Jalapeno Cranberry Sauce

This homemade Jalapeno Cranberry Sauce is a classic dish with a sweet and spicy twist. This simple 4 ingredient cranberry jalapeno relish makes the perfect pairing to your Thanksgiving or Christmas turkey. Plus it’s delicious as the ultimate upgraded condiment to sandwiches or grilled chicken all year long!

Jalapeno Cranberry Sauce

Turn up the heat on your Thanksgiving table with this Jalapeno Cranberry Sauce! Get ready to make the easiest recipe ever for Thanksgiving. It only takes a few minutes of prep and 4 ingredients. Sign me up for this dish at any Thanksgiving.

This crowd-pleasing crockpot cranberry sauce has just the right amount of spice to give you that special wow factor for the holidays or any time of year. The tart fresh flavor of the cranberries blended with the sweet sugar and spicy jalapeno make a killer combination.

Cranberry sauce is always on the Thanksgiving table at my house! I have always made it from scratch because it is such a simple recipe. When you make it at home you can cater to the flavor and sweetness that you prefer.

I love mine super sweet but again you can always tone down the sugar to make it tarter. That’s what I love about homemade cranberry sauce you make it just how you like it.

Cranberry Jalapeno Relish

I’m always looking for new recipes for the holidays and since I live in Arizona jalapenos and green chilis are always included in dishes like creamed corn and other classic Thanksgiving dishes.

I realized that I love cranberry and jalapenos together as you can see in my other dishes like my Jalapeno Chicken, Cranberry Chicken, Cranberry Meatballs, and Cranberry Jalapeno Dip. This Slow Cooker Cranberry Sauce recipe will work great in any of those recipes so feel free to double to recipe for leftovers to make some extra dinners.

I figured that a Jalapeno Cranberry Sauce would be a fantastic flavor to add to our Thanksgiving spread. If you have ever tasted a jalapeno jam over cheese this is a similar flavor to that sweet treat.

This recipe came about when we were heading to a Friendsgiving a few years ago and I wanted to bring a unique side dish. Of course, it was a favorite from everyone and now we make it every year!

Be careful though make sure to warn people that it is Cranberry Jalapeno Sauce since it looks just like Cranberry Sauce on the table! As you can guess I didn’t warn anyone at Friendsgiving and there were a few people who weren’t prepared for it.

But hey nothing some mashed potatoes or pumpkin pie couldn’t cool off. The sugar and orange juice balance out the heat so it’s not overwhelmingly spicy but it still has a little kick to it.

Jalapeño Cranberry Sauce Ingredients

Cranberries– Fresh Cranberries are used for this recipe. The lighter the color the better because they contain more pectin which helps thicken the sauce.

Jalapenos– Use two jalapenos for a medium heat level. Keep the seeds in the jalapenos to dial up the heat.

Sugar– I use white sugar in my recipe. You can use brown sugar if you prefer.

Orange Juice– Orange juice adds a bright flavor to the dish but you could swap it for water if you don’t have orange juice. Plus add a piece of orange zest at the end for even more flavor!

Make-Ahead Recipe

What I love most about Cranberry Sauce is that you can make it ahead of time! The fewer dishes I have to clean the better on Thanksgiving. I always make my cranberry sauce at least 3 or 4 days ahead of time. I actually think this dish is better when it has had a few days to combine all the flavors together! You just store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator until you are ready to serve it.

How to Make Jalapeno Cranberry Sauce

Step 1. Add cranberries, sugar, jalapenos, and orange juice to the slow cooker. Stir to combine ingredients.

Step 2. Cover and cook on high for 3 hours. Stir every hour if possible.

Step 3. During the last hour place the lid with a small opening to allow some liquid to evaporate.

Step 4. Once most of the berries have popped stir the cranberries and push them against the side of the slow cooker to break the remaining berries. Taste to determine if you need more sugar.

Step 5. Turn off the slow cooker and allow the cranberries to thicken. Once cooled for 30 minutes serve or store in an airtight container until serving.

How to Cut Jalapeno Peppers and Remove Seeds

If you are not familiar with cutting jalapeno peppers I have a quick and easy way to chop them up for this recipe. It’s also super easy to remove the seeds and ribs that are inside the jalapeno pepper. It took me a few times to realize the easy way and I wanted to share it with you.

Be very careful when you are cutting a jalapeno! You want to wash your hands with soap immediately after chopping jalapenos. The oils from the jalapeno pepper will stay on your hands even after washing so be extra cautious when touching your eyes or nose after chopping jalapenos.

Sorry if I scared you it is just from plenty of real-life jalapeno experiences that I urge caution when chopping. To be extra safe you can wear kitchen gloves while prepping the jalapenos.

Step 1. You want to cut your jalapeno lengthwise into two pieces.

Step 2. Remove the seeds and ribs inside with a spoon.

Step 3. Place the jalapeno cut-side down and slice it into thin pieces length-wise. Start cutting 1/4 inch from the top so it is still connected.

Step 4. Slice the jalapeno vertically into small diced pieces.

Can Cranberry Jalapeno Relish be Frozen?

Yes, you can freeze Cranberry Jalapeno Sauce for up to three months. You will prepare the sauce per the instructions and let it cool completely. Once cooled, transfer cranberry sauce to an airtight, freezer-safe container and mark the date on the outside. Pull the cranberry sauce out when you are ready to use it and let it defrost overnight in the refrigerator or heat it up on the stovetop or crockpot.

Can you double the recipe?

Absolutley! I always make a double batch for the holidays. It’s so easy to double. Just always remeber to taste it once the sauce is finished to add more sugar if needed.

Perfect Hostess Gift

Cranberry Jalapeno Jam is a festive and fun hostess gift to give to people during the holidays. This jam goes great over cream cheese or brie cheese. I buy Mason Jars and wrap them with a cute string and tag to give out as gifts when we go to holiday parties!