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    Home ยป Recipes ยป Side Dish Recipes

    Fresh Cranberry Salsa Recipe (Quick and Easy) {Video}

    Published: Dec 14, 2021 ยท Updated: Nov 4, 2023 by Tammilee ยท This post may contain affiliate links

    This quick and easy Cranberry Salsa takes five minutes to prepare and tastes fantastic! Itโ€™s a festive twist on classic salsa thatโ€™s perfect for the holidays.

    Cranberry Salsa text over a white bowl filled with cranberry salsa next to crackers and jalapenos

    Fresh Cranberry Salsa

    Contents show
    Fresh Cranberry Salsa
    Equipment Needed
    How to make Fresh Cranberry Salsa Recipe
    Preparation and Storage
    Recipe Variations
    Tips for the Best Cranberry Salsa
    What to Serve with Cranberry Salsa
    When to Serve
    Great Holiday Appetizer Recipes
    Cranberry Salsa Recipe
    Ingredients
    Instructions
    Nutrition

    Why yes, we are sharing another cranberry recipe! LOL! Weโ€™re nearing the bottom of the giant bag of cranberries I bought from Costco.

    My husband keeps laughing as I roll out another cranberry dish for him to try. He had the joy of sampling four cranberry recipes in one weekend. Thankfully, he is a good sport and always gives me his honest opinion on what recipes he loves and which ones I need to keep tweaking.

    I love this fresh cranberry salsa! It is the perfect holiday appetizer or side dish. If you are hosting a holiday party, check out these Christmas Party Toasts that are easy and great for all occasions.

    The holiday season can be crazy busy. I love that this yummy, fresh, dairy-free vegan cranberry salsa takes minutes to prepare and tastes fantasticโ€”the perfect savory flavor.

    If you want to get fancy, you can serve this over cream cheese for a creamier dip.

    bowl of cranberries, sugar, jalapeno, lime, cilantro, and green onion on a white counter for Cranberry Salsa

    Here is a quick overview of the simple ingredients for making an epic Cranberry Salsa! The printable recipe card at the bottom of the post includes specific measurements and step-by-step instructions.

    • Fresh Cranberries
    • Green Onions
    • Sugar
    • Fresh Cilantro
    • Lime Juice
    • Jalapeno Pepper
    • Salt and Pepperย 

    Serve with Ritz Crackers, tortilla chips, wheat thins, baguette slices, or any crackers. Add to a turkey taco or turkey panini with Thanksgiving leftovers. Also pairs great with pork or chicken.

    Cranberries - We use fresh cranberries for this recipe but you could use frozen cranberries. Just make sure to thaw them and drain any extra juice from freezing them. When working with fresh cranberries make sure to wash them and remove any stems that are still hanging on. Also remove any mushy cranberries.

    Optional - if you want a bit more citrus flavor you can add in a tablespoon of orange juice.

    Equipment Needed

    • Food Processor: We use a Ninja food processor, which works great. You can make this in your blender if you have a high-powered blender.
    • Knife
    • Cutting Board
    • Measuring Cups

    How to make Fresh Cranberry Salsa Recipe

    I've included complete instructions in the printable recipe card at the bottom of the post, but here's a quick version.

    lime, chopped green onion, chopped cilantro, and lime zest on a cutting board for Cranberry Salsa

    Step 1 - Clean and prep all of the ingredients.

    cilantro, lime, green onion, and cranberries in a blender for cranberry salsa

    Step 2 - Add cilantro, green onions, cranberries, jalapeno peppers seeded, lime juice, and sugar to the food processor and chop/pulse until well mixed. Make sure you don't chop so long that it becomes mush.

    cranberry salsa chopped in a blender

    Step 3 - Check the consistency and make sure the pieces are the size you like and well distributed.

    Place salsa in a covered bowl and refrigerate for a couple of hours. This allows all of the flavors to blend together.

    Cranberry salsa in a white bowl garnished with a cilantro leaf and cranberries

    Serve with crackers and chips, baguette slices,

    This can also be spread over the top of a room temperature block of cream cheese to make a creamy dip. Top baked brie for an epic holiday appetizer.

    Preparation and Storage

    Make-Ahead: This festive Cranberry Salsa is make-ahead-friendly! The flavors intensify the longer it sits in your fridge. Give it a quick stir before serving.

    Storage: Store any leftovers in the fridge in an airtight container and enjoy them within a week.

    Freezing/How to Freeze: Transfer leftover salsa to an airtight, freezer-safe container and enjoy it within a month. Thaw the salsa overnight in the refrigerator the day before serving again, stirring before serving to reincorporate it.

    ย 

    Recipe Variations

    Substitutions:

    This recipe uses fresh cranberries, but you could use frozen cranberries. Just make sure to thaw them and drain any extra juice from freezing them. When working with fresh cranberries, wash them and remove any remaining stems. Also, remove any mushy cranberries.

    To change the flavor, use orange or lemon juice instead of fresh lime juice.

    Vegetarian + Vegan Option: This holiday appetizer is 100 percent plant-based, making it vegetarian and vegan!

    Gluten-Free: This plant-based recipe is also naturally gluten-free!

