Instant Pot Cranberry Sauce Recipe

Make this Instant Pot Cranberry Sauce recipe for an easy side dish for Thanksgiving or Christmas. It’s just the right amount of tart and sweet to compliment the turkey and other classic holiday flavors.

If you love the taste of cranberry sauce made on the stove top, but don’t love standing there, you have to try this recipe. I love how quick it is to make in a pressure cooker.

For more holiday recipe ideas, check out our Instant Pot Brussels Sprouts recipe, cheesy potatoes in the Instant Pot or in the slow cooker, these Thanksgiving dinner ideas and these stuffing recipes.

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Homemade Cranberry Sauce

I know there’s a great divide when it comes to serving cranberry sauce during the holidays between the canned jellied stuff and made from scratch.

I’m definitely on team cranberry sauce made at home.

Maybe it’s because I grew up in an area with lots of cranberry bogs, but there’s something about fresh cranberry sauce that delights my taste buds.

In the past, I’ve made my own on the stove. However, my love affair with my Instant Pot has me finding more reasons to cook with it. I love easy recipes and this is definitely easy to make!

You can make this cranberry sauce in your pressure cooker a few days ahead of time. It can be stored in the fridge for 10 to 14 days. 

If you have leftovers, you can freeze this homemade cranberry sauce. Freeze it in an airtight container or plastic freezer bags.

For the best taste, use the frozen cranberry sauce within a few months of making it. To defrost frozen cranberry sauce, leave it in the fridge overnight.

Cranberry Sauce Recipe Ingredients:

This recipe yields 4-5 servings as a side dish.

• 2 large oranges
• 3 tbsp honey
• 3 cups frozen cranberries
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 1 cinnamon stick

Helpful Tools:

• Zester
• Citrus Hand Press Juicer

How to Make Cranberry Sauce in the Instant Pot

In a large bowl, zest both oranges and then juice each one. Add honey to the bowl of orange juice and zest and mix together.

Pour the orange and honey mixture into the inner pot of your Instant Pot. Add the cranberries then the granulated sugar. Top it off with a cinnamon stick.

Close the Instant Pot lid and set on manual high pressure for 2 minutes. Once time is up, allow for a 10 minute natural pressure release (NPR).

Remove the lid and set to the sauté function. Cook for 2-3 minutes.

Before serving, remove the cinnamon stick. Scoop cranberry sauce into a bowl. Depending on your preference, serve it warm, room temperature, or chilled and enjoy!

Cranberry Sauce Serving Suggestions:

• On the side for Thanksgiving or Christmas dinner
• Over turkey
• Mix with mayo for a delicious spread on a turkey sandwich
• Use it as an ice cream topping