How to Make Cranberry Sauce in the Microwave

Don’t even think of opening up a can of cranberry jelly! It couldn't be easier to make this fresh, three-ingredient cranberry sauce right in your microwave.

Save Collection

By: Andrea Albin

Related To:

The Ingredients

All you need is a 10-ounce bag of fresh or thawed frozen cranberries, 1/3 cup sugar and 1 orange.

In a Microwave-Safe Bowl ...

... add the sugar and the finely grated zest of half the orange.

Microwave on High

Cover with plastic wrap and microwave on high until the mixture is boiling and the cranberries start to soften, about 4 minutes.

Uncover the Bowl ...

... and mash some of the cranberries with a fork to help them burst.

Microwave on High, Again

Continue to microwave until all of the cranberries burst and the liquid has thickened slightly, about 3 minutes more.

Garnish & Serve

Once the cranberry sauce has cooled completely, top the dish with a sprig of fresh sage and dig in.

The Best Buttermilk Pancakes

Lemon Spaghetti with Shrimp

Teriyaki Chicken Thighs

Broccoli Gratin

Carbonara Stuffed Potatoes with Crispy Pancetta

On Tonight

The Great Food Truck Race

Tournament of Champions

Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives

The Pioneer Woman

The Kitchen

Delicious Miss Brown

Kardea Brown

Ree Drummond

Ina Garten

Sunny Anderson

Bobby Flay

Valerie Bertinelli

Guy Fieri

Giada De Laurentiis

Molly Yeh

Step-by-Step Tutorials

Browse Meal Plans

Encore: Crustless Mini Quiches with Mushrooms and Swiss Chard

Encore: Classic Cream Scones

Bakery-Style Jelly Butter Cookies

Pork Tenderloin with Dressing and Pan Gravy

Magical Lucky Charms Bars

Encore: Crispy Salmon with Cucumber Salad and Spicy Mayo

Try Premium

Easy Weeknights

A Budget-Friendly Meal Plan for Busy Weeks

Encore: Crustless Mini Quiches with Mushrooms and Swiss Chard

Encore: Classic Cream Scones

Bakery-Style Jelly Butter Cookies

Pork Tenderloin with Dressing and Pan Gravy

Magical Lucky Charms Bars

Encore: Crispy Salmon with Cucumber Salad and Spicy Mayo

Mom's Cabbage Soup

Gingery Rotisserie Chicken Salad Wraps

How to Make Cranberry Sauce in the Microwave

Related To:

The Ingredients

In a Microwave-Safe Bowl ...

Microwave on High

Uncover the Bowl ...

Microwave on High, Again

Garnish & Serve

Pork Tenderloin with Dressing and Pan Gravy 

Pork Tenderloin with Dressing and Pan Gravy 