From savory enchiladas to buttery coffee cake and tangy smoothies, these leftover cranberry sauce recipes give the holiday side new life.
1/38
Cranberry Meatballs and Sausage
From the Recipe Creator:
Years ago, I found a version of this sausage and meatballs recipe in a cookbook. At first taste, my family judged it a keeper. The tangy, saucy meatballs are requested by our friends whenever I host card night. We also take the yummy dish on camping trips. —Marybell Lintott, Vernon, British Columbia
Nutrition Facts:
1 serving: 218 calories, 14g fat (5g saturated fat), 41mg cholesterol, 514mg sodium, 18g carbohydrate (10g sugars, 1g fiber), 7g protein.
2/38
Spiced Tea Poached Pears
From the Recipe Creator:
Pears are among my favorite fall fruits. This lovely dessert makes them especially spectacular. Easy elegance at its best—and that’s important around the holidays. —Peter Halferty, Corpus Christi, Texas
Nutrition Facts:
1 poached pear with 2 teaspoons syrup and 2 teaspoons sauce: 175 calories, 4g fat (2g saturated fat), 8mg cholesterol, 13mg sodium, 37g carbohydrate (26g sugars, 5g fiber), 1g protein.
3/38
Cranberry Jello Salad
From the Recipe Creator:
Since this tangy salad keeps well, I make it a day ahead for my Christmas menu. It's also a great choice to take to a holiday potluck - even people who aren't fond of cranberries think it's yummy. I got the recipe from a friend at church who likes to cook and bake as much as I do. —Betty Claycomb, Alverton, Pennsylvania
Nutrition Facts:
1/2 cup: 141 calories, 2g fat (0 saturated fat), 0 cholesterol, 119mg sodium, 29g carbohydrate (22g sugars, 1g fiber), 2g protein.
4/38
Slow-Cooker Cranberry Chicken
From the Recipe Creator:
I've been married for 42 years and have 3 children and 2 grandchildren. I love to collect cookbooks and try new recipes. This dish is delicious, easy and good when served with rice and a vegetable side dish. Everyone in the family loves it! —Edith Holliday, Flushing, Michigan
Nutrition Facts:
4 ounces cooked chicken with 1/2 cup sauce: 471 calories, 17g fat (5g saturated fat), 104mg cholesterol, 791mg sodium, 44g carbohydrate (32g sugars, 2g fiber), 34g protein.
5/38
Cranberry Orange Cheesecake
From the Recipe Creator:
I can't go to any Christmas gathering without this show-stopping dessert in tow. The combination of cranberries, chocolate and orange is a winner. —Laura Lufkin, Essex, Massachusetts
Nutrition Facts:
1 piece: 599 calories, 44g fat (22g saturated fat), 169mg cholesterol, 229mg sodium, 45g carbohydrate (36g sugars, 2g fiber), 9g protein.
6/38
Wilted Spinach Salad with Butternut Squash
From the Recipe Creator:
Make quick work of peeling butternut squash. First, prick it with a fork and give it 45 seconds in the microwave. Then, trim an inch from the base of the squash, making it stand up straight and tall while you run the peeler from top to bottom. —Margee Berry, White Salmon, Washington
Nutrition Facts:
1 serving: 228 calories, 12g fat (3g saturated fat), 12mg cholesterol, 382mg sodium, 28g carbohydrate (17g sugars, 4g fiber), 5g protein. Diabetic exchanges: 2 fat, 1-1/2 starch, 1 vegetable.
7/38
Cranberry Chipotle Chicken Enchiladas
From the Recipe Creator:
Whether canned or homemade, cranberry sauce delivers a healthy dose of vitamins to this dish. A little bit sweet, a little bit smoky, these enchiladas are a delightful way to use leftover chicken or turkey. —Julie Peterson, Crofton, Maryland
Nutrition Facts:
1 enchilada: 368 calories, 6g fat (3g saturated fat), 53mg cholesterol, 623mg sodium, 54g carbohydrate (15g sugars, 6g fiber), 24g protein.
