- Even chefs love canned cranberry sauce for the tart-sweet flavor and nostalgia it brings to their tables.
- The chefs we spoke to picked Ocean Spray Jellied Cranberry Sauce because it’s not too sweet, has a great texture and is a classic they grew up eating.
- Cranberry sauce isn’t just for turkey. It works well in sauces, on sandwiches and for elevating meatballs and oysters.
It’s the season for serving cranberry sauce. Whether you’re putting the sweet-but-tart condiment on your Thanksgiving dinner table or using it to dress sandwiches made with leftover turkey, it’s always a good idea to keep some cranberry sauce on hand during the holidays. After all, you never know when the craving for tart, rich cranberry sauce will strike. And, the Thanksgiving essential has plenty of uses throughout the holiday season, from baked goods to main courses, so it’s good to stock up.
Yes, cranberry sauce is fairly easy to make from scratch: often using just a few simple ingredients like fresh cranberries, sugar and water. But chefs agree, it’s also OK to keep some canned cranberry sauce on hand for your holiday entertaining needs. In fact, the three chefs we talked to all agreed on one brand of store-bought cranberry sauce that’s the best for stocking up this season. Here’s why they love it and chef-approved ways to enjoy it all season long.
Why Chefs Love Ocean Spray Cranberry Sauce
The chefs we chatted with unanimously agreed: The best store-bought cranberry sauce is Ocean Spray Jellied Cranberry Sauce. Yes, the brand also makes a Whole Berry variety, but our chefs were into the nostalgia provided by opening a can of jellied cranberry goodness.
Gerald Sombright, a Top Chef alum, said that for him, Ocean Spray cranberry sauce is all about channeling memories of Thanksgiving dinners past. “I believe the nostalgia just hits my palate and prompts me to feel all the holiday feelings,” Sombright said. “That gelatinous plump after releasing it from the can? It’s sweet, tart and that pectin-induced texture is the perfect complement to stuffing.”
For chef Toni Elkhouri, Ocean Spray really shines in its perfect balance of sweetness and tartness. “The flavor is bright and clean, and it actually tastes like cranberries, not overly sugary or artificial,” she said. “The consistency is smooth without being gummy, and it holds up whether you’re serving it straight out of the can or using it in recipes. It’s reliable, consistent and genuinely delicious, which is what most home cooks want during the holidays.”
“Every holiday, my mom made sure Ocean Spray cranberry sauce was on the table—it was her absolute favorite,” said chef Zachary Chancey. “She loved the classic jellied kind, served in perfect slices straight from the can. No matter how fancy the meal got, that cranberry sauce was nonnegotiable. It became a sweet, tangy tradition that always reminded us of her warmth and holiday spirit.”
Do Chefs Have Other Favorite Cranberry Sauce Brands?
In short, no. If you’re not making your cranberry sauce from scratch, our chefs said Ocean Spray is the way to go. Why? “Other brands are imitating Ocean Spray,” said Sombright. “Let’s be honest. They are the OG and anything else is an imitation.”
In a pinch, Elkhouri said there’s a store-brand cranberry sauce worth considering. “A good runner-up for me is Whole Foods 365 Cranberry Sauce,” Elkhouri explained. “It’s a little less sweet and has a nice natural tartness. It’s great for people who want something closer to a homemade flavor but still want the convenience of a can.”
Ways to Enjoy Canned Cranberry Sauce
So you’ve figured out which store-bought cranberry sauce chefs use, just in time for the holidays, but are there other ways to use canned cranberry sauce besides serving it with a turkey dinner? Elkhouri called canned cranberry sauce, “more versatile than you think. It’s one of those pantry staples that can go sweet or savory, stand alone or totally transform a dish.” Grab more than one can when you’re at the grocery store and put them in your pantry for future use.
- As a condiment: Leftover turkey sandwiches with a schmear of cranberry sauce. Need we say more?
- Paired with oysters: “Cranberries surprisingly go extremely well with oysters,” said Sombright. “We can garnish them with cranberry sauce shaved ice, really keeping the oyster cold and the tart acid cranberry sauce counterbalancing the umami of the oyster.”
- In a sauce: Some of Elkhouri’s favorite uses for the store-bought condiment? Canned cranberry sauce can be whisked into pan sauces for roast chicken or turkey, blended with mustard and vinegar to make a glaze for salmon or tofu, or mixed with harissa to make a sweet-heat condiment that’s perfect for cheese boards.
- Spun up with dessert: Elkhouri also recommends using cranberry in desserts like cheesecake or as an ice cream topping.
- On your meatballs: Another of Elkhouri’s recommendations to use canned cranberry sauce translates perfectly into the winter holidays and the entertaining that comes with them. “I like to make holiday meatballs, in a slow cooker with cranberry sauce, chili sauce and a squeeze of lemon,” she shared.
The Bottom Line
Our chefs were unanimous: The best store-bought cranberry sauce is Ocean Spray Jellied Cranberry Sauce straight out of the can, served “sliced and shingled,” as Sombright called it. Yes, the canned cranberry sauce has a gelatinous texture and comes out of the can in a solid piece, imprinted with the grooves of the can, but that’s part of the nostalgia.
In fact, our chefs believe other store-bought cranberry sauce brands are just attempting to imitate the flavors of Ocean Spray’s version, so it’s best to just stick with the original. And, because Ocean Spray cranberry sauce is in stores year-round, it’s not just good for a Thanksgiving condiment: Canned cranberry sauce can be used for sandwiches, sauces, meatballs and more. It’s really, really good on your Thanksgiving dinner plate, right next to the roasted turkey, creamy mashed potatoes and buttery rolls. So stock up, and get ready to tell your dinner guests you love them enough to serve them the chefs’ favorite brand.
