Shrimp Cocktail with Avocado Recipe

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This tasty shrimp cocktail with avocado is a fantastic way to elevate classic shrimp with a creamy and delicious twist! Juicy cooked shrimp are dipped into tangy cocktail sauce with the addition of diced avocado and lime.

Serve this modern shrimp cocktail for your next gathering – it makes a fantastic appetizer! You can serve this in glasses (classic!), or serve with a toothpick to get the shrimp and avocado in each bite.

Want more fantastic party appetizers? Try our creamy elote dip, cream cheese dip for crackers, or our favorite antipasto chopped salad!

shrimp cocktail with avocado recipe modern appetizers with shrimp

Table of Contents

Shrimp cocktail is a classic recipe, and with good reason – it’s hard to beat the irresistible flavor combination of cooked shrimp and zesty cocktail sauce. If you’re looking for a way to serve shrimp cocktail with a twist, this tasty avocado shrimp cocktail is even better than the original!

The avocado adds a creaminess, richness, and a fantastic texture to each bite. Start by dicing up your avocado, tossing it with fresh lime juice and cracked black pepper, and serving it with a cooked shrimp dipped in cocktail sauce.

Why This Recipe Works

All the classic flavor of shrimp cocktail, with an amazing modern twist!
It’s easy to make, especially if you buy pre-cooked shrimp.
A great appetizer for entertaining, this crowd-pleaser will go fast.
With just 5 ingredients, you can’t go wrong with this simple and flavorful recipe.
It has amazing texture – juicy shrimp, sharp and tangy cocktail sauce, and creamy avocado in every bite!

shrimp cocktail in a margarita glass with avocado cocktail sauce and lime juice.

Ingredients You’ll Need

Be sure to visit the recipe card below for full ingredient amounts and recipe instructions!

Cooked Shrimp – I like buying peeled and deveined pre-cooked shrimp from my local fish market. If you don’t have a good fish market near you, frozen cooked shrimp works great. Just be sure to follow the frozen package’s thawing guide before enjoying.

Avocado – Use a ripe avocado, slice in half, and remove the pit.

Cocktail Sauce – you can use your favorite brand of cocktail sauce for this recipe.

Lime Juice – fresh is best! If possible, use fresh whenever you can and skip the bottled lime juice.

Black Pepper – freshly cracked black pepper is great for tossing with the avocado and lime.

Additions and Substitutions

Add a tablespoon of freshly chopped cilantro on top.
If you don’t have limes you can use a fresh lemon instead to toss with the avocado.
Want more crunch? Add some chopped cucumber or diced mango to switch up the flavor!
Sprinkle a little smoked paprika over each of the shrimp and avocado bites if desired.
If you like the flavor of horseradish, you can stir in a teaspoon or two of prepared horseradish into the cocktail sauce if you prefer.

avocado shrimp cocktail recipe with lime juice and black pepper in a margarita glass with horseradish sauce

How to Make This Recipe

Rinsed the cooked shrimp under cold running water, drain and pat with a paper towel to dry. Set aside in a bowl.
Prepare your avocado: halve the avocado and remove the pit. With a spoon, scoop out the inside flesh. Dice with a knife, and place the diced avocado in a mixing bowl. Squeeze the fresh lime juice over the shrimp and add the cracked black pepper. Mix well to combine.
In a small serving dish cocktail glass (I use a wide margarita glass), add the cocktail sauce.
To serve – enjoy one shrimp dipped in cocktail sauce with diced avocado on top. You can use a toothpick or enjoy on tortilla chips or crackers.

Recipe FAQs

Can I use fresh uncooked shrimp in this recipe?

Yes, and if you want to buy uncooked shrimp, make sure it’s peeled and deveined. Bring a pot of salted water to a boil, add the shrimp and cook for 2-3 minutes, or until they turn pink and opaque. Drain shrimp and let them cool in an ice bath before serving in this shrimp cocktail.

Can I make this shrimp cocktail in advance?

You can prep your shrimp and cocktail sauce ahead of time – and store covered in the refrigerator. For best results, prep the avocado about an hour before serving – if you dice the avocado too early, it can become brown.

Can you serve this as a main dish?

While shrimp cocktail is traditionally served as an appetizer, you can make this a main dish by increase the portion (I would recommend doubling the recipe), and serving with a grain like coconut rice or a hearty chopped salad.

More Shrimp Recipes You’ll Love

If you made this recipe, please leave a star rating and let me know how it went in the comments below. I’d love to hear from you!