8/38
Double Cranberry Banana Bread
From the Recipe Creator:
We love quick breads, and I've found that they freeze nicely if properly wrapped. This is a scrumptious recipe to make before the holidays and freeze for last-minute guests or gifts. —Joan Hallford, North Richland Hills, Texas
Nutrition Facts:
1 slice: 289 calories, 11g fat (2g saturated fat), 31mg cholesterol, 229mg sodium, 45g carbohydrate (24g sugars, 2g fiber), 4g protein.
9/38
Day After Thanksgiving Cookies
From the Recipe Creator:
With your leftover cranberry sauce and pumpkin, bake some Thanksgiving cookies. I’ve used jellied and whole-berry cranberry sauce, and both are equally delicious. —Heather Bates, Athens, Maine
Nutrition Facts:
1 cookie: 98 calories, 4g fat (3g saturated fat), 10mg cholesterol, 63mg sodium, 15g carbohydrate (10g sugars, 1g fiber), 1g protein.
10/38
Cranberry Pulled Pork
From the Recipe Creator:
Cranberry sauce adds a yummy twist to pulled pork, and my family can't get enough of it! The pork cooks to tender perfection in the slow cooker, which also makes this dish conveniently portable. —Carrie Wiegand, Mount Pleasant, Iowa
Nutrition Facts:
1 sandwich: 409 calories, 15g fat (5g saturated fat), 77mg cholesterol, 772mg sodium, 42g carbohydrate (19g sugars, 2g fiber), 26g protein.
11/38
Cranberry-Banana Smoothies
From the Recipe Creator:
When the big meal is over, I make a smoothie using leftover cranberry sauce. Don’t have a frozen banana? Use a regular banana and add more ice. —Gina Fensler, Cincinnati, Ohio
Nutrition Facts:
1 cup: 230 calories, 0 fat (0 saturated fat), 2mg cholesterol, 21mg sodium, 56g carbohydrate (35g sugars, 3g fiber), 3g protein.
12/38
Cranberry-Apple Red Cabbage
From the Recipe Creator:
When I was looking for something new, I started playing with flavors and came up with this very tasty dish. My German grandmother would be impressed, I think! The colorful side dish is just right with pork. —Ann Sheehy, Lawrence, Massachusetts
Nutrition Facts:
3/4 cup: 131 calories, 0 fat (0 saturated fat), 0 cholesterol, 295mg sodium, 32g carbohydrate (20g sugars, 4g fiber), 2g protein.
13/38
Golden Sweet Onion Cornbread
From the Recipe Creator:
Bake up this hearty, savory cornbread, slather on delicious homemade cranberry butter and enjoy! —Taste of Home Test Kitchen, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Nutrition Facts:
1 piece with 1 tablespoon butter and 1 tablespoon cranberry mixture: 468 calories, 25g fat (16g saturated fat), 118mg cholesterol, 626mg sodium, 52g carbohydrate (17g sugars, 3g fiber), 10g protein.
14/38
Orange-Cranberry Nut Tarts
From the Recipe Creator:
My friend gave me a recipe for orange cookies. I just had to embellish it. Now my friends and family crave these tarts. —Nancy Bruce, Big Timber, Montana
Nutrition Facts:
1 tart: 113 calories, 4g fat (2g saturated fat), 9mg cholesterol, 60mg sodium, 18g carbohydrate (10g sugars, 1g fiber), 2g protein.
15/38
Christmas Meatballs
From the Recipe Creator:
Cranberry sauce and brown sugar create a tangy glaze for moist meatballs that are good Christmas appetizers or Christmas dinner ideas. We love them so much, I prepare them year-round. —Joyce Bentley, Redlands, California
Nutrition Facts:
1 meatball: 71 calories, 2g fat (1g saturated fat), 22mg cholesterol, 190mg sodium, 9g carbohydrate (6g sugars, 0 fiber), 4g protein.
16/38
Cranberry Bog Bars
From the Recipe Creator:
Sweet and chewy, these fun bars combine the flavors of oats, cranberries, brown sugar and pecans. I like to sprinkle the squares with confectioners’ sugar before serving. —Sally Wakefield, Gans, Pennsylvania
Nutrition Facts:
1 bar: 239 calories, 12g fat (6g saturated fat), 25mg cholesterol, 88mg sodium, 32g carbohydrate (18g sugars, 2g fiber), 2g protein.
