The best Cranberry Relish recipe is made with just 3 ingredients, tastes so fresh, and has been a family favorite for generations! It has an incredible sweet, tangy flavor and is perfect served with Thanksgiving turkey, chicken, or pork.
Looking for more Thanksgiving recipes? Don't miss my Thanksgiving Turkey, Homemade Dinner Rolls, Thanksgiving Stuffing, or Sweet Potato Casserole!
It's not Thanksgiving at our house without Cranberry Relish
It's not Thanksgiving at our house without Cranberry RelishIt wasn't until I was an adult that I learned some people don't like cranberry condiments paired with their turkey. What?! Then I'm convinced they haven't tried this fresh, uncooked cranberry sauce. I'm just obsessed with the fresh citrus flavor of this cranberry relish and I love how easy it is to make; no cooking required and it will keep in the fridge for days if you want to make it in advanced.
I also love a delicious, traditional cooked cranberry sauce as well, but if I had to choose between the two, fresh cranberry relish wins every time. It makes great leftovers too, smothered on leftover homemade rolls with leftover turkey meat.
Make sure to give yourself a stress-free Thanksgiving by checking out all of my Make-Ahead Thanksgiving recipes and my go-to Thanksgiving Menu!
Cranberry Relish vs Cranberry Sauce?
Cranberry Relish is made from uncooked, raw ingredients blended in a food processor. It tastes fresh and tart. Cranberry Sauce is the traditional sauce that is cooked on the stove, thicker, and often much sweeter. They are both delicious, it really just comes down to personal preference.
How to make Cranberry Relish:
Combine: Slice the two ends of the orange, just until you see the flesh. Leave the rest of the skin on and cut orange into 8 wedges. Add orange wedges, fresh cranberries, and sugar to food processor and pulse until smooth and no large chunks remain. Pour into an airtight container and refrigerate for at least one hour before serving.
Serve Cranberry Relish On:
- Turkey
- Chicken
- Pork tenderloin
- Homemade Rolls
- Spread on Sandwiches or Wraps instead of mayonnaise
- Yogurt – stir it into plain greek yogurt
- Belgian Waffles
Make Ahead and Freezing Instructions:
To Make-Ahead: Make ahead and store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.
To Freeze: Store in a freezer safe container and freeze for 2-3 months. Thaw completely in the fridge before using.
Have leftover fresh Cranberries? Make:
- Cranberry Fluff Salad
- Cranberry Orange Muffins
- Cranberry Orange Bread
- Cranberry Sauce
- Cranberry Orange Scones
- Apple Cranberry Fruit Salad
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Recipe
Cranberry Relish
Ingredients
- 12 ounces fresh cranberries
- 1 orange , peel ON
- 1 cup granulated sugar
Instructions
- Slice the ends off of the orange, just until you see the flesh. Leave the rest of the skin on the orange and slice into 8 wedges.
- Add fresh cranberries, orange wedges and sugar to a food processor and process until smooth (or until no large chunks remain).
- Refrigerate for at least 1 hour before serving (or up to 1-2 weeks). Serve over turkey, chicken, pork loin etc.
Notes
Nutrition
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I originally shared this recipe November 2016. Updated October 2019 and November 2024.
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My cranberries were fresh fresh from the grower so very sweet. I only used 1/2 sugar and I will try with none next time. So easy and good.
This is the best cranberry relish recipe. Great with the full turkey dinner and even better on leftover turkey sandwiches. I add a shot of triple sec or other liquor to the mix just before serving it on Thanksgiving for flavorful touch.
We own a catering company and was skeptical with so few ingredients. I looked at another recipe that was 2hr and 10 min total as opposed to 5 min. I love fresh ingredients (premise of our company) and this recipe is divine!! We are going to serve as is but going to pull a little aside and add fresh mint and cracked pepper to see where it goes. LOVE THIS!!
I love this recipe!! It is delicious and I could eat it all day. I absolutely make it to eat on rolls and yogurt, whether there is a turkey in sight or not! I used honey instead of sugar most recently, and I couldn’t tell the difference- just use the sugar-to-honey conversion (I used between 1/2 and 3/4 cup honey).
Read comments, and sounds like a tradition for many. I just tried for 1st time.
I have lost 40 lbs. and am trying to incorporate healtier alternatives. Our usual cranberry pomegranate juice is 4 points on WW.
Made this recipe with Gentle Sweet instead of sugar and is delicious. Only thing is it tastes more like orange to me than cranberry. Probably depends on the orange that’s used.
We use an old fashion food grinder to make ours … more texture to the cranberry relish … and add walnuts …delicious
Too sweet. Will use only half the sugar the next time.
My Mom made this every Thanksgiving and I had lost the recipe. This tasted exactly like hers! Very refreshing and went so well with the turkey. I was able to make it ahead and it kept very well for several days. Next time I would food process the ingredients in two stages. The bottom half of my cranberry relish was blended very fine, the top was not. Even after stirring it was ground much finer than I wanted.
My mom too. She passed away last month and I never got her recipe. I think she added an apple and pecans to her’s as well.
I have never made anything with fresh cranberries and I am always a little curious when I see someone grab a bag at the store. Well, I won’t be anymore because this was fabulous! Even my pickiest eaters love this cranberry relish! So sweet and refreshing!
I make this quite often, it’s a family favorite.
I have even added apples and grapes…delish!
Pineapple is good too!
I added an apple also, but instead of sugar I used the Lakanto monk fruit from Costco. Still very good