with seafood and can be used as a dipping sauce, salad dressing or topping.
9. Creamy Horseradish Sauce
10. Homemade Cocktail Sauce
11. Cocktail Sauce with Horseradish
12. Yum Yum Sauce
13. Lemon Yogurt Sauce
14. Chipotle Crema Sauce
15. Cajun Butter Sauce
16. Easy Gochujang Aioli
17. Lemon Herb Sauce
18. Fast and Easy Tomatillo Hot Sauce
19. Italian Chili Oil
20. Zesty Creole Style Rémoulade
Salads and Salsa Recipes
21. Deviled Egg Potato Salad
22. Cowboy Caviar Recipe
23. Easy Broccoli Salad Recipe
24. Thai Cucumber Salad
25. Crab Potato Salad
26. Sicilian Fennel and Orange Salad
27. Caribbean Mango Avocado Salad
28. Mango Corn Salsa
29. Authentic Mexican Salsa Recipe with Fresh Tomatoes
30. Creamy Southern Coleslaw
31. Watermelon Feta Salad with Basil and Cucumber
32. Sweet and Tangy Southern Coleslaw
33. Caesar Salad with the Best Caesar Salad Dressing
34. Pearl Couscous Salad with Asparagus
Simple Vegetable Side Recipes
35. Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes
36. Instant Pot Corn on the Cob
37. Grilled Prosciutto-Wrapped Asparagus
38. Air Fryer Parmesan Potatoes
39. Air Fryer Baked Potatoes with Crispy Skins
40. Mediterranean Roasted Vegetables
41. How to Air Fry Frozen Brussels Sprouts
42. Roasted Broccoli
43. Air Fryer Green Beans
44. Crispy Parmesan Zucchini Fries
Step-by-Step Instructions for a Classic Shrimp Cocktail Recipe
- Thawing: Thaw your fresh shrimp in cold water or overnight in the fridge. Never thaw them on the counter or at room temperature.
- Season the water: Fill a pot with water and add salt to season it. You can also add other seasonings like bay leaves, peppercorns, garlic cloves, and herbs to infuse extra flavor into the shrimp. I like to tie the seasonings up in a piece of cheesecloth, so it is easy to remove from the pot. You can also use store-bought bags of shrimp boil seasoning. Bring it to a full rolling boil.
- Cook the shrimp: Carefully add the raw shrimp to the boiling water. Boil for 2-3 minutes until they turn pink. The cooking time will vary based on the size of the shrimp.
- Ice bath: Remove the cooked shrimp from the boiling water using a slotted spoon or strainer. Directly add them to a bowl of cold water with ice cubes to stop the cooking process.
- Peel and devein: Once the shrimp have cooled for a few minutes in the ice bath, peel them. Then use a small paring knife to devein the shrimp.
- Serve: Serve the chilled shrimp with your preferred cocktail sauce. Garnish with lemon wedges and fresh herbs if you like.
What to Serve with Shrimp Cocktail: 44 Best Side Dishes
Ingredients
- Zesty Ritz Crackers
- Copycat Olive Garden Breadsticks
- Air Fryer Ranch Oyster Crackers
- Alabama Fire Crackers
- Easy Garlic Butter Ciabatta Bread
- Easy Semi-Homemade Seasoned Tortilla Chips
- Easy Dill Tartar Sauce
- Easy Prawn Cocktail Sauce
- Creamy Horseradish Sauce
- Homemade Cocktail Sauce
- Cocktail Sauce with Horseradish
- Yum Yum Sauce
- Lemon Yogurt Sauce
- Chipotle Crema Sauce
- Cajun Butter Sauce
Instructions
- Pick a shrimp cocktail side dish.
- Gather the ingredients.
- Make and enjoy!
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