17/38
Cranberry Glazed Ham
From the Recipe Creator:
That show-stopping entree you've been hoping for is right here, and it only takes five ingredients to make. The sweet and tangy cranberry glaze pairs beautifully with succulent ham. —Joni Peterson, Wichita, Kansas
Nutrition Facts:
5 ounces ham with 1 tablespoon sauce: 213 calories, 5g fat (2g saturated fat), 72mg cholesterol, 1485mg sodium, 16g carbohydrate (12g sugars, 0 fiber), 26g protein.
18/38
Cranberry Crumble Coffee Cake
From the Recipe Creator:
People are delighted to find the ruby cranberry sauce swirled inside this tempting coffee cake. With the crumble topping, moist cake and tangy filling, it won't last long! —Jeani Robinson, Weirton, West Virginia
Nutrition Facts:
1 piece: 368 calories, 17g fat (9g saturated fat), 74mg cholesterol, 266mg sodium, 49g carbohydrate (27g sugars, 2g fiber), 5g protein.
19/38
Cranberry Sweet-and-Sour Pork
From the Recipe Creator:
This fresh take on a beloved Asian-style dish is sure to cause a stir at the dinner table. —Gert Snyder, West Montrose, Ontario
Nutrition Facts:
1-1/4 cups: 268 calories, 7g fat (2g saturated fat), 63mg cholesterol, 444mg sodium, 28g carbohydrate (19g sugars, 1g fiber), 23g protein.
20/38
Cranberry Cream Cheese French Toast
From the Recipe Creator:
My friend makes this French toast bake with blueberries, but I make mine with cranberry sauce. Either way, it’s divine. It makes a great brunch dish for Christmas morning. —Sandie Heindel, Liberty, Missouri
Nutrition Facts:
1 serving: 375 calories, 19g fat (10g saturated fat), 231mg cholesterol, 382mg sodium, 38g carbohydrate (18g sugars, 1g fiber), 13g protein.
21/38
Cranberry Sauerkraut Meatballs
From the Recipe Creator:
I tried these meatballs at a birthday party for a friend, and now I make them all the time. They are super easy to make and perfect for a potluck or a Sunday afternoon football game. —Lisa Castelli, Pleasant Prairie, Wisconsin
Nutrition Facts:
1 meatball with about 1 tablespoon sauce: 76 calories, 4g fat (2g saturated fat), 6mg cholesterol, 250mg sodium, 8g carbohydrate (6g sugars, 0 fiber), 2g protein.
22/38
Turkey Cranberry Sandwich
From the Recipe Creator:
My family thinks this sandwich is pure heaven thanks to the cranberry-pecan mayo. It's so good that they ask me to make it all year long. —Judy Wilson, Sun City West, Arizona
Nutrition Facts:
1 wedge: 707 calories, 41g fat (10g saturated fat), 96mg cholesterol, 1153mg sodium, 53g carbohydrate (17g sugars, 2g fiber), 32g protein.
23/38
Cranberry Pork Loin
From the Recipe Creator:
I love to serve this tender, flavorful pork to guests. You don’t have to toil away in the kitchen to prepare it, yet it tastes like a gourmet meal. —Kimberley Scasny, Douglasville, Georgia
Nutrition Facts:
6 ounce-weight: 289 calories, 7g fat (2g saturated fat), 70mg cholesterol, 201mg sodium, 30g carbohydrate (22g sugars, 1g fiber), 27g protein.
24/38
Turkey Dinner Muffins
From the Recipe Creator:
I love experimenting in the kitchen. That's how I created these muffins that use up leftovers from a turkey dinner. Team them with a bowl of soup and some fresh fruit for a satisfying lunch. —Margaret Berardi, Bridgeport, Connecticut
Nutrition Facts:
1 muffin: 198 calories, 9g fat (1g saturated fat), 31mg cholesterol, 352mg sodium, 23g carbohydrate (5g sugars, 1g fiber), 6g protein.
