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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I add orange liquor it is sooooo good!
Made this recipe and everyone loved it thanks and Happy Thanksgiving
Excellent! Brings back a flood of holiday memories for me. My Mom is 96 and I was blessed with best of the best cooks. If my Mom did not grow it we did not eat it. Three buffet meals per day. She made a cranberry relish every Thanksgiving and Christmas as well as other times of the year. Happy Holiday to you and your family.
Perfect Recipe! Thank you for the recipe. It was wonderful. And I went to TWO dinners, but made enough for four. It always disappears, but this time I didn’t bring any home!
I make this recipe every Thanksgiving, it reminds me of my grandma. My husband likes it more smooth and sweet and I like it a little more bite to mine, so I cut the food processor time. I recently started to add pomegranate arils after everything is all blended! Give it a try.
Made this today, used 1/2 the sugar and added some gooseberries to the mix. Delicious! wanted to make it early so flavors could form overnight.
My uncle has a cranberry farm and his mother’s recipe adds a cored unpeeled apple and chopped walnuts. I toast raw walnuts for a little extra nutty crunch and stir in after grinding other ingredients.
I only used 1/2 sugar. We rarely eat sweets and that made it tangy and not overly sweet for us! Delicious!
Cranberry orange relish is perfect, tasty dish for turkey dinner
This is the same way I make this relish but I add chopped up pecans or walnuts. That addition really makes it super.