Updated on Aug. 26, 2024
No Thanksgiving table is complete without cranberries. Our Test Kitchen team found the best canned cranberry sauce options out there—whether you prefer jellied or whole berry.
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Cranberry sauce is an integral part of Thanksgiving feasts. On a foodie holiday like this, though, it can be hard to squeeze in one more recipe or fit one more cook in the kitchen to prep another dish. That’s why folks everywhere (even in our Test Kitchen!) turn to the best canned cranberry sauce for their meal.
This premade side adds much-needed tartness to a rich dinner and, to be honest, we love its iconic shape. Now before you run off to do your holiday grocery shopping, check out which brands our Test Kitchen pros recommend.
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As silly as it seems, having a plate with canned-shaped cranberries is absolutely essential on Thanksgiving. If you prefer the jellied style our Test Kitchen recommends Ocean Spray Jellied Cranberry Sauce. This is no surprise since Ocean Spray is the biggest name in the cranberry game.
Once you schloop this sauce out of the can, you’ll notice a vibrant maroon color. “It has those classic canned lines,” says Ellie Crowley in the Test Kitchen. “This one is easy to slice and holds its shape.”
Take a forkful of this sauce and it’s exactly what you want on your Thanksgiving plate: “Tart and tangy,” according to the Test Kitchen’s Mark Neufang. This Ocean Spray sauce isn’t overly sweet. Instead, it has the perfect hint of acid to balance out a heavy plate of mashed potatoes and turkey.
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If you prefer a bit more texture in your can of cranberries, our pros recommend Gefen Whole Berry Cranberry Sauce. This brand is a departure from many canned sauces, even the whole berry varieties, but one that our Test Kitchen thoroughly enjoyed.
To start, these canned cranberries from Gefen have a very dark, nearly purple color. This hue really makes this side dish stand out on the table among the green bean casseroles and dinner rolls.
As you scoop a slice or two, you’ll find that there are both whole and chopped cranberries in this sauce which provide a really wonderful texture, according to Ellie. It’s a departure from your classic jellied sauce but not too far out there for traditionalists.
As for the flavor, Mark explains that this sauce has the right amount of sweetness paired with cranberries’ signature tart flavor. Our whole team encourages you to spoon a few slices of this best canned cranberry sauce onto your plate during the Thanksgiving feast.
As for the leftovers: “This would be tasty slathered on a turkey sandwich the day after Thanksgiving,” says Mark.
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