25/38
Slow-Cooked Cranberry Hot Wings
From the Recipe Creator:
Cranberry wings remind me of all the wonderful celebrations and parties we've had through the years. My daughter’s friends can’t get enough of these wings. —Noreen McCormick Danek, Cromwell, Connecticut
Nutrition Facts:
1 serving: 71 calories, 4g fat (1g saturated fat), 15mg cholesterol, 122mg sodium, 5g carbohydrate (3g sugars, 0g fiber), 5g protein.
26/38
Turkey Sliders
From the Recipe Creator:
Turkey sliders with ginger, horseradish and cranberry sauce refrigerate well, so I keep them ready for get-togethers when we bake gifts and wrap presents. —Pamela Miller, Big Rapids, Michigan
Nutrition Facts:
1 slider: 231 calories, 10g fat (4g saturated fat), 55mg cholesterol, 221mg sodium, 22g carbohydrate (10g sugars, 1g fiber), 13g protein.
27/38
Cranberry Eggnog Muffins
From the Recipe Creator:
No one in my house wants to finish the leftover eggnog or cranberry sauce, so I use those ingredients to make warm muffins that vanish as soon as they are out of the oven. —Nancy Mock, Colchester, Vermont
Nutrition Facts:
1 muffin: 208 calories, 5g fat (3g saturated fat), 38mg cholesterol, 275mg sodium, 37g carbohydrate (19g sugars, 1g fiber), 4g protein.
28/38
Cranberry Cheese Crumb Pie
From the Recipe Creator:
My mind works overtime to plan treats that surprise the family. They give this cranberry pie a “wow” and invite friends over to share it. —Lorraine Caland, Shuniah, Ontario
Nutrition Facts:
1 piece: 512 calories, 27g fat (12g saturated fat), 55mg cholesterol, 260mg sodium, 62g carbohydrate (40g sugars, 2g fiber), 7g protein.
29/38
Turkey-Stuffed Acorn Squash
From the Recipe Creator:
We stuff acorn squash with leftovers like turkey, dressing and cranberry sauce. Make as much or as little as you need to use everything up. —Cindy Romberg, Mississauga, Ontario
Nutrition Facts:
1 stuffed acorn squash half: 502 calories, 12g fat (3g saturated fat), 71mg cholesterol, 875mg sodium, 73g carbohydrate (20g sugars, 9g fiber), 27g protein.
30/38
Cranberry Pecan Upside-Down Cake
From the Recipe Creator:
At our house, cranberries are a favorite. I made this dessert for the first time in the 1990s. It started out as a pineapple upside down cake—I just changed a few things around! It keeps and travels well, so it’s perfect for taking to church dinners. And we love to share it with our son and grandchildren. —Doris Heath, Franklin, North Carolina
Nutrition Facts:
1 piece: 413 calories, 15g fat (7g saturated fat), 88mg cholesterol, 221mg sodium, 68g carbohydrate (51g sugars, 2g fiber), 4g protein.
31/38
Bistro Turkey Sandwich
From the Recipe Creator:
As a turkey lover who can't get enough during fall and winter, I was inspired to come up with a restaurant-worthy sandwich. I love it with a soft, rich cheese like Brie. —Grace Voltolina, Westport, Connecticut
Nutrition Facts:
1 sandwich: 797 calories, 28g fat (14g saturated fat), 171mg cholesterol, 1196mg sodium, 87g carbohydrate (16g sugars, 6g fiber), 55g protein.
32/38
Cranberry Brie Pecan Pinwheels
From the Recipe Creator:
This recipe is a twist on baked Brie. My family always requests these during the holidays. They are delicious and make the kitchen smell amazing! —Jacquie Franklin, Hot Springs, Montana
Nutrition Facts:
1 pastry: 193 calories, 13g fat (5g saturated fat), 27mg cholesterol, 193mg sodium, 15g carbohydrate (2g sugars, 2g fiber), 6g protein.
