This festive Cranberry BBQ Sauce uses fresh or frozen cranberries to make the ultimate holiday condiment. Pair it with turkey, pork, ham, steak, or chicken to add a sweet and spicy punch of flavor to your meal!
Grilling and barbecuing recipes are some of the most popular here on Tara Teapsoon.
There's just something about juicy, tender cuts of meat slathered in flavorful sauces. Through the years I've created a variety of authentic BBQ sauce recipes, like this BBQ Mop Sauce Recipe and Memphis BBQ Sauce, to keep your time at the grill fresh and flavorful.
Grilling and smoking are year-round cooking methods, and this BBQ sauce brings some zest to the winter months. I developed this recipe in the Tara Teaspoon test kitchen and it was a huge hit!
Since it keeps well in the fridge for a long time, you can easily pull out a jar whenever you need it, whether for winter meals, or holiday cookouts.
In this article you'll learn:
- How to make cranberry BBQ sauce with real cranberries, tomato paste, Dijon, and spices for a complex, savory flavor.
- Why this seasonally tested cranberry barbecue sauce works for holidays and summer grilling season, and how to store it for months.
- The Tara Teaspoon test-kitchen tips for balancing tangy, smoky, and sweet flavors.
- Easy ways to customize the texture and heat, plus creative serving ideas from turkey to ribs, and sandwiches.
Generated with AI and experts from the Tara Teaspoon team.
Why you'll love this recipe
This easy, homemade Cranberry BBQ Sauce recipe puts a holiday twist on traditional BBQ sauce and cranberry sauce. It's a holiday sauce mash-up with incredible flavor that can be used on classic main dishes like Thanksgiving turkey and Christmas ham.
This sauce can be enjoyed year round. I tested this recipe in the summer with frozen cranberries and my dad was obsessed. He was slathering it on everything he could get his hands on!
- Flavorful ingredients: You'll need a few simple ingredients plus a variety of spices and herbs to make a super flavorful holiday condiment.
- Goes with everything: Pair the sauce with a traditional main dish, or add some variety to your meal with other protein options like pork, steak, chicken, or ribs – it also tastes amazing with leftovers!
- Make-ahead recipe: Best of all, this barbeque sauce with cranberries can be made several days in advance which will free you up for other holiday baking needs.
- Great gift: There's one more thing you should know, this sauce makes a fabulous homemade food gift. Just package it in small jars to share with friends and family.
If you like the idea of BBQ sauce but don’t have time to make it from scratch, then learn how to Make Store Bought BBQ Sauce Better.
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Ingredients
The secret to making the best barbeque sauce is layers of incredible flavor. Here's what you should know about the ingredients for this cranberry sauce. See recipe card for quantities.
- Avocado oil: It's ok to substitute another oil, if desired.
- Red onion: It's best to finely dice the onion. It makes it easier to puree the sauce in the final step.
- Tomato paste
- Dijon mustard
- Spices: I used the following spices to flavor the sauce: garlic powder, chili powder, smoked paprika, and allspice.
- Dried herbs: I also used dried thyme, dried rosemary, and dried sage for extra holiday flavor.
- Apple cider vinegar
- Cranberry juice cocktail
- Worcestershire sauce
- Cranberries: You can use fresh or frozen whole cranberries for this recipe. Use them right out of the bag!
- Brown sugar
- Butter: Use cold butter so that it can melt slowly into the sauce.
How to make cranberry BBQ sauce
Follow these step-by-step instructions to learn how to make your very own smokey cranberry sauce. See recipe card for comprehensive directions.
- Step 1: Cook the red onion first. Sauté until translucent.
- Step 2: Add the tomato paste. Stir and cook.
- Step 3: Add the mustard and spices, stir to combine.
- Step 4: Stir while adding the vinegar, cranberry juice, and Worcestershire sauce to deglaze the the browned bits from the pan.
- Step 5: Add the cranberries.
- Step 6: Add the brown sugar and stir to combine.
- Step 7: Simmer the mixture, stirring occasionally, until the sauce thickens and the cranberries burst.
