This Prawn Cocktail is the ultimate Christmas Day starter. Juicy king prawns coated in creamy homemade Marie Rose sauce, served with crunchy lettuce, cucumber and avocado. It's a modern twist on the classic prawn cocktail, ready in just 10 minutes and perfect for preparing ahead.
I love a Christmas starter that looks impressive but doesn't involve any cooking or take up valuable oven space.
This one looks lovely served in individual glasses, and you can get most of the preparation done on Christmas Eve.
Recipe update: This recipe was originally published on 17 September 2021 and was fully retested in November 2026 to check the ingredient quantities and preparation time. I've also expanded the instructions, tips and FAQs.
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Why You'll Love It
- Perfect Christmas starter - Looks special enough for Christmas Day, without lots of preparation.
- Quick and easy - Ready in around 10 minutes using cooked prawns.
- Make ahead - Prepare the sauce in advance and assemble just before serving.
- A modern classic - All the traditional flavours of a prawn cocktail, with creamy avocado and crunchy cucumber.
Recipe Overview
- Prep time: 10 minutes, with no cooking required when using ready-cooked prawns.
- Serves: 2 as a starter, but easy to double or triple for Christmas guests.
- Flavour: Creamy, tangy Marie Rose sauce with fresh, crunchy vegetables and avocado.
- Make ahead: Prepare the sauce and vegetables in advance, then assemble just before serving.
- Best served: Chilled in individual glasses, with lemon wedges and melba toast.
Ingredients and Substitutions
A full ingredients list, along with US Customary and Metric measurements, can be found in the recipe card at the end of this post.
- Prawns - We use large cooked and peeled king prawns. They make this feel a little more luxurious, but smaller North Atlantic prawns work well too. Use the peeled weight when measuring.
- Marie Rose sauce - Homemade really does make a difference here. Our Easy Marie Rose sauce takes just a minute to make, but you can use a good-quality shop-bought sauce.
- Lettuce - Little Gem adds a lovely crunch. Iceberg or romaine work just as well, or try rocket for a peppery flavour.
- Cucumber - Adds freshness and extra crunch to balance the creamy sauce.
- Avocado - Gives this classic starter a modern twist. Dice it and mix it with the cucumber, or serve it in slices for a prettier presentation.
- Lemon - A squeeze of fresh lemon really lifts the flavours.
- Paprika and chives - A little paprika adds colour and gentle warmth, while fresh chives finish everything off.
How To Make a Prawn Cocktail
- Mix the cooked prawns with the Marie Rose sauce until evenly coated.
- Divide the chopped lettuce and cucumber between two serving glasses.
- Spoon the prawns over the lettuce. Add the avocado slices, sprinkle with paprika and chopped chives, and finish with lemon wedges.
Homemade Marie Rose Sauce
The secret to a really good prawn cocktail is the sauce. Marie Rose sauce is a creamy mixture of mayonnaise, tomato ketchup, lemon juice, Worcestershire sauce and a little Tabasco for optional heat.
Our homemade Marie Rose sauce uses:
- 100ml mayonnaise
- 2 tablespoons tomato ketchup
- 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
- Juice of half a lemon
- Half a teaspoon Tabasco sauce (optional)
Simply mix everything together until smooth. This makes more than the 100ml needed for this prawn cocktail, so use enough to coat the prawns without drowning them in sauce.
For a slightly sweeter sauce, add a little more ketchup. For something fresher and tangier, add extra lemon juice.
You can also add a small splash of brandy for a more traditional, grown-up version.
Serving Suggestions
For Christmas Day, I love serving these in individual cocktail glasses with a lemon wedge on the side. They look like a posh restaurant starter, but they're incredibly easy to put together.
A little bread or something crunchy works really well alongside them. Try:
You can also make smaller portions for a Christmas buffet or serve the prawns in lettuce cups, like our prawn cocktail canapés.
Storage and Make Ahead
Make ahead: Make the Marie Rose sauce up to 2-3 days ahead and keep it covered in the fridge. For Christmas Day, I would make it on Christmas Eve, then prepare the other ingredients closer to serving.
Store: Keep the cooked prawns refrigerated and follow the use-by date on the packaging. Once mixed with the sauce, keep them covered in the fridge at 0-5°C and eat as soon as possible, ideally within 24 hours, provided the prawns are still within their safe storage period.
Assemble: The finished prawn cocktails are best assembled just before serving so the lettuce stays crisp and the avocado doesn't turn brown. You can prepare the lettuce and cucumber ahead and store them separately in the fridge.
Freeze: We wouldn't recommend freezing assembled prawn cocktail. The lettuce and avocado lose their texture, and mayonnaise-based sauce can separate after defrosting.
Dannii's Top Tips
- Dry the prawns well - Excess water from defrosted prawns can make the sauce thin and watery. Pat them dry with kitchen paper before mixing.
- Use good-quality sauce - If using shop-bought Marie Rose sauce, choose one you enjoy and add a squeeze of fresh lemon to brighten it.
- Add mango - A little diced mango goes really well with the prawns and avocado for a slightly sweeter, tropical twist.
- Try different herbs - Fresh dill is a lovely alternative to chives.
- Keep everything chilled - Prawn cocktail is best served cold, so refrigerate the ingredients until you're ready to assemble.
- Change the presentation - You don't need special glasses. Small bowls, ramekins or large lettuce leaves work just as well.
