Looking for an easy and quick Thanksgiving side dish? This Jalapeno Cranberry Sauce, with its perfect blend of sweet, spicy, and tartness, will make you crave it all season long! Plus, it's ready in under 20 minutes, with six simple ingredients.
For this holiday dinner, I wanted everything to feel warm and welcoming—from how I set the table to a dish that added to the menu. This cranberry jalapeño sauce's medley of flavors made it easy to get into the topic of flavorful food!
This jalapeño cranberry sauce is perfect for drizzling over roasted turkey, whether a whole turkey or just turkey breast.
This sauce is a crowd-pleaser(and so is this cranberry jalapeno relish)! You can double or triple the batch as needed. And don’t worry about leftovers—it’s freezer-friendly, so you can reheat it later and relive those holiday flavors.
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Why You'll Love This Recipe
⭐️Easy to make, a quick and simple recipe with minimal ingredients.
⭐️One-pot recipe, Less cleanup, more convenience.
⭐️Crowd-pleasing, a spicy twist on the traditional cranberry sauce!
Ingredients
- Cranberries: I used a bag of fresh cranberries, but frozen cranberries work just as well.
- Sugar: I used regular granulated sugar, but you can substitute it with light brown sugar for added depth of flavor. Honey is also the best alternative.
- Orange Juice: Store-bought orange juice is the most convenient and delivers consistent results, but if you prefer a fresher taste, freshly squeezed orange juice works well too.
- Jalapeños: I deseeded the jalapeños and removed the inner white membrane to control the spice level. If you prefer more heat, keep the seeds and ribs, or adjust according to your spice tolerance.
- Orange zest (optional): Adds a hint of fall flavors for extra warmth.
How To Make Jalapeño Cranberry Sauce
- Combine cranberries, sugar, water, and orange juice in a medium saucepan. Bring to a boil over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until the cranberries start to pop (about 5 minutes).
- Add chopped jalapeños, orange zest, and salt, then combine. Reduce the heat and simmer for 10 minutes, until it thickens to your desired consistency. And Enjoy!
♨️How To Adjust The Heat Level
This jalapeño cranberry sauce has a noticeable heat, mainly from the jalapeños. The good news is that you can easily adjust the spice level to your taste, whether you want it mild, moderate, or extra spicy.
If you want to reduce the heat, start mild. Remove all the seeds and the white membrane using a spoon and set them aside. Chop the jalapeños and add them to the sauce.
Taste the sauce, and if you want more heat, gradually add some reserved seeds and membrane until it reaches your preferred spice level.
You can add serrano peppers or even a habanero for an extra kick for a fiery twist.
The Leftovers
- Store the sauce in the refrigerator for up to one week or in the freezer for about four months.
- Let it sit in the refrigerator for at least eight hours to thaw.
- To reheat, transfer the jalapeño cranberry sauce to a saucepan and warm it over medium heat, stirring occasionally until it reaches the desired temperature.
How To Use
This jalapeño cranberry sauce is incredibly versatile and can be used in many ways.
- First, serve it as a side dish for Thanksgiving dinner or any holiday meal(try this jalapeno corn casserole). It pairs beautifully with grilled meats, roasted turkey, or ham, adding a perfect balance of heat from the jalapeños and the tart sweetness of cranberries.
- Use it as a sandwich spread to add a bold flavor.
- Include it on a charcuterie board to impress your guests.
- Drizzle it as a salad dressing or as a dipping sauce.
FAQ
Absolutely! In fact, I’ve made this recipe many times using frozen cranberries with the same great results. You can add them directly to the saucepan without needing to thaw them.
Can I make this sauce in advance?
Yes! This is a great make-ahead recipe. You can prepare it two days before storing it in the refrigerator. Serve chilled or warm it up before serving.
Sugar balances the flavors in this dish, but you can completely omit it or use alternatives like honey, maple syrup, light brown sugar, stevia.
What should I do if the sauce is too thin?
It’s easy to fix! Let the sauce simmer until it thickens to your desired consistency. If you need a quicker fix, mix one teaspoon of cornstarch with one teaspoon of cold water, stir it into the sauce and let it simmer. This will give the sauce a glossy texture and a thicker body.
What are some variations I can try?
You can add warm spices like cinnamon, ginger, or cloves to enhance the flavors. You can add fruits like diced apples and pears or herbs like cilantro and rosemary.
More Thanks Giving Recipes To Try
If you enjoyed this recipe, please consider leaving a ⭐ star rating and let me know your thoughts in the 📝 comments section below the recipe.
📖 Recipe
Jalapeno Cranberry Sauce
Ingredients
- 12 oz cranberries fresh/frozen
- 1 cup sugar
- ½ cup water
- ¼ cup orange juice
- 1-2 jalapeños seeded and finely chopped (adjust for desired heat)
- 1 teaspoon orange zest
- Pinch salt
Instructions
- In a medium saucepan, combine the cranberries, sugar, water, and orange juice. Bring to a boil over medium heat, stirring occasionally.
- Once the cranberries start to pop (about 5 minutes), add the chopped jalapeños, orange zest, and a pinch of salt. Stir to combine.
- Reduce the heat and let it simmer for 10-15 minutes, or until the sauce thickens to your desired consistency, stirring occasionally.
- Remove from heat and let the sauce cool. It will thicken more as it cools. Serve chilled or at room temperature.
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