Easy Instant Pot Cranberry Sauce

This easy Instant Pot cranberry sauce is exactly what you need to add that finishing touch to your tablescape and add a delicious side dish everyone will love.

The past few years I have been responsible for hosting Thanksgiving and Christmas for my family. I am ALL FOR simple, quick recipes.

The Instant Pot has been a lifesaver for me. It cooks in minutes but the food always turns out amazing. Dump it and forget it is my style, and this cranberry sauce is that easy.

Instant Pot Cranberry Sauce

This was inspired by my other recipe on this site, and it pairs well with this delicious main dish.

Ingredients

You will love how quick and simple this Instant Pot cranberry sauce recipe is! In fact, once you try it I think you’ll agree this might be the best cranberry sauce recipe out there.

This easy cranberry sauce recipe only requires five ingredients:

• Cranberries
• Water
• Sugar
• Oranges
• Cinnamon

See the recipe card at the end of the post for quantities.

Instructions

This is one of the easiest cranberry sauce recipes you’ll ever find. It only takes a few minutes, and you’ll have a delicious, sweet, and tangy cranberry sauce that everyone loves.

Step 1: Prep

Slice your navel orange and measure out your other ingredients.

Step 2: Add Ingredients to the Instant Pot

Add ½ cup of water, cranberries, ½ cup of sugar, three or four orange slices, and the cinnamon stick to the pressure cooker and close the lid.

Step 3: Pressure Cook the Mixture

Turn the valve and seal and set to high pressure for one minute. Allow the pot to naturally release for five minutes, then manually release any remaining pressure.

Step 4: Cook Down the Cranberry Sauce

When the pressure has been released, remove the lid, then remove the orange slices and cinnamon stick and set the Instant Pot to “Saute” mode. Add the remaining sugar and bring to a boil for about two minutes stirring consistently.

Hint: The natural release of pressure help the sauce continue to cook. Don’t skip that step.

Substitutions

Don’t have the correct ingredients on hand, or want to change something up? Here are some helpful tips for you to change this Instant Pot cranberry sauce.

• Orange Juice – If you don’t have an orange, simply add a splash of orange juice, instead.
• Ground Cinnamon – If you don’t have cinnamon sticks, use ground cinnamon in their place.

Variations

Want to personalize this easy Instant Pot cranberry sauce? Here are some of my tried and true tips for changing up this recipe.

• Jalapenos – Spice up this sauce by adding one to three seeded and diced jalapenos.
• Chilis – Add chilis to this sauce to kick up the flavor and the heat.
• Pie Spice – Add allspice, ginger, and cloves.
• Bourbon – Add ¼ cup of bourbon to the recipe for a flavor kick.
• Grand Marnier – Add ¼ cup of Grand Marnier for an extra kick of orange.
• More Cranberries – For a whole berry sauce, simply add an additional half cup of cranberries when you add the second portion of sugar.
• No Orange or Cinnamon – If you don’t like the flavor or don’t have them on hand, simply leave them out.
• Orange Zest – For an extra kick of orange flavor, add one or two teaspoons of orange zest at the end.

If you love recipes like this, you may also enjoy this cranberry applesauce.

Equipment

It takes next to nothing to make this delicious, easy recipe. You’ll need less than a handful of common kitchen items.

• Measuring cups
• Knife
• Cutting board
• Wooden or plastic spoon
• Instant Pot

Storage

You can store this cranberry sauce in an air-tight container in the refrigerator for up to two weeks. For longer storage, you can freeze it for up to six months.

Tips

This is one easy recipe. It only takes a few ingredients and a few minutes to cook. That being said, there are a few things to remember to help make the best cranberry sauce possible.

• Don’t skip the depressurization after cooking the cranberry sauce. That extra five minutes gives the perfect texture.
• Adjust how thick your cranberry sauce is by boiling it more or less at the end.

More Instant Pot Recipes

Do you love cooking with an Instant Pot? Here are some recipes you may also like to try.

• Instant Pot Meatloaf
• Instant Pot Beef Short Ribs
• Instant Pot Cheesy Broccoli Rice

FAQ

Do you have questions about this easy Instant Pot cranberry sauce? Here are some of the most commonly asked questions about easy Instant Pot cranberry sauce.

How long will it last?
This cranberry sauce will last for up to two week in the refrigerator or up to six months in the freezer.

How do I freeze it?
To freeze this cranberry sauce, allow it to chill completely in the refrigerator. Then, transfer it to an air-tight, freezer-safe container or heavy-duty freezer bag.

How do I reheat it?
To reheat this sauce, simply empty the contents into a saucepan and heat until bubbly on medium-low.

What else can I do with this cranberry sauce?
You can do all kinds of things with it. Use it as a jam on bread or pancakes, top cake or ice cream with it, add it to tarts or pies, or use it as a glaze.

Easy Instant Pot Cranberry Sauce Video

Easy Instant Pot Cranberry Sauce Recipe

Ready to get cooking? Remember that you can print this recipe if you would like.