5 Ingredient Spicy Jalapeno Cranberry Sauce
on Nov 06, 2025
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This vibrant 5 Ingredient Spicy Jalapeno Cranberry Sauce takes the classic tart side and adds a spicy kick from fresh jalapenos. Whether you’re dressing up your turkey for Thanksgiving or serving alongside prime rib for a holiday meal, this recipe will be your tried and true cranberry sauce recipe.
If you’re looking for another cranberry sauce variation, check out our Easy Mandarin Orange Cranberry Sauce Recipe (in 20 Minutes).
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Packs a punch from the jalapeños
- Can be made from start to finish in under 30 minutes
- Has 5 ingredients
- Easy to scale servings and prep ahead
Recipe Ingredients
Below are the ingredients you need to make this recipe, including all our tips and substitutions.
- Fresh cranberries: You can use fresh or frozen cranberries for this recipe! We prefer to use fresh ones as they tend to taste a little sweeter, tart, and burst better.
- Jalapeño Peppers: Minced peppers are added to the cranberry sauce, adding heat!
- Granulated white sugar: This is needed to balance out the tartness from the cranberries.
- Lemon: We are using both zest and juice. This acid adds brightness, acidity, and also helps balance out the tartness from the cranberries.
- Kosher salt: We are using Diamond Crystal kosher salt for this recipe, and all of the components with the salt help give the sauce its perfect balance.
- Water: This helps with the consistency of the cranberry sauce and is necessary to finish off the recipe.
The full list of ingredients with exact quantities can be found on the recipe card below.
Tips and Substitutions
- You can use brown sugar in place of white sugar, if preferred.
- Fresh or frozen cranberries work for this recipe! We prefer to use fresh ones as they tend to taste a little sweeter, tart, and burst better.
- Prep: You can prepare this cranberry sauce ahead and store it in the fridge. Reheat in a small saucepan and adjust with water, if needed.
- Storing: Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to one week and in the freezer for up to 2 months, thawing in the fridge overnight.
How to Make Jalapeno Cranberry Sauce
Step 1: In a saucepan, add your ingredients and bring the heat to medium-high to burst.
Step 2: Once the sugar is melted and the cranberries have burst slightly, add in your water.
Step 3: Bring to a gentle simmer and then reduce the heat and cook until the sauce is reduced, but still a little loose.
Step 4: Remove from the heat and let cool; it will thicken here. Serve from here, or store in the fridge.
The full detailed instructions can be found on the recipe card below.
Serving Recommendations
Looking for some ideas to serve with this jalapeno cranberry sauce? We have you covered!
- Spoon over Brown Sugar and Butter Roasted Turkey Breast and Garlic Herb Roasted Chicken.
- Serve with all the Thanksgiving classics such as Creme Fraiche Mashed Potatoes, Easy Sautéed Haricots Verts with Shallots, and Garlic Rosemary Turkey Gravy.
- For a holiday dinner, pair with Prime Rib with Au Jus.
Jalapeno Cranberry Sauce FAQs
You can prepare this cranberry sauce ahead and store it in the fridge. Reheat in a small saucepan and adjust with water, if needed.
You can serve this with a leftover turkey sandwich, tossed in a chicken salad, or simply alongside any dinner.
To heat up your cranberry sauce and balance out the tartness, we love adding jalapeno to our sauce.
More Holiday Side Recipes
If you do make this Jalapeno Cranberry Sauce recipe, leave a comment and give this recipe a rating, we would love to hear what you think! Don’t forget to tag us on Instagram, we love to see what you’re making! If you’d like to stay in touch and get the latest in your inbox, sign up for our Newsletter. We can also be found on YouTube, Facebook, and Pinterest!
5 Ingredient Spicy Jalapeno Cranberry Sauce
Equipment
Ingredients
- 12 ounce cranberries, fresh or frozen
- 1 cup white granulated sugar
- Zest and juice of 1 large lemon
- 1/2 tablespoon Diamond Crystal kosher salt
- 1 large jalapeno, minced, if you want it less spicy, de-seed and mince
- 1 cup water
Instructions
- In a medium saucepan over medium-high heat, combine the cranberries, sugar, lemon, salt and jalapeno. Stir to combine.
- Bring the mixture to a simmer, stirring occasionally until the sugar is melted and the cranberries burst slightly. You can use the back of your spoon to help move this process along, about 10 minutes.
- Add in your water and bring it back to a simmer, stirring to combine. Bring the mixture to medium, medium-low and cook for another 15 to 20 minutes until the mixture has reduced, but still remains a tad loose.
- Remove from the heat to cool, it will thicken as it sits. Transfer to a container in the fridge until ready to serve.
Notes
- You can use brown sugar in place of white sugar, if preferred.
- Fresh or frozen cranberries work for this recipe! We prefer to use fresh ones as they tend to taste a little sweeter, tart, and burst better.
- Prep: You can prepare this cranberry sauce ahead and store it in the fridge. Reheat in a small saucepan and adjust with water, if needed.
- Storing: Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to one week and in the freezer for up to 2 months, thawing in the fridge overnight.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
A fun spin on the classic with jalapeno peppers! I hope you enjoy and happy early Thanksgiving!
Recipe sounds yummy but….What do we do with the jalapeño? Simmer it whole? Leave it in the sauce whole? Seems strange. Help!
Sorry! We just updated! 1 jalapeno, minced (with the seeds)! If you want it less spicy, de-seed and then mince!