- Step 8: Remove from heat and stir in cold butter until fully melted.
- Step 9: Use a blender to puree the sauce into a smooth consistency.
- Step 10: When cool serve the sauce, or transfer it to jars.
Tara's top tips
- The sauce is a great consistency, not too thick and not too runny. Thin it with more cranberry juice if desired.
- Keep some texture! You can blend it just a little to keep it chunky, or more for a smooth sauce.
- If you like a sweeter sauce, add more brown sugar. For more heat, add your own chili flakes or hot sauce.
What to serve with cranberry barbecue sauce
You're going to want to cover everything in sight with this flavorful sauce! The grilled and smoked main dishes you make are delicious with a bite of Fluffy Mashed Potatoes, a side of Browned Butter Green Beans with Almonds, and a buttery Dinner Roll.
Try this sauce on a leftover turkey sandwich!
It's phenomenal. Here are a few of my favorite holiday mains to pair with this BBQ sauce:
Equipment
This Circulon Infinity Pan is a great shape for this sauce and uses Scratch Defense technology.
Use an immersion blender or regular blender to puree the sauce.
Store the sauce in food-safe canning jars or bottles.
Storage
Covered jars or containers of sauce can be kept in the refrigerator for up to 3 months.
Sauce can be frozen up to 6 months. Thaw and stir well to use.
FAQ
It's not too sweet. The tang of cranberries need a little sugar to balance the flavors and the combo with the spices makes a savory, slightly sweet, tangy BBQ sauce.
This sauce doesn't work with dried cranberries. Use fresh or frozen full cranberries. You can make a traditional dried cranberry cranberry sauce with my other recipe.
You can add more heat with red pepper flakes, cayenne, or hot sauce. Or try mixing in orange zest, jalapeños, or liquid smoke for more unique cranberry barbecue sauce.
More easy cranberry recipes
This cranberry barbecue sauce can be enjoyed any time of year. It’s especially a must-make sauce during the holidays. Cook with cranberries all season long with these favorite recipes:
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📖 Full Recipe
Cranberry BBQ Sauce
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon avocado oil
- 1 cup finely chopped red onion
- 3 tablespoons tomato paste
- 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
- 1 ½ teaspoons garlic powder
- ¼ teaspoon chili powder
- ¼ teaspoon smoked paprika
- ¼ teaspoon allspice
- ¼ teaspoon dried thyme
- ¼ teaspoon dried rosemary
- ¼ teaspoon dried sage
- ⅓ cup apple cider vinegar
- ½ cup cranberry juice cocktail
- ⅓ cup Worcestershire sauce
- 2 cups (8 ounces) cranberries (fresh or frozen)
- ⅔ cup brown sugar
- 3 tablespoons cold butter
Instructions
- In a medium saucepan over medium heat, stir together the avocado oil and red onion. Sauté, stirring, until the onions are translucent and starting to get golden in parts, about 3 minutes.
- Add the tomato paste and stir to combine and cook a little, about 1 minute.
- Add the mustard and spices and stir to combine. Then add the vinegar, cranberry juice, and Worcestershire sauce, and stir to deglaze the bottom of the pan (scraping up all the browned bits from the bottom surface).
- Add the cranberries and brown sugar and stir to combine. Bring the mixture to a simmer (increase heat to medium high if needed) and simmer, stirring occasionally, until the sauce thickens and the cranberries are burst and soft, 6 to 8 minutes.
- Remove from heat and stir in the butter until completely melted.
- Use a stick blender or stand blender to puree the sauce into a smooth BBQ sauce consistency. Serve, or transfer to jars to cool.
- Covered jars or containers of sauce can be kept in the refrigerator for up to 3 weeks.
Nutrition Per Serving
Tara Teaspoon
I’ve been in food publishing for over 25 years, creating recipes & food-styling for magazines, books, television, food brands, & advertising. With two cookbooks under my belt and thousands of my recipes at your fingertips, I hope you'll be inspired to spend more time in the kitchen!
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