This quick and easy Cranberry Salsa takes five minutes to prepare and tastes fantastic! It’s a festive twist on classic salsa that’s perfect for the holidays.
Fresh Cranberry Salsa
Why yes, we are sharing another cranberry recipe! LOL! We’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 fantastic—the perfect savory flavor.
If you want to get fancy, you can serve this over cream cheese for a creamier dip.
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 Pepper
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.
Step 1 - Clean and prep all of the ingredients.
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.
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.
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.
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 Jalapeño Salsa, add a second jalapeño or leave some of the jalapeño 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.
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.
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
When to Serve
- Thanksgiving
- Holiday Cocktail Party
- Christmas
- New Year’s Day Party
This cranberry salsa is fantastic on top of the cream cheese on a charcuterie platter.
Great Holiday Appetizer Recipes
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Cranberry Salsa Recipe
Ingredients
- 3 Cups Cranberries 12oz bag
- ½ Cup green onions chopped
- 1-2 Jalapeno seeded and chopped
- ½ Cup Cilantro chopped
- 1 lime zest and juice
- ½ 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.
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