Experts Agree: This is the Best Store-Bought Cranberry Sauce on the Market!

Thanksgiving is right around the corner, and I absolutely love the holiday known as Turkey Day. It’s the perfect opportunity to go all out in the kitchen. That said, whipping up every traditional dish for this grand feast can be quite the challenge, even for those who adore cooking. Sometimes, you just have to let something go!

Although I have a beloved cranberry sauce recipe, I usually reserve it for later in the holiday season when there’s more room on the stove and less mayhem in the kitchen. During Thanksgiving, I lean towards a pre-made cranberry sauce.

I’m not keen on the generic, can-shaped sauces, and neither is my family. I prefer to choose from several brands that offer a more homemade feel. Although I have a couple of favorite whole-berry options, I was curious to see which brands culinary experts recommend. Surprisingly, their responses were unanimous!

Culinary Experts Consulted

• Kat Marris: Senior recipe developer at Green Chef
• Julie Andrews, MS, RDN, CD, FAND: Food editor and recipe creator for Taste of Home, and the blogger behind The Healthy Epicurean
• April Benshosan, MS: Independent food and health editor and writer

Top Store-Bought Cranberry Sauce Picks from Food Pros

All the food experts agreed on one particular brand of whole berry cranberry sauce: Stonewall Kitchen Holiday Spiced Cranberry Sauce.

“It delivers a robust, orange zest–forward taste that’s not overly sweet,” Marris notes. The delightful mix of citrus, ginger, and other spices in this festive sauce brings back memories. “It’s the closest to homemade, in terms of both texture and flavor. The warm spices are detectable in every spoonful,” Andrews comments. The inclusion of orange peel and ginger puree really enhances its complex flavor profile.

Benshosan concurs, “Plus, I appreciate that it’s made with whole-food ingredients.” With its straightforward, recognizable ingredient list, this jarred sauce is something you can feel good about serving to your family.

Creative Ways to Enjoy This Cranberry Sauce

The culinary possibilities with this sauce are almost limitless. “It spreads well and the cranberries are mostly crushed, making it versatile for numerous dishes,” Marris explains.

After its debut at the Thanksgiving table, the sauce can be stored in the fridge for a week’s worth of creative leftover ideas. “I use the cranberry sauce to add a twist to Thanksgiving leftovers. I dilute it slightly and drizzle it over my Thanksgiving Leftovers Pizza, and use it as a dipping sauce for my Thanksgiving Leftovers Gravy Balls and Leftover Stuffing Waffles,” Andrews shares.

Benshosan uses the Stonewall Kitchen sauce on a classic turkey sandwich, no matter how long it’s been since Thanksgiving. “I add a generous dollop of Stonewall Kitchen’s cranberry sauce with a bit of mayo on toasted whole grain bread, stack it with turkey, and top with some greens for a holiday-inspired sandwich that’s enjoyable any time of the year,” she explains.

Marris finds uses for this vibrant sauce even beyond the holiday season. “Throughout the year, I like to mix this cranberry sauce with a touch of lime juice and use it as a glaze over grilled chicken,” she mentions.

“This cranberry sauce packs a punch, so a little goes a long way,” Marris adds. These culinary experts also use Stonewall Kitchen’s sauce as a topping for yogurt parfaits, overnight oats, and chia pudding, as well as a vibrant addition to smoothies, salad dressings, crostinis, dips, cinnamon rolls, savory sauces, and charcuterie boards. It’s so rich in flavor and versatile that I plan to always have a jar in my fridge!

_{To learn more about our approach to product recommendations, see HERE.}