Cranberry Vinaigrette is the perfect way to use up leftover cranberry sauce. It’s made with simple ingredients and pairs well with your Thanksgiving or Christmas leftovers. 

cranberry vinaigrette on a spoon over a jar of dressing.cranberry vinaigrette on a spoon over a jar of dressing.

If you’re looking for a way to use your holiday leftovers, try making a salad with this easy dressing. Drizzle it over leftover turkey or chicken, along with apple slices, goat cheese, and walnuts for an easy winter salad. 

The cranberry flavor will leave you craving more salad. Plus, it’s naturally gluten-free and vegan as long as you start with a vegan cranberry sauce.  

Ingredients You’ll Need

This recipe calls for leftover cranberry sauce, extra virgin olive oil, balsamic vinegar, salt, and black pepper. Water is added to help thin out the consistency, and you can add any additional flavors you love. 

Add a squeeze of Dijon mustard for a more tangy flavor or a drizzle of honey or maple syrup for sweetness. Feel free to swap if you have a different vinegar in your pantry, like red wine vinegar or apple cider vinegar. 

For extra flavor, swap the water for orange juice or cranberry juice.

bottles of olive oil and balsamic vinegar next to cranberry sauce, salt, pepper, and water. bottles of olive oil and balsamic vinegar next to cranberry sauce, salt, pepper, and water.

How To Make Cranberry Vinaigrette

Add the cranberry sauce, olive oil, vinegar, water, salt, and pepper to a high-speed blender. Secure the lid and blend until smooth. 

Stop and scrape down the sides of the blender, if needed. Add more water, a tablespoon at a time, until it reaches a pourable consistency. (I usually use equal parts water and cranberry sauce.)

cranberry sauce, olive oil, vinegar, and water blended together in a blender container. cranberry sauce, olive oil, vinegar, and water blended together in a blender container.

Taste the dressing and adjust the flavor, if needed. You can add honey or maple syrup for extra sweetness, or an extra spalsh of vinegar to make it more tart. A squeeze of lemon juice will brighten the flavor. 

Pour the dressing into a storage jar with a lid. It’s ready to use right away, but you can also store it in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days. 

Drizzle this homemade dressing over your favorite protein, or add it to a salad with kale, pecans, sliced apples, and feta cheese. It pairs well with practically anything. 

cranberry vinaigrette poured onto a salad with leftover turkey, pecans, and dried cranberries.cranberry vinaigrette poured onto a salad with leftover turkey, pecans, and dried cranberries.

Looking for more salad dressing recipes? Try Greek Salad Dressing, Honey Balsamic Vinaigrette, or Apple Cider Vinaigrette.



  • ½ cup leftover cranberry sauce
  • 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar (or vinegar of choice)
  • 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
  • ¼ cup water , plus more as needed
  • fine sea salt & black pepper

  • Combine the cranberry sauce, vinegar, oil, water, and a pinch of salt and pepper in a blender. Secure the lid and blend until smooth. If the dressing doesn’t look smooth, add two to four more tablespoons of water and blend again. (I usually need a 1/2 cup water total, but it will vary based on how thick your cranberry sauce is. It’s safer to start with less water and add more as you go.)

  • Taste the dressing and adjust the flavor as needed. For a sweeter dressing, add a squeeze of honey or maple syrup. For a more tangy dressing, add a touch more vinegar or lemon juice. Serve immediately, or store it in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days.

Nutrition information is for roughly 2 tablespoons of dressing, assuming you get 1 cup total from this recipe. This information is automatically calculated and is just an estimate, not a guarantee.
Update Note: This recipe was updated in December 2024 with new photos. I also added a pinch of salt and pepper.

Calories: 62kcal | Carbohydrates: 8g | Protein: 0.2g | Fat: 4g | Saturated Fat: 0.5g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.4g | Monounsaturated Fat: 3g | Sodium: 2mg | Potassium: 9mg | Fiber: 0.2g | Sugar: 6g | Vitamin A: 7IU | Vitamin C: 0.2mg | Calcium: 2mg | Iron: 0.1mg

If you try this Cranberry Vinaigrette recipe, please leave a comment and star rating below letting me know how you like it.

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