Easy Crockpot Cranberry Sauce (The Best Make-Ahead Thanksgiving Side Dish!)
Let me tell you something about Thanksgiving dinner. The more you can make ahead of time, the better! And if you can make something absolutely delicious without taking up one single burner on your stove or any precious oven space, thatโs what I call a Thanksgiving miracle!
This Easy Crockpot Cranberry Sauce is one of my favorite Thanksgiving recipes, and Iโve been making my homemade cranberry sauce for years. But this year, I decided to make it in my slow cooker, and let me tell you, it turned out absolutely delicious!
Weโre talking fresh cranberries, freshly squeezed orange juice, a little cinnamon, Clementine zest, and my secret ingredient, a splash of Grand Marnier! The result is a beautiful, sweet, tart, citrusy cranberry sauce that tastes like something youโd get at a fancy Thanksgiving dinner. And the best part? Your crockpot does almost all the work!
Now, hereโs something funny about me. For years, I was a canned cranberry sauce girl. You know the one Iโm talking about. That jiggly cranberry sauce that slides right out of the can? I loved it! And honestly, I still do. But one Thanksgiving, my aunt made homemade cranberry sauce, and I almost didnโt even try it. Well, thank goodness I did because Iโve been making homemade cranberry sauce ever since! And now that Iโve figured out how to make it in the crockpot, I might never go back!
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Whether youโre preparing your Thanksgiving dinner days ahead of time or making everything on Thanksgiving morning, this recipe is going to make your life so much easier. And if you prefer the traditional stovetop method, Iโve got you covered!ย My original Homemade Cranberry Sauce is the exact same delicious family recipe made right on the stove. Letโs make it!
My Traditional Thanksgiving Menu!
Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays because so many of the recipes I make have been passed down through my family. These are the dishes that make Thanksgiving special in my house, and theyโre the ones everyone looks forward to year after year.
- Whole Roasted Thanksgiving Turkeyย โ A beautiful, juicy, golden-brown roasted turkey thatโs the centerpiece of our Thanksgiving dinner.
- Easy Crockpot Turkey Breast With Homemade Gravyย โ If youโre having a smaller Thanksgiving or want to free up oven space, this juicy crockpot turkey breast with homemade gravy is absolutely delicious!
- Grandmaโs Homemade Mashed Potatoesย โ You cannot have Thanksgiving without mashed potatoes, and my grandmaโs recipe is one of my familyโs favorites.
- Traditional Thanksgiving Sweet Potatoesย โ A delicious family tradition that belongs on every Thanksgiving table.
- Sweet Potato Casseroleย โ A classic Thanksgiving side dish thatโs always a crowd-pleaser!
- Broccoli Casseroleย โ One of those comforting holiday casseroles that goes perfectly with turkey, mashed potatoes, and stuffing.
- My Familyโs Traditional Sausage Stuffingย โ This might just be my favorite Thanksgiving recipe of all time! My familyโs traditional sausage stuffing is something I look forward to every single year. If you make only one of my Thanksgiving side dishes, this is the one I want you to try!
Why Youโll Love This Easy Crockpot Cranberry Sauce!
- Itโs incredibly easy!ย Rinse your cranberries, add a few ingredients, and let the crockpot do almost all the work.
- No stove or oven required!ย Save that valuable cooking space for your turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, and casseroles.
- Itโs perfect for making ahead!ย Prepare it a day or two before Thanksgiving and keep it refrigerated until youโre ready to serve.
- It tastes gourmet!ย The combination of fresh cranberries, orange juice, Clementine zest, cinnamon, and Grand Marnier gives this sauce the most delicious flavor.
- You control the consistency!ย Leave more cranberries whole for a chunkier sauce or burst them with a wooden spoon for a smoother texture.
- Itโs freezer-friendly!ย Make a batch ahead of time and freeze it until youโre ready for Thanksgiving.
Click Here for my favorite crockpot!
The very first thing you need to do is wash your cranberries. Place your fresh cranberries in a colander and rinse them thoroughly under cool running water. Remove any damaged cranberries.
Add the cranberries to your crockpot.
Add your granulated sugar, freshly squeezed orange juice, water, and kosher salt to the crockpot. Give everything a good stir.
Hereโs something important! Do NOT add your cinnamon, Clementine zest, or Grand Marnier yet! Weโre saving those three ingredients until the last part of cooking.
Put the lid on your crockpot and set it to HIGH. Just give everything a little stir occasionally. I like to stir mine approximately once every hour. As the cranberries cook, youโll start noticing that some of them are bursting open.
But hereโs where you can make your cranberry sauce exactly how you like it! Take a wooden spoon and gently press some of the cranberries against the inside wall of your crockpot. Theyโll burst right open!
