Crockpot Cranberry Sauce

With my large family, I love making one pot meals. This classic dish is always on our family dinner table during Christmas and Thanksgiving. Make sure to check out all our favorite Thanksgiving Recipes to complete your holiday meal. This would be perfect to make ahead for Thanksgiving.

If you love cranberries try Cranberry Jello Salad, Cranberry Chutney, and Fresh Cranberry Relish.

Why Make Homemade Cranberry Sauce

This Homemade Slow Cooker Cranberry Sauce is made with fresh cranberries. The entire recipe cooks in the slow cooker and is so simple. Once you try this recipe, you will never buy store bought again.

It pairs perfectly with all your holiday side dish and it can even be served as a dessert.

Ingredients

Scroll to the bottom of the post for the full list of ingredients and recipe.

Substitutions and Additions

• Orange Zest – Add orange zest to the crock pot if you want even more orange flavor. The combination is great.
• Cinnamon Stick – Try putting in a cinnamon stick while it is cooking. The taste of cinnamon in this sauce is the perfect combination.
• Sugar – You can easily substitute the sugar with brown sugar, honey or maple syrup. Feel free to use a sugar substitute that fits into your diet restrictions.

Step by Step Instructions

• Step 1 – Put all of the ingredients in the crock pot. We love using ½ cup of fresh orange juice.

• Step 2 – Stir everything to combine. Cover and cook on low for 6 to 8 hours or on cook on high for 3 to 4 hours. Cooking time could vary.
• Step 3 – You want most of the cranberries to pop and the sauce to thicken.
• Step 4 – You can serve this warm or you can let the mixture cool for 30 to 45 minutes. This allows it to come to room temperature before serving. It is delicious both ways so just serve it based on preference.

Recipe Tips

• Crockpot Size – I make this in my 1.5 quart crock pot and it works great for this recipe. This can also easily be made (and even doubled) in a 4 quart crock pot.
• Double Recipe – Try doubling it for the holidays or a special dinner. Everyone will love it so you might want to have extra.
• Crockpot liners – Use these to make cleanup really easy. Cranberry sauce can be sticky so this sure makes cleanup so easy. It is worth the extra step and they are very inexpensive.
• Sugar – Don’t reduce the amount of sugar. This helps the cranberry sauce to thicken so you want to use all of it.

Can You Overcook Cranberry Sauce?

Yes, you can. Cooking cranberry sauce too long will make it too thick. You definitely don’t want to overcook or bring it to a boil as it will be way too thick.

Cranberry sauce will thicken as it cools. So if it is too thick when it has finished cooking, it will be way too thick when it cools and sets.

How it Best Served

It can be served either way. It is all about preference and tradition at our house. Some of my family loves to have it hot out of the oven and others like it room temperature.

Traditionally, I have been serving it at room temperature as it is one the first things I make on Thanksgiving morning.

What to Serve with Crockpot Cranberry Sauce

There are different ways to serve cranberry sauce. These are some of our favorites:

• Roasted Turkey – Serve as a side with Turkey and Crockpot Stuffing.
• Stuffing Muffins – This recipe is one of my kids favorite ways to eat stuffing. These muffins pair well with a side of cranberry sauce.
• Slow Cooker Whole Chicken – We love serving it with chicken occasionally. This cranberry sauce recipe can be served year round.
• Granola – You can serve cranberry sauce with a little granola for a cranberry crunch treat.

How to Use Leftovers

We love leftovers especially after Thanksgiving. We seem to always have leftover cranberry sauce, so here are a few ways to use the leftovers:

• Make a Dip – Pour cranberry sauce over a block of cream cheese. You can also add walnuts or pecans. Serve as an appetizer with crackers.
• Sandwiches – Make turkey sandwiches with your leftovers. We love making turkey cranberry sliders the next day.
• Cranberry Glaze – Try using as a glaze for your leftover ham with some maple syrup.
• Cranberry Cake – You can also swirl into a cake.

The options are endless! See Leftover Cranberry Sauce Recipes for more ideas.