Look, I’m gonna be straight with ya – if you’re anything like me, giving up your favorite foods on keto can be rough! But here’s some good news for all my seafood lovers out there – shrimp cocktail can totally work on a keto diet with a few simple tweaks. Let me break it down for you!
The Quick Answer
Yes, shrimp cocktail can be keto-friendly when prepared properly! The shrimp itself is naturally low-carb, but you’ll need to watch out for the cocktail sauce and any high-carb garnishes.
Why Shrimp is a Keto Superstar
Let’s look at what makes shrimp such an awesome keto food:
- High protein (18g per 3oz serving)
- Super low in carbs (0-1g net carbs per serving)
- Almost no fat (less than 1g)
- Packed with nutrients like:
- Selenium
- Phosphorus
- Vitamin B12
- Iodine
- Vitamins A & E
The Cocktail Sauce Situation
Here’s where things can get tricky! Traditional cocktail sauce usually contains
- Regular ketchup (4g net carbs per tbsp)
- Horseradish (2g net carbs per tbsp)
- Worcestershire sauce (1g net carbs per tsp)
- Lemon juice (1g net carb per tbsp)
But don’t worry! I’ve gotcha covered with some keto-friendly sauce alternatives.
3 Awesome Keto-Friendly Dipping Sauces
1. Keto Cocktail Sauce
* 1/2 cup sugar-free ketchup* 3 tbsp prepared horseradish* 1 tsp lemon juice* 1/2 tsp Worcestershire sauce* 1/4 tsp black pepper2. Pesto Mayo
* 1/2 cup mayo* 1/4 cup basil pesto3. Spicy Sriracha Sauce
* 1/2 cup mayo* 2 tbsp Sriracha* 1 tsp erythritol* 1 tsp lemon juiceMaking Your Own Keto Shrimp Cocktail
Here’s my foolproof way to make keto-friendly shrimp cocktail
-
Pick your shrimp:
- Go for jumbo-sized
- Buy raw, peeled & deveined
- Skip any breaded varieties
-
Cook ’em right:
- Grill
- Steam
- Boil
- Just cook until pink – don’t overcook!
-
Chill thoroughly
-
Serve with:
- Your choice of keto sauces
- Lemon wedges
- Low-carb garnishes like:
- Cucumber slices
- Celery sticks
- Avocado
- Pickled onions
The Nutrition Breakdown
For a 4oz serving of keto shrimp cocktail (with homemade sauce):
- Calories: 120
- Fat: 2g
- Net Carbs: 3g
- Protein: 24g
Pro Tips for Perfect Keto Shrimp Cocktail
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Make your own sauces! Store-bought usually = hidden sugars
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Keep it simple – the shrimp should be the star
-
Watch your portions – even keto foods have calories
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Prep ahead – these sauces keep well in the fridge for 3-5 days
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Get creative with your presentation – serve over ice or on a bed of lettuce
Creative Ways to Enjoy Your Keto Shrimp Cocktail
- Make it a meal with a big salad
- Perfect poolside snack
- Fancy appetizer for guests
- Beach picnic protein
- Quick lunch option
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Using regular cocktail sauce
- Adding high-carb garnishes
- Breaded shrimp
- Overdoing the sauce portions
- Forgetting to check restaurant ingredients
Y’all, I gotta tell ya – I make this all the time for my family and friends, and nobody even realizes it’s keto! It’s become our go-to appetizer for parties and even just a quick protein-packed dinner when we’re feeling lazy.
Remember, eating keto doesn’t mean giving up your faves – it’s about getting creative and finding better ways to enjoy them. Now go forth and enjoy your shrimp cocktail, keto warriors!
Got questions about making your favorite foods keto-friendly? Drop ’em in the comments below – I’d love to help!
Carbs in our Keto Cocktail Sauce
Our delicious cocktail sauce has 3 grams net carbs for 2 tablespoons. All the rest of the nutrition information is in the printable recipe card located at the bottom of this page.
Most of the carbs are coming from the organic tomato puree within the salsa and sugar free ketchup.
So while our low carb cocktail sauce doesn’t have much less total carbs then a store bought cocktail sauce, at least it doesn’t contain artificial ingredients and sugar that keep products shelf stable in the market.
This is a super short list of just 5 ingredients needed for this keto cocktail sauce.
Mild or Spicy Salsa– I have my own homemade recipe you could make or you can purchase it.
Sugar Free Ketchup– Here’s my homemade sugar free ketchup recipe that also takes just minutes in your blender or you can purchase this one from Primal Kitchen.
Horseradish sauce- I did not make my own, but you can certainly use fresh horseradish if you can find it at your local grocery store or buy this one.
Lemon juice, or lime juice or even apple cider vinegar could be used if you have neither lemon or lime juice. You just need a little acid to give this some tang.
Hot sauce for a little spice! I used Tabasco brand.
Pinch of sea salt or to taste
Some keto recipes for cocktail sauce contain Worcestershire sauce but I’ve not added that to my recipe. I don’t think it’s needed for taste or color.
Making your own cocktail sauce really takes no time at all and you can be sure it has the best taste!
You could even use this cocktail sauce as a perfect dipping sauce for my homemade chicken nuggets recipe or chicken tenders. It’s definitely not just for shrimp in my opinion!
Homemade or Store Bought Keto Sauces
If you don’t have time to make my sugar free ketchup or homemade salsa then use the links in the recipe to find them online, but those are also quick recipes that take little of your time in the kitchen.
Every Christmas Eve my Italian mom makes us the Feast of 7 Fishes dinner and I am in charge of bringing my Grandmother’s Butterballs and Shrimp Cocktail.
The best part about making this keto tangy cocktail sauce at home is how much you can control the spice in the final recipe.
Always start with a little hot sauce and increase as you like. You can always add more prepared horseradish too, but you can’t take it away if it’s too spicy!
While this sugar-free recipe does not include any sugar added, there are natural sugars in organic tomato paste within the salsa and ketchup which is why you see 1 gram in the nutrition info.
When you are following a keto diet or low carb diet it’s important to read labels when purchasing store bought salsa as many do in fact include sugar.
What’s In Keto Shrimp Cocktail Sauce? – Keto Kitchen HQ
FAQ
How many carbs are in a shrimp cocktail?
A typical shrimp cocktail has a relatively low carbohydrate content, primarily from the cocktail sauce. Shrimp itself is very low in carbs, with about 0.2 grams per 3-ounce serving.
Can I eat shrimp on a keto diet?
Yes, shrimp is perfect for a keto diet! It’s carb-free, high in protein, and works well in a variety of low-carb recipes.
Which cocktail is keto friendly?
| Type of drink | Serving size (in ounces and milliliters) | Carb content (in grams) |
|---|---|---|
| tequila | 1.5 oz (44 mL) | 0 g |
| whiskey | 1.5 oz (44 mL) | 0 g |
| flavored martini or cosmopolitan | 3.3 oz (100 mL) | 6.66 g |
| bloody Mary | 5 oz (150 mL) | 5.70 g |
Is Mexican shrimp cocktail low-carb?
This Mexican Shrimp Cocktail is a deliciously simple and low carb dish you’re sure to love! It can be served as an appetizer, snack, or even as a main dish.