33/38
Fluffed Fruit Salad
From the Recipe Creator:
I like this recipe since I can prepare it in advance when entertaining. Even people who don't care for cranberries usually like this treat. —Christine Halandras, Meeker, Colorado
Nutrition Facts:
1/2 cup: 138 calories, 5g fat (0 saturated fat), 0 cholesterol, 10mg sodium, 23g carbohydrate (0 sugars, 0 fiber), 1g protein. Diabetic Exchanges: 1-1/2 fruit, 1 fat.
34/38
Grilled Chicken Burgers
From the Recipe Creator:
These chicken burgers get a delicious hint of sweetness with tart apples mixed right into the patties. The cranberry-mayo spread elevates it even further. —Debbie Gauthier, Timmins, Ontario
Nutrition Facts:
1 burger: 345 calories, 14g fat (3g saturated fat), 76mg cholesterol, 450mg sodium, 34g carbohydrate (11g sugars, 2g fiber), 22g protein.
35/38
After-Christmas Empanadas
From the Recipe Creator:
Turn your leftovers into tasty empanadas using refrigerated pie pastry. We make these savory pastries and freeze them for a quick fix during the holidays. —Cheryl Marinaccio, Webster, New York
Nutrition Facts:
1 empanada: 205 calories, 11g fat (5g saturated fat), 24mg cholesterol, 191mg sodium, 21g carbohydrate (2g sugars, 0 fiber), 4g protein.
36/38
Thanksgiving Lover's Pizza
From the Recipe Creator:
Got Thanksgiving Day leftovers? Forget ho-hum turkey sandwiches and try this unique take on pizza instead. Get creative with different variations: use whole berry or jelly cranberry sauce; add dollops of mashed potatoes on top; drizzle with turkey gravy; sprinkle with stuffing or dressing; or try unique pizza crust varieties. —Carla Parker, Anderson, South Carolina
Check out our other leftover stuffing recipes.
37/38
Cranberry-Walnut Oatmeal
From the Recipe Creator:
My family loves cranberries but we can get them fresh only during the holiday season. This recipe lets us enjoy the tartness of cranberry with the comfort of oatmeal all year long. —Teena Petrus, Johnstown, Pennsylvania
Nutrition Facts:
1 cup: 293 calories, 8g fat (1g saturated fat), 0 cholesterol, 156mg sodium, 53g carbohydrate (21g sugars, 5g fiber), 7g protein.
38/38
Layered Cranberry Gelatin Salad
From the Recipe Creator:
Light and tangy, this gelatin is guaranteed to please. Kids go crazy for the marshmallow-cream cheese layer on top. —Irma Senner, Dixmont, Maine
Nutrition Facts:
1 piece: 239 calories, 12g fat (5g saturated fat), 24mg cholesterol, 100mg sodium, 32g carbohydrate (26g sugars, 1g fiber), 2g protein.
Leftover Cranberry Sauce Recipes FAQ
What are creative ways to use leftover cranberry sauce?
To use leftover cranberry sauce creatively, mix it with mustard and mayonnaise for a tangy sandwich spread, swirl it into hot oatmeal or fold it into cake and muffin batters. For entertaining, layer cranberry sauce over whipped cream cheese and top with chopped, toasted nuts for a festive snack, perfect with apple slices or crackers. If you enjoy cocktails, add a spoonful of sauce to a cocktail shaker and turn a margarita or whiskey sour into a cranberry-kissed drink.
Can I freeze leftover cranberry sauce?
Cranberry sauce is one of several Thanksgiving leftovers you can freeze. Both homemade cranberry sauce and store-bought versions can be frozen safely. Transfer the sauce from the can, if necessary, to a freezer-safe container, leaving a little headspace to allow for expansion. Cranberry sauce lasts for up to two months in the freezer. Label and date the container to keep track of when to use it.
How do I use cranberry sauce in savory dishes?
Since cranberry sauce has some natural tartness, like citrus or vinegar, it works well in glazes and sauces for chicken, beef, pork and vegetables, adding balance and a subtle berry taste. Simmer it with herbs, like rosemary or thyme, and a splash of broth or port to make a rich, flavorful reduction, or blend it with hoisin and ginger for a sticky-sweet sauce. The fruitiness of cranberries works well in barbecue sauces against the smoky char of grilled ribs, chicken or burgers.
