Red Lobster Cocktail Sauce: Recipe, Price & Calories
By Alex Rivera, Head of Menu Research | Prices Verified September 2026 Against the Red lobster App.
Quick answer
Red Lobster cocktail sauce is a tangy tomato and horseradish dipping sauce. It is sold as an 8 oz. cup for about $3.99, with about 220 calories for the full cup. It is most famously served with shrimp cocktail. A copycat version needs only ketchup, prepared horseradish, lemon juice, and a dash of Worcestershire sauce.
Cocktail sauce is a signature dipping condiment on the Red Lobster menu, listed under Soups and Sides. It is the classic partner for shrimp cocktail. This guide covers the price, calories, ingredients, and a quick copycat recipe you can make at home. See the full Red Lobster menu with prices to plan your visit.
Cocktail sauce at a glance
| Detail | What to know |
|---|---|
| Menu item | Cocktail sauce (dipping sauce) |
| Menu category | Soups and Sides |
| Portion | 8 oz. cup |
| Served with | Shrimp cocktail, crab legs, fried fish |
| Price | About $3.99 (varies by location) |
| Calories | About 220 (full 8 oz. cup) |
| Flavor | Tangy, zesty, sharp |
| Spice level | Mild to medium kick |
What is cocktail sauce?
Cocktail sauce is a classic North American seafood condiment. It blends tangy tomato paste or ketchup with the sharp, zesty kick of real horseradish. Lemon juice and savory spices round it out.
What it is served with at Red Lobster
At Red Lobster, cocktail sauce is most famously paired with shrimp cocktail. It is also a natural fit for:
- Crab legs
- Fried fish and fried shrimp
- Family-sized seafood platters
- Bulk takeout seafood orders
It is listed under Soups and Sides, so you can order it as an extra cup with almost any seafood meal.
Price
The 8 oz. cup is typically priced around $3.99. Exact pricing varies by franchise location.
| Where you order | Approximate price |
|---|---|
| In restaurant, a la carte (8 oz.) | About $3.99 |
| Online ordering / delivery apps | About $3.99, plus fees |
| Served with shrimp cocktail | Often included, varies |
Check the Red Lobster app for the current price near you. For comparison, grocery store cocktail sauce in 8 oz. jars usually runs $2.46 to $5.00 depending on brand.
Calories and nutrition
| Nutrient | Approximate value | % Daily Value |
|---|---|---|
| Calories | 220 | – |
| Total fat | 0 to 1 g | 0% to 1% |
| Sodium | 2,000 to 2,600 mg | 87% to 113% |
| Total carbs | 50 to 60 g | 18% to 22% |
| Total sugars | 45 to 55 g | – |
| Protein | 2 to 4 g | – |
These are approximate values, not official lab-tested numbers. Watch the sodium if you are sensitive to salt. A little sauce goes a long way.
Ingredients
Red Lobster does not publish the exact proprietary recipe. Based on the known flavor profile, the key components are:
- Tomato paste or ketchup (the base)
- Real horseradish (the signature kick)
- Lemon juice
- Onion and garlic
- Savory spices
Copycat recipe: cocktail sauce
This is a copycat recipe, not Red Lobster’s official formula. It makes a full 8 oz. batch in 5 minutes with no cooking.
Yield: about 8 oz. (1 cup)
Prep time: 5 minutes, plus 30 minutes chilling
Ingredients
- 1 cup ketchup
- 1/4 cup prepared horseradish, drained
- 2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- Add all ingredients to a medium bowl.
- Stir until fully combined.
- Cover and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes. Chilling lets the horseradish heat bloom and the flavors meld.
- Stir once before serving.
Pro tips
- Adjust the horseradish to taste. Start with 1/4 cup for a classic kick, add more for extra heat.
- Use prepared horseradish from a jar, not creamy horseradish sauce.
- Fresh lemon juice beats bottled for brightness.
