Skip the store-bought stuff and make this Copycat Boston Market Cranberry Sauce right at home! It’s sweet, tangy, and loaded with real cranberry flavor—perfect for holidays, leftovers, or anytime you want a bold, bright side dish.
If you love the sweet-tart kick of Boston Market’s cranberry sauce, you’re going to want to keep this copycat recipe on repeat.
Made with simple ingredients and bursting with bold cranberry flavor, it’s the perfect addition to any holiday spread—or a delicious upgrade to your everyday dinners. Whether you’re serving it with turkey, chicken, or spooning it over a sandwich, this easy homemade version delivers all the flavor of the original, minus the takeout.
Why You Will Love This Recipe!
- Tastes Just Like the Original – That sweet, tangy, cranberry-forward flavor you know and love? Nailed it.
- Only a Few Ingredients – No mystery additives here—just simple, real ingredients you probably already have.
- Quick & Easy – Ready in under 15 minutes from stovetop to table. Yes, seriously.
- Perfect for More Than Just Holidays – Serve it with turkey, chicken, sandwiches, or even spoon it over cream cheese with crackers.
- Make-Ahead Friendly – It keeps beautifully in the fridge, making it ideal for prepping ahead of time.
Boston Market Cranberry Sauce Ingredients
- Fresh Whole Cranberries: These vibrant red gems are the star of the show, providing the delightful tartness that makes cranberry sauce so distinctive.
- Fresh Orange Juice: Freshly squeezed orange juice adds a citrusy brightness to the sauce, complementing the cranberries and enhancing their natural flavor.
- Orange Zest: The zest from the orange’s peel adds a burst of aromatic citrus essence, enriching the sauce with a layer of complexity.
- Brown Sugar: Brown sugar brings sweetness to the sauce, creating a harmonious contrast to the cranberries’ tartness and infusing it with a warm, caramel-like flavor.
- Cinnamon: A dash of ground cinnamon adds a hint of spice and warmth, elevating the sauce’s overall flavor profile and making it cozy and inviting.
- Water: Water is essential to provide the necessary liquid for pressure cooking in the Instant Pot, ensuring the cranberries soften and release their juices effectively.
How To Make Copycat Boston Market Cranberry Sauce
Step One: Begin by rinsing the fresh cranberries under cold water and draining them in a colander. Remove any stems or debris.
Step Two: In your Instant Pot, combine the cranberries, granulated sugar, orange juice, orange zest, ground cinnamon, and water. Stir everything together to ensure the sugar dissolves and the ingredients are well combined.
Step Three: Close the Instant Pot lid and set the valve to the “Sealing” position. Select the “Manual” or “Pressure Cook” function and set it to high pressure, with a cook time of 1 minute. The Instant Pot will take some time to come to pressure.
Step Four: Once the Instant Pot reaches high pressure, it will cook the cranberry sauce for 1 minute. After this, allow for a natural pressure release (NPR) for about 10 minutes. Carefully turn the valve to “Venting” to release any remaining pressure. Do not do a quick release, for this recipe.
Step Five: Open the Instant Pot lid, and you’ll notice that the cranberry sauce is a bit liquidy at this stage. Turn on the Saute function and cook the sauce for an additional 5-7 minutes, stirring frequently. This will help thicken the sauce to your desired consistency.
Copycat Boston Market Cranberry Sauce Recipe Tips
- Use fresh cranberries whenever possible for the best texture and tart flavor. Frozen will work too—just don’t thaw them first.
- Don’t skip the orange zest! It adds brightness and depth that really makes the sauce pop, just like the original.
- Stir often while cooking to prevent sticking and make sure the sugar dissolves evenly.
- Adjust the sweetness to your taste — add more sugar if you like it sweeter, or dial it back for a tangier version.
- Let it cool completely — it thickens as it cools and the flavors deepen.
- Make it ahead of time! This cranberry sauce stores beautifully in the fridge for up to a week and tastes even better the next day.
- Add-ins welcome: For a fun twist, try mixing in chopped pecans, a splash of vanilla, or a pinch of ground cloves or nutmeg.
Storing, Freezing & Make Ahead Instructions
- Storing: Store leftover cranberry sauce in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 7–10 days. Let it cool completely before sealing to maintain freshness and texture.
- Freezing: Cranberry sauce freezes well! Place it in a freezer-safe container or zip-top bag, leaving room for expansion, and freeze for up to 3 months—thaw overnight in the fridge before serving.
- Make-Ahead Instructions: This recipe is perfect for prepping ahead—make it up to 5 days in advance and store it in the fridge. In fact, the flavor gets even better as it sits!
Copycat Boston Market Cranberry Sauce Recipe Faqs
Can I use frozen cranberries? Yes! Frozen cranberries work well—no need to thaw before cooking.
How long does the cranberry sauce last? It stays fresh for 7–10 days refrigerated in an airtight container.
Can I freeze the cranberry sauce? Yes, freeze it in a freezer-safe container for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight before use.
Is this cranberry sauce sweet or tart? It has a balanced sweet and tangy flavor. Adjust the sugar to your preference.
Can I make this sauce ahead of time? Definitely! Making it a day or two in advance enhances the flavor.
More Boston Market Copycat Recipes
Boston Market Sweet Potato Casserole
Air Fryer Boston Market Meatloaf
Air Fryer Boston Market Chicken Pot Pie
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Copycat Boston Market Cranberry Sauce
Description
Ingredients
- 12 ounces fresh cranberries
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 cup orange juice
- 1 large orange, Zest of one orange
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/4 cup water
Instructions
- Begin by rinsing the fresh cranberries under cold water and draining them in a colander. Remove any stems or debris.
- In your Instant Pot, combine the cranberries, granulated sugar, orange juice, orange zest, ground cinnamon, and water. Stir everything together to ensure the sugar dissolves and the ingredients are well combined.
- Close the Instant Pot lid and set the valve to the "Sealing" position. Select the "Manual" or "Pressure Cook" function and set it to high pressure for 1 minute. The Instant Pot will take some time to come to pressure.
- Once the Instant Pot reaches high pressure, it will cook the cranberry sauce for 1 minute. After this, allow for a natural pressure release (NPR) for about 10 minutes. Carefully turn the valve to "Venting" to release any remaining pressure.
- Open the Instant Pot lid, and you'll notice that the cranberry sauce is a bit liquidy at this stage. Turn on the "Sauté" function and cook the sauce for an additional 5-7 minutes, stirring frequently. This will help thicken the sauce to your desired consistency.
- Once the sauce has thickened to your liking, turn off the Instant Pot and allow the cranberry sauce to cool in the pot for a few minutes. It will continue to thicken as it cools. Then, transfer it to a serving dish and refrigerate until you're ready to serve.
Equipment
- Instant Pot Pressure Cooker, or Ninja Foodi Pressure Cooker
- Spoon
Nutrition
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