Now itโs time to add those last three ingredients! Add your ground cinnamon, the zest of one Clementine, and a little splash of Grand Marnier. Put the lid back on your crockpot and continue cooking on HIGH. This gives all those delicious flavors time to come together.
I carefully ladle my cranberry sauce into a shallow, heat-safe Rubbermaid EasyStore container. Then I let the sauce stand uncovered on the counter for approximately 30 to 40 minutes to release some of that heat. After that, I cover the container and place it in the refrigerator.
Delicious Thanksgiving Dessert Recipes!
Melissaโs Tips!
- Always rinse your cranberries.ย Fresh cranberries should be thoroughly rinsed before adding them to your slow cooker.
- Use fresh orange juice.ย I love freshly squeezed orange juice because it gives this cranberry sauce such a wonderful citrus flavor.
- Save three ingredients for the end.ย Donโt add the cinnamon, Clementine zest, or Grand Marnier until the final 30 to 45 minutes of cooking.
- Stir occasionally.ย I like to give my cranberries a little stir approximately once every hour.
- Use a wooden spoon to control the texture.ย Burst some of the cranberries against the side of the crockpot and leave others whole.
- Start with a splash of Grand Marnier.ย You donโt need much! Taste the sauce before adding more.
- Donโt worry if your cranberry sauce looks thin.ย It naturally thickens as it cools and chills in the refrigerator.
- Make it ahead of time.ย I love making cranberry sauce a day or two before Thanksgiving so itโs ready when I need it.
- Freeze it for later.ย Homemade cranberry sauce freezes beautifully, making it a great recipe to prepare ahead of the holidays.
๐ค Common Questions
Donโt worry if your cranberry sauce looks thin when itโs hot! Cranberries naturally contain pectin, which helps the sauce thicken as it cools. I recommend refrigerating it for several hours or overnight before deciding whether it needs additional thickening.
Absolutely! I love the flavor Grand Marnier adds, but itโs completely optional.
If you prefer not to use alcohol, simply leave it out.
Yes! Frozen cranberries can generally be substituted for fresh cranberries in homemade cranberry sauce. You donโt need to thaw them first, although the cooking time may be slightly longer.
Thatโs entirely up to you! I personally love making my cranberry sauce ahead of time and serving it chilled. You can also serve it slightly warmed if thatโs what you prefer.
Easy Crockpot Cranberry Sauce (The Best Make-Ahead Thanksgiving Side Dish!)
Ingredients
Equipment
Method
- Rinse the fresh cranberries thoroughly under cool running water, removing any damaged berries. Transfer the rinsed cranberries into your crockpot.
- Add the granulated sugar, freshly squeezed orange juice, water, and kosher salt. Stir everything together until combined.
- Cover the crockpot with the lid and cook on HIGH for approximately 3ยฝ hours, stirring occasionally, about once every hour.
- After approximately 3ยฝ hours, remove the lid and stir the cranberries. Many should have softened and started bursting open.
- Using a wooden spoon, gently press some of the cranberries against the side of the crockpot to burst them. Press more cranberries for a smoother sauce or leave more whole for a chunkier consistency.
- Add the ground cinnamon, Clementine zest, and a small splash of Grand Marnier. Stir well and taste. Add a little more Grand Marnier if desired.
- Replace the lid and continue cooking on HIGH for another 30 to 45 minutes.
- Once finished, carefully ladle the cranberry sauce into a shallow, heat-safe storage container. Allow it to cool on the counter for approximately 30 to 40 minutes, then cover and refrigerate promptly.
- Refrigerate for several hours or overnight. The cranberry sauce will continue thickening as it cools and chills.
- Serve chilled or gently reheat before serving. Enjoy!
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Nutrition
Notes
- LOW setting: Cook for approximately 6 to 7 hours, checking for tender, bursting cranberries, then add the finishing ingredients and cook for another 30 to 45 minutes. This is an estimated cooking time.
- Grand Marnier: Start with a small splash. I buy a miniature bottle and rarely use more than half.
- Texture: Use a wooden spoon to burst some or all of the cranberries, depending on your preference.
- Consistency: The sauce may look thin while hot. It naturally thickens as it cools and refrigerates
- Stovetop option: Follow my original Homemade Cranberry Sauce recipe if you prefer cooking on the stove.
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Made this? Tap a star to rate it – it only takes a second and it means the world!๐ How to Store Leftovers
- Make ahead:ย Prepare 1 to 2 days before Thanksgiving and refrigerate.
- Storage:ย Refrigerate in an airtight container for 3 to 5 days.
- Freezing:ย Freeze in a freezer-safe container for up to 3 months for the best quality.
