Add a refreshing twist to your next party with this delicious homemade cranberry salsa recipe! Perfect for dipping with chips or adding to your favorite dishes. This fabulous salsa is a holiday favorite served over a brick of softened cream cheese.
Sometime in mid-October, the local grocery stores start carrying fresh cranberries. This tart berry makes so many outstanding recipes, including this salsa. Somehow, the spicy flavor of the jalapenos complements the cranberries just perfectly. It is not too spicy from the jalapenos or bitter from the cranberries. If you like this salsa, try pineapple salsa, peach salsa, and mango salsa!
Ingredient Notes and Substitutions
- Cranberries: Fresh cranberries freeze very well and can maintain their texture and quality for almost a year, so I usually stock up on extra-large bags from Costco this time of the year.
- Zest: I use orange and lime, but you can use orange and lemon.
- Honey: I prefer honey in this recipe, but you can use granulated sugar.
- Jalapenos: choose mild peppers that are uniformly green in color and free of striations or blemishes.
- Cilantro: fresh chopped is a must for the best flavor
- Citrus juice: fresh lime is the best, but fresh lemon or orange works too
How to Make Cranberry Salsa
Add the cranberries, red onion, orange zest, lime zest, honey, jalapenos, cilantro, and lime juice to a food processor. Pulse several times to chop to the desired consistency.
Remove the lid several times to check for consistency. You don’t want to go too far; this step goes very quickly. If you are not serving it immediately, store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
Ways to serve this salsa
- Spooned over grilled chicken or fish
- Ladled over a block of softened cream cheese
- With freshly baked cinnamon chips
- As an accompaniment to grilled beef or pork tenderloin
- In baked Brie with puff pastry
- Spooned over baked meatloaf
- With crispy cheese quesadillas
More Cranberry Recipes
Cranberry Salsa Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 12 ounce bag fresh cranberries
- ½ medium red onion chopped
- 1 tablespoon orange zest
- 1 tablespoon lime zest
- ½ cup honey
- 2 jalapeno peppers seeded and minced
- ½ cup chopped fresh cilantro
- 2 limes juiced
Instructions
- Combine cranberries, red onion, orange zest, lime zest, honey, jalapenos, cilantro, and lime juice in a food processor. Pulse several times to chop to medium consistency. Refrigerate if not used immediately.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
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Sue Mchorgh
This cranberry salsa was amazing! I love how the jalapenos balance the tartness of the cranberries! Simply delicious!
Tammy
This is wonderful! I love it over cream cheese and served with crackers.
Beth Pierce
Me too!
karen
The cranberry and jalapeno combo is so delicious!!! I can’t wait to make it again this year. It is always a party hit.
Tania M
Such a tasty and beautiful salsa. This has been a family favorite for years! Thank you, Beth!
Beth Pierce
Thank you, Tania!
Yeah Lifestyle
I made this last year for the holidays and every one loved it. I will be making it again as soon as the cranberries are on the shelf.
Ben
Nice! I love cranberry sauce, but it gets so boring. This salsa is so good, and I love that unexpected kick of heat!
Claudia
Oooh. I love this! I think I’m going to use this in place of my regular cranberry sauce for our holiday meal!
Beth Pierce
Sounds like a delicious idea!
Michelle
This cranberry salsa was SO GOOD! I had some frozen cranberries from last year. Served it at a football watch party over cream cheese with Ritz crackers and it was gobbled up, nothing left to take home. Will be making again for Christmas parties!
Beth Pierce
Thanks, Michelle! I am so happy that everyone liked it.
Victoria L
I absolutely loved this cranberry salsa! It’s the perfect blend of sweet, tart, and spicy. I made it for Thanksgiving, and it was such a refreshing twist on the usual cranberry sauce.
Krystle Smith
The texture was spot-on – just the right amount of chunkiness without being too thick. I loved how the cilantro added a fresh, herbaceous note that complemented the fruity sweetness of the cranberries.
Beth Pierce
Thank you Krystle! I am so glad that you enjoyed it!