15+ BEST Dipping Sauces for Calamari

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Wondering what the best sauces for calamari are, besides the classic cocktail sauce? I’ve got you covered with this handy guide of 15+ tasty calamari dipping sauces.

These are some of my favorite sauces to serve with calamari.

Why?

They’re made with simple ingredients. Plus, they come together so quickly!

Keep reading to discover a new favorite calamari dipping sauce. Add in a couple calamari side dishes, and you’re guaranteed an amazing dinner!

Calamari Sauce Recipes

Hand holding jar of homemade marinara sauce.
Easy 30 Minute Marinara Sauce offers rich and sweet flavors that can be enjoyed on plenty of dishes. Using basic ingredients & only 1 pot.
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Overhead shot of remoulade in bowl with shrimp surrounding it.
This Louisiana-style Remoulade Sauce is a smoky and tangy dipping sauce that’s perfect for fried calamari, po’ boys, fried green tomatoes, and crab cakes.
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Romesco sauce in white bowl next to almonds and crusty bread.
Romesco Sauce is packed with flavor and easy to make with simple ingredients & your blender or food processor. This roasted red pepper based Spanish sauce is delicious with chicken, pork, seafood and roasted vegetables.
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Overhead shot of shrimp arranged on white plate with cocktail forks and bowl of cocktail sauce in the middle.
This easy Cocktail Sauce recipe is a zesty and tangy dipping sauce that’s perfect for calamari, prawn cocktails, po’ boys, and crab cakes. 
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Bang bang sauce in small black bowl with serving spoon.
Add a tangy, sweet and spicy kick to your shrimp, seafood, fries, burgers, and more with Bang Bang Sauce! It’s an easy, creamy chili and mayo dipping sauce made from ingredients you likely already have in your kitchen. Plus, it's a dead ringer for the Bonefish Grill namesake appetizer Bang Bang Shrimp!
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Chimichurri sauce in small jar with spoon.
This Chimichurri Sauce recipe is packed with flavor and easy to make with simple ingredients & your blender or food processor. This cilantro chimichurri steak sauce is also delicious with chicken, pork, seafood and roasted vegetables.
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Bowl of seafood boil sauce with spoon next to seafood boil spread on newspapers.
Learn how to make Seafood Boil Sauce from scratch! It’s a rich and layered butter sauce that’s perfect for Southern seafood boils and for sprucing up your usual weeknight dinner. Easy to make in 20 minutes!
Spoon stirring yellow herb sauce in small white bowl
This lemon butter sauce, made with dry white wine and fresh dill, is the upgrade your Calamari dish craves!
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Jar of chipotle crema with spoon on small plate next to lime wedges and small bowl of chipotles.
Add some smoke and spice to your favorite shrimp recipe with this Chipotle Crema. A Mexican-inspired sauce, this creamy mix is made with chipotles in adobo to give shrimp a spicy kick.
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Sauce with spoon in skillet.
Diavolo Sauce – This spicy sauce is made with tomatoes and white wine. Toss some cooked shrimp with it and serve them over pasta for a full meal.
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This homemade tartar sauce recipe is so easy to make! Thanks to mayo, lemon juice, capers, dill pickles, and mustard, it’s creamy, tangy, and delicious.
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This garlic aioli is creamy, garlicky & ready in just 5 minutes! It’s an easy sauce made with fresh garlic, egg yolk, olive oil & lemon juice.
Get the RECIPE from Drive Me Hungry
Hand holding spoon dipped into jar of buffalo sauce.
This Buffalo Wing Sauce recipe can be made mild, medium or hot to suit your taste preference. It's the BEST Buffalo Sauce and made with only 4-ingredients and is SO good on breaded fried shrimp.
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With 6 simple ingredients and 7 minutes, you can make this restaurant worthy Lemon Garlic Butter Sauce recipe!
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Spoon in small bowl of gyoza dipping sauce.
This super quick soy-ginger is easy to make with 4 simple ingredients. It’s savory, tangy, and a little spicy.
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This homemade Sweet Chili Sauce is a delicious balance of sweetness and tanginess with a spicy kick . Perfect with your favorite fried dishes!
Get the RECIPE from Foxy Folksy

How to Make Ahead and Store

Many of these sauce recipes can be made ahead of time and stored in the refrigerator for a few days or even in the freezer. Simply check the individual recipes for full storing instructions and details on how to make ahead. 

More Seafood Sauce Recipes

Did you Make Any of These Sauces?

Please leave a comment and rating below, if you loved this round up of calamari dipping sauces. Also, be sure to snap a picture of your finished dish and share it with me on Instagram using the hashtag #platingsandpairings and tagging me @platingsandpairings.

HUNGRY FOR MORE? For more great Platings & Pairings recipes, be sure to follow me on Pinterest, TikTok, Facebook, YouTube and Twitter.

Collage of sauces for calamari.

15+ BEST Sauces for Calamari

Wondering what the best sauces for calamari are, besides the classic cocktail sauce? I’ve got you covered with this handy guide of 15+ tasty calamari dipping sauces. Try this easy 30 Minute Marinara Sauce. It uses basic ingredients & only 1 pot.
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Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 25 minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes
Servings: 4 people
Created by Platings and Pairings

Ingredients

  • 2 Tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
  • 3 cloves garlic (minced)
  • 1 28-ounce can San Marzano whole tomatoes (with juices)
  • 1 large fresh basil sprig
  • 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt (plus additional, to taste)
  • ½ teaspoon sugar (plus additional, to taste)
  • Pinch of red pepper flakes (optional)

For Serving (optional):

  • Cooked Pasta
  • Grated Parmesan
  • Chopped Basil

Instructions

  • In a medium, heavy-bottomed saucepan, heat the olive oil over medium-high heat. Add the garlic and saute about 30 seconds, until fragrant.
  • Add the tomatoes (with their juices), basil sprig, oregano, sugar, salt, and red pepper flakes (if using).
  • Bring the sauce to a simmer over medium-high heat. Then reduce the heat to medium-low, cover and continue to simmer for 20 to 30 minutes, stirring occasionally, and using a sturdy spoon to crush the tomatoes as they cook.
  • Remove and discard the basil sprig. Season with additional salt and sugar, to taste. (If you prefer a smooth sauce, you can also purée it with an immersion blender, blender or food processor until it reaches your desired consistency.)

Notes

This sauce keeps well, covered and refrigerated, for up to 5 days. Freeze it for up to 3 months.
Note: Amount of sugar needed will depend on the sweetness of your tomatoes, so be sure to season to taste.
Did you make this recipe?Mention @platingsandpairings or tag #platingsandpairings!

Equipment

Large Saucepan

Nutrition

Calories: 67kcal | Carbohydrates: 1g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 7g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 582mg | Potassium: 9mg | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 4mg

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