Red Lobster dipping sauces compared
Red Lobster’s three signature dipping sauces cover every craving. Here is how they compare.
| Detail | Cocktail sauce | Old Bay butter sauce | Pina colada sauce |
|---|---|---|---|
| Portion | 8 oz. cup | 4 oz. cup | 8 oz. cup |
| Price | About $3.99 | About $3.59 to $3.99 | About $3.99 |
| Calories | About 220 | About 590 | About 450 |
| Flavor | Tangy, zesty | Savory, buttery, spiced | Sweet, creamy, tropical |
| Base | Tomato and horseradish | Butter | Coconut and dairy |
| Best with | Shrimp cocktail | Crab legs, seafood boils | Coconut shrimp |
Read our Old Bay butter sauce guide and pina colada sauce guide for the other two.
Can you buy Red Lobster cocktail sauce?
Red Lobster sells it as an 8 oz. side cup at the restaurant and through online ordering. It is not sold as a bottled Red Lobster product in grocery stores.
But cocktail sauce is one of the easiest sauces to buy or make. Grocery store cocktail sauce in 8 oz. jars runs about $2.46 to $5.00. Popular options include McCormick Golden Dipt seafood cocktail sauce. Or use the 5-minute copycat recipe above.
Allergens and dietary notes
Based on the typical ingredients in this sauce:
| Allergen | Presence |
|---|---|
| Fish (anchovy in Worcestershire) | Possible |
| Gluten / wheat | Unlikely |
| Dairy | No |
| Shellfish | No (but served with seafood) |
Worcestershire sauce traditionally contains anchovy, which matters for guests with fish allergies. The sauce is dairy free as typically made. Guests with serious allergies should check Red Lobster’s official allergen guide or ask the restaurant directly, since recipes can change.
Frequently asked questions
What is cocktail sauce made of?
The key components are tomato paste or ketchup, real horseradish, lemon juice, onion, garlic, and savory spices. Red Lobster does not publish its exact proprietary recipe.
How much is cocktail sauce at Red Lobster?
About $3.99 for the 8 oz. cup. Prices vary by franchise location. Grocery store cocktail sauce in 8 oz. jars usually costs $2.46 to $5.00.
How many calories are in cocktail sauce?
About 220 calories for the full 8 oz. cup at Red Lobster. It is tomato based, so it is much lighter than butter or cream based dips.
How many calories are in an 8-ounce shrimp cocktail?
Red Lobster lists about 220 calories for the 8 oz. sauce cup. The shrimp themselves are lean, roughly 100 to 150 calories for a typical appetizer portion. A full shrimp cocktail with sauce lands around 320 to 370 calories, but check the app for the exact menu item.
Why is it called a cocktail sauce?
The common explanation is that shrimp cocktail was traditionally served in a cocktail glass, with the shrimp hanging on the rim like a drink garnish. The sauce served alongside it took the “cocktail” name too.
Is cocktail sauce spicy?
It has a mild to medium kick from horseradish, not chili heat. The sharpness hits the nose more than the tongue. You can dial it up or down in the homemade version.
What do you eat with cocktail sauce?
Shrimp cocktail is the classic pairing. It also works with crab legs, fried fish, fried shrimp, and family-sized seafood platters.
Can you buy Red Lobster cocktail sauce?
You can buy the 8 oz. side cup at the restaurant or through online ordering. Red Lobster does not sell it bottled in stores. Grocery store cocktail sauce or the copycat recipe above are easy alternatives.
Is cocktail sauce gluten free?
Gluten and wheat are unlikely based on the typical ingredients. But this is not officially confirmed, and Worcestershire sauce brands vary. Check with Red Lobster directly if you have celiac disease or a serious sensitivity.
How long does homemade cocktail sauce last in the fridge?
Store it in an airtight jar in the refrigerator. It keeps well for 2 to 3 weeks. Stir before serving.
Final thoughts
Cocktail sauce is the simplest of Red Lobster’s dipping sauces and the lightest too, at just 220 calories for the full cup. Tangy tomato plus horseradish is a combination that has worked for over a century. At about $3.99 for 8 oz., it is a fair price, but the homemade version costs less and takes 5 minutes.
Explore the full Red Lobster menu with prices to plan your next visit.
Related guides
- Red Lobster Old Bay butter sauce
- Red Lobster pina colada sauce
- Red Lobster nutrition guide
- Red Lobster deals and specials
Disclaimer: Menu items, prices, calories, and availability change over time and vary by location. Nutrition values are approximate. The recipe in this article is a copycat approximation, not Red Lobster’s official formula. Verify current details in the Red Lobster app or at redlobster.com before relying on them.