- Make it extra special - Save a few whole king prawns to arrange on top, or over the rim of the glass, for a more impressive Christmas presentation.
Troubleshooting Guide
| Problem | Likely cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Sauce is too watery | Prawns weren't drained properly after defrosting. | Drain and pat prawns dry before mixing with the sauce. |
| Sauce is too sweet | Too much ketchup or a particularly sweet brand. | Add a squeeze of lemon juice and a little more mayonnaise to balance the flavour. |
| Sauce is too spicy | Too much Tabasco or Worcestershire sauce. | Stir in a little extra mayonnaise to mellow the flavour. |
| Lettuce is soggy | The prawn cocktail was assembled too far ahead. | Dry the lettuce and cucumber thoroughly, and assemble just before serving. |
| Avocado has turned brown | It was sliced too far in advance. | Slice the avocado just before serving and add a squeeze of lemon juice. |
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, frozen cooked prawns are perfect for this recipe. Defrost them fully in the fridge according to the packaging instructions, ideally overnight. Drain and pat them dry before mixing with the sauce so your prawn cocktail doesn't become watery. Use them within 24 hours of defrosting, or sooner if the packet instructs.
This recipe uses ready-cooked prawns, so there is no cooking involved. If you buy raw prawns, cook them thoroughly according to the packaging instructions, then cool and refrigerate them promptly before making the cocktail.
Allow around 75-100g of cooked, peeled prawns per person for a Christmas starter. This recipe uses 150g for two portions, but you can easily double or triple it if you're feeding more people.
It can be, but check the ingredients in your Marie Rose sauce, especially the Worcestershire sauce, as some brands contain gluten. Always check the labels if you're cooking for someone with an allergy or intolerance.
More Prawn Recipes
If you've tried this prawn cocktail recipe, let us know how you got on in the comments below.
Tag us in your creations on Instagram @hungryhealthyhappy and use the hashtag #hungryhealthyhappy too.
Recipe
The Best Prawn Cocktail
Recipe Video
Ingredients
- 150 g (5 ¼ oz) of Cooked, peeled king prawns
- 100 ml (½ cup) of Marie Rose sauce
- 1 Little gem lettuce - chopped
- 80 g (½ cup) of Cucumber - diced
- 80 g (3 oz) of Avocado - sliced
- ½ Lemon - cut into wedges
- ¼ teaspoon of Paprika - optional
- Chives - chopped; to serve
Instructions
- Mix 150 g of Cooked, peeled king prawns into 100 ml of Marie Rose sauce so that all the prawns are evenly coated.
- Divide 1 Little gem lettuce (chopped) and 80 g of Cucumber (diced) between serving glasses.
- Spoon the prawns over the lettuce.
- Add slices of 80 g of Avocado and wedges of ½ Lemon. Sprinkle ¼ teaspoon of Paprika and chopped Chives on top.
Recipe Notes
- Dry the prawns well - Excess water from defrosted prawns can make the sauce thin and watery. Pat them dry with kitchen paper before mixing.
- Use good-quality sauce - If using shop-bought Marie Rose sauce, choose one you enjoy and add a squeeze of fresh lemon to brighten it.
- Add mango - A little diced mango goes really well with the prawns and avocado for a slightly sweeter, tropical twist.
- Try different herbs - Fresh dill is a lovely alternative to chives.
- Keep everything chilled - Prawn cocktail is best served cold, so refrigerate the ingredients until you're ready to assemble.
- Change the presentation - You don't need special glasses. Small bowls, ramekins or large lettuce leaves work just as well.
- Make it extra special - Save a few whole king prawns to arrange on top, or over the rim of the glass, for a more impressive Christmas presentation.
- Please note - If making your own Marie Rose sauce, follow the recipe in the post above and measure out 100ml for the prawns. Save any remaining sauce for another use.
Nutritional Information
Where nutritional information is provided, it is approximate and calculated using online tools. Values can vary depending on the ingredients and brands used, but we endeavour to be as accurate as possible.
All timings are a guide and may vary depending on the ingredients, equipment and, where relevant, the appliance used. Changing the serving size may also affect the time needed.
Toni says
It is so good! My husband loved it!
Beth says
I served this for a cocktail party I had last week. Everyone ranted and raved. Thanks for the outstanding recipe.
Jennifer says
I impressed everyone with this easy prawn cocktail! It was the hit of the dinner!
Gina says
Loving that creamy sauce and how light and refreshing this appetizer is!
Kechi says
OMG, this has to be the best appetizer!! Am saving this recipe to try next weekend! YUM
Danielle Wolter says
Awesome recipe! We like to make it for parties and it's always a hit. Love this recipe!
Natalie says
Oh, I love this. Looks refreshing and so healthy. I never tried prawn cocktails with avocado. Can't wait to give this recipe a try. Thanks!
Louise Cayzer says
Such a classic recipe, my husband LOVED the sauce!
Andrea says
This is fabulous! I've never tried a Marie Rose sauce before but I am definitely changing that.
Angela says
Yum, this was a great starter to our taco party. I made my own sauce since I don't like mayo and made it with greek yogurt/sour cream combo instead and it was delish.
Tavog says
It looks like the perfect brunch recipe! I'll make this tomorrow for our family's special Sunday brunch.
Eden says
Absolutely amazing! The flavors are so on point and this dish was incredibly easy to make. Thanks for the recipe!
Jenn says
The sauce in this recipe really is the perfect choice for the plump and juicy prawns. So delish!