Sauce, cocktail, ready-to-serve
Whole food · Soups, Sauces, and Gravies
Photo: Wikipedia
Cocktail sauce is a bold, tangy, and slightly sweet condiment with a smooth, thick texture, primarily made from a tomato base, horseradish, and vinegar. It's a low-calorie, low-fat accompaniment that packs a significant carbohydrate punch from added sugars, offering minimal protein or fiber.
Calorie split: 4% protein · 88% carbs · 7% fat
↓ Full nutrition💚 Why it's loved
People love it for its perfect balance of sweet, spicy, and tangy flavors that cut through the richness of fried or fatty foods. It's a versatile, no-cook sauce that instantly elevates simple seafood platters and appetizers.
⚠️ Watch-outs & how to enjoy it better
Its high sugar content (over 11g per 100g) can contribute to blood sugar spikes, making it less ideal for those monitoring glucose levels. To mitigate this, pair it with a protein and fiber source (like shrimp and vegetables) and practice strict portion control. Some commercial versions are also high in sodium.
Key benefits
- Low in fat and calories
- Provides a quick source of energy from carbohydrates
- Contains lycopene from its tomato base
- Adds significant flavor without adding fat
- Commonly paired with lean protein sources like shrimp
🍽️ Popular dishes
🌍 Where it's eaten
💡 Did you know?
Despite its name, cocktail sauce has no alcohol; the term 'cocktail' originally referred to the style of serving appetizers, like oysters, before a main meal in the late 19th century.
Full nutrition (USDA data · scales with serving)
| Water | 65.7 g |
| Energy | 128 kcal |
| Energy | 535 kj |
| Protein | 1.4 g |
| Total lipid (fat) | 1.1 g |
| Ash | 3.7 g |
| Carbohydrate, by difference | 28.2 g |
| Fiber, total dietary | 1.8 g |
| Total Sugars | 11.8 g |
| Calcium, Ca | 26.0 mg |
| Iron, Fe | 0.83 mg |
| Magnesium, Mg | 17.0 mg |
| Phosphorus, P | 30.0 mg |
| Potassium, K | 309 mg |
| Sodium, Na | 1262 mg |
| Zinc, Zn | 0.38 mg |
| Copper, Cu | 0.11 mg |
| Manganese, Mn | 0.15 mg |
| Selenium, Se | 2.2 ug |
| Vitamin C, total ascorbic acid | 11.6 mg |
| Thiamin | 0.02 mg |
| Riboflavin | 0.05 mg |
| Niacin | 0.82 mg |
| Pantothenic acid | 0.07 mg |
| Vitamin B-6 | 0.08 mg |
| Folate, total | 17.0 ug |
| Folic acid | 0.00 ug |
| Folate, food | 17.0 ug |
| Folate, DFE | 17.0 ug |
| Choline, total | 11.0 mg |
| Vitamin B-12 | 0.00 ug |
| Vitamin B-12, added | 0.00 ug |
| Vitamin A, RAE | 18.0 ug |
| Retinol | 0.00 ug |
| Carotene, beta | 212 ug |
| Carotene, alpha | 7.0 ug |
| Cryptoxanthin, beta | 0.00 ug |
| Vitamin A, IU | 359 iu |
| Lycopene | 6753 ug |
| Lutein + zeaxanthin | 2.0 ug |
| Vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol) | 1.1 mg |
| Vitamin E, added | 0.00 mg |
| Vitamin D (D2 + D3), International Units | 0.00 iu |
| Vitamin D (D2 + D3) | 0.00 ug |
| Vitamin K (phylloquinone) | 4.4 ug |
| Alcohol, ethyl | 0.00 g |
| Caffeine | 0.00 mg |
| Theobromine | 0.00 mg |
Fat & fatty acid profile (per 100g)
| Fatty acids, total saturated | 0.00 g |
| SFA 4:0 | 0.00 g |
| SFA 6:0 | 0.00 g |
| SFA 8:0 | 0.00 g |
| SFA 10:0 | 0.00 g |
| SFA 12:0 | 0.00 g |
| SFA 14:0 | 0.00 g |
| SFA 16:0 | 0.00 g |
| SFA 18:0 | 0.00 g |
| Fatty acids, total monounsaturated | 0.00 g |
| MUFA 16:1 | 0.00 g |
| MUFA 18:1 | 0.00 g |
| MUFA 20:1 | 0.00 g |
| MUFA 22:1 | 0.00 g |
| Fatty acids, total polyunsaturated | 0.00 g |
| PUFA 18:2 | 0.00 g |
| PUFA 18:3 | 0.00 g |
| PUFA 18:4 | 0.00 g |
| PUFA 20:4 | 0.00 g |
| PUFA 20:5 n-3 (EPA) | 0.00 g |
| PUFA 22:5 n-3 (DPA) | 0.00 g |
| PUFA 22:6 n-3 (DHA) | 0.00 g |
| Cholesterol | 0.00 mg |
Amino acid profile (per 100g)
Estimated from Sauce, homemade, white, medium — USDA does not publish this profile for Sauce.
| Tryptophan | 0.04 g |
| Threonine | 0.14 g |
| Isoleucine | 0.19 g |
| Leucine | 0.30 g |
| Lysine | 0.24 g |
| Methionine | 0.08 g |
| Cystine | 0.03 g |
| Phenylalanine | 0.15 g |
| Tyrosine | 0.15 g |
| Valine | 0.20 g |
| Arginine | 0.11 g |
| Histidine | 0.08 g |
| Alanine | 0.10 g |
| Aspartic acid | 0.23 g |
| Glutamic acid | 0.64 g |
| Glycine | 0.07 g |
| Proline | 0.30 g |
| Serine | 0.17 g |
FAQ
What is cocktail sauce made of?
The base is typically ketchup or chili sauce mixed with prepared horseradish. It often includes Worcestershire sauce, lemon juice, and sometimes hot sauce or vinegar for extra tang.
Is cocktail sauce healthy?
It's a low-fat, low-calorie condiment, but its high sugar content means it should be used in moderation. It's best enjoyed as part of a balanced meal with lean protein.
Can I make cocktail sauce at home?
Absolutely! A simple homemade version mixes ketchup, prepared horseradish, a dash of Worcestershire sauce, and lemon juice. This allows you to control the sugar and spice levels.
Nutrient density (calculated · NRF9.3)
Nutrient Rich Foods index: beneficial nutrients (protein, fiber, vitamins, minerals) minus saturated fat, added sugar & sodium, per 100 kcal.
NRF9.3 index — Fulgoni, Keast & Drewnowski, 2009. Computed from USDA nutrients.
Weight-loss friendliness (composite index)
Energy density 1.28 kcal/g · 4% calories from protein · 1.8 g fiber · 11.8 g sugar per 100 g.
Composite of energy density (Rolls et al., 1999), protein & fiber satiety, minus sugar. A calculated heuristic — ranks satiety-per-calorie, not a clinical measure.
Dietary load (calculated from USDA values)
Potential renal acid load. Positive = acid-forming, negative = alkaline-forming.
Sodium-to-potassium ratio: 4.08 (lower is better — aim for ≤ 1)
Sodium:potassium per WHO potassium guidance. Computed from USDA nutrients.