    Make It Spicy: For a spicier Cranberry Jalapeรฑo Salsa, add a second jalapeรฑo or leave some of the jalapeรฑo membrane or seeds intact when you combine everything.

    Larger Group/More Servings: This holiday appetizer recipe doubles and triples easily if you serve a larger crowd.

    Sugar-Free: Replace the white sugar with a sugar-free alternative to make this dish sugar-free.

    cranberry salsa on a round cracker above a bowl filled with salsa

    Tips for the Best Cranberry Salsa

    • You may need to strain the salsa if it sits for a while. The cranberries will release juices and pool in the bottom of the container. You can remove the excess liquid with a slotted spoon before serving.
    • Serve this Cranberry Salsa with Ritz Crackers, tortilla chips, wheat thins, baguette slices, or any crackers. Add it to a turkey taco or turkey panini with Thanksgiving leftovers. It also pairs great with pork or chicken.
    • To make a creamy dip, you can also spread the salsa over a room-temperature cream cheese block.
    • Add this salsa as a baked brie topping for an epic holiday appetizer.
    • Add a tablespoon of orange juice for more citrus flavor. You can also add in a bit of pineapple or granny smith apple to make it a bit fruitier.ย 

    What to Serve with Cranberry Salsa

    Make this festive Cranberry Salsa part of your next holiday cocktail night or feast shared with friends and family. Here are some menu planning suggestions.

    Sides: Brown Sugar Bacon Wrapped Smokies, Cheddar Bay Sausage Balls, Cheesy Green Beans, Cranberry Sauce, Sweet Potato Casserole with Canned Yams, Creamed Corn Casserole, Campbell's Green Bean Casserole, CrockPot Scalloped Potatoes & Ham

    Main Dishes: Eggnog French Toast, Tater Tot Breakfast Casserole, Ham & Cheese Crescent Roll, CrockPot Turkey, CrockPot Ham, CrockPot Cranberry Barbecue Meatballs, Bourbon Baked Ham, CrockPot Orange Glazed Ham, CrockPot Coke Glazed Ham

    Desserts: Eggnog Cookies, Sugared Cranberries, 4 Ingredient Christmas Crack, Reindeer Chow, Grinch Bark, No Bake Church Window Cookies, Eggnog Cake with Eggnog Glaze, No Bake Eggnog Pie, Cranberry Fluff Salad, Snow Ice Cream, Black Forest Cupcakes

    Drinks: Broken Down Golf Cart Shot, Baileys Hot Chocolate, Grinch Jello Shots, Fireball Jello Shots, Cherry Bomb Shot, Cranberry Mimosa, Eggnog Coffee, Peppermint Patty Shot, Polar Bear Shot, Boozy Grinch Drink, Three Wise Men Shot, Maple Old Fashioned Cocktail

    cranberry salsa in a long bowl garnished with cilantro

    When to Serve

    • Thanksgiving
    • Holiday Cocktail Party
    • Christmas
    • New Yearโ€™s Day Partyย 

    This cranberry salsa is fantastic on top of the cream cheese on a charcuterie platter.

    Great Holiday Appetizer Recipes

    Knorr Spinach Dip

    7 Layer Taco Dip

    Honey Glazed Pecans

    Cranberry Orange Relish

    Chocolate Chip Cheeseballย 

    Do you love recipes? Check out our copycat recipes, dessert recipes, and our CrockPot Recipes.

    Follow Tammilee Tips on MSN, Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest for our recipe posts.

    cranberry salsa in a white bowl with jalapenos and cranberries in the background

    Cranberry Salsa Recipe

    Easy Cranberry Salsa Recipe that takes less than 5 minutes to prepare and tastes amazing. The perfect holiday party appetizer.
    5 from 1 vote
    Print Rate
    Prep Time: 5 minutes minutes
    Total Time: 5 minutes minutes
    Calories: 1697kcal
    Author: Tammilee Tips

    Ingredients

    • 3 Cups Cranberries 12oz bag
    • ยฝ Cup green onions chopped
    • 1-2 Jalapeno seeded and chopped
    • ยฝ Cup Cilantro chopped
    • 1 lime zest and juice
    • ยฝ Cup White Sugar
    • Salt and pepper to taste to taste

    Instructions

    • Clean and prep all ingredients. Add all ingredients to the food processor.
    • Chop/pulse until well mixed and diced. Make sure to not chop to long and turn it into mush.
    • Transfer to a covered bowl and refrigerate for a few hours.

    Nutrition

    Nutrition Facts
    Cranberry Salsa Recipe
    Amount Per Serving
    Calories 1697 Calories from Fat 18
    % Daily Value*
    Fat 2g3%
    Saturated Fat 1g6%
    Sodium 258mg11%
    Potassium 503mg14%
    Carbohydrates 439g146%
    Fiber 12g50%
    Sugar 421g468%
    Protein 3g6%
    Vitamin A 1576IU32%
    Vitamin C 64mg78%
    Calcium 100mg10%
    Iron 3mg17%
    * Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
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    About Tammilee

    Lifestyle blogger who travels the world and drinks too much Chai tea. Travel blogger, award winning photographer, sunset hunter, Birkenstock girl, bird nerd
    You can find Tammilee on Pinterest, Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram

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