Easy Cranberry Pork Roast with Candy Gravy

An incredibly simple family recipe with a 30-minute pork tenderloin option.

Some of the best recipes are the ones passed along by people we love. I learned this cranberry pork roast from a dear aunt of mine who inspired much of my cooking when I was a teenager. Many of the things I learned from her found their way into my own kitchen over the years, and this simple recipe is one that stayed with me.

It couldn’t be much easier: pork, a can of whole cranberry sauce, a little seasoning and water. As the pork cooks, the cranberry sauce turns into a sweet, savoury gravy that makes this simple dinner feel a little special.

I make it with a traditional pork roast when I have more time, but for a quick dinner, I use pork tenderloin and can have the meal on the table in about 30 minutes. Either way, it’s simple, comforting and tastes like you put in considerably more effort than you actually did.

PREP 5 min • COOK 30–60+ min • TOTAL 35–65+ min • YIELD Varies by cut • METHOD Stovetop

Pork tenderloin cooks quickly; a larger pork roast will take longer.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

• Just a handful of simple ingredients
• Very little hands-on preparation
• Use pork tenderloin for a quick 30-minute meal
• Use a larger pork roast when you have more time
• A delicious cranberry gravy comes together right in the cooking pot
• Easy enough for a weeknight but special enough to serve to guests

Ingredients

• Pork roast, any cut or size
  For a quick meal, use pork tenderloin
• 1 can whole cranberry sauce
• Salt and pepper, to taste
• Olive oil, for browning
• Approximately ½–1 cup water
• Cornstarch or flour, optional, for thickening the gravy

How to Make Cranberry Pork

1. Season the pork generously with salt and pepper.
2. Heat a little olive oil in a pot or deep skillet and brown the pork on all sides.
3. Pour the entire can of whole cranberry sauce over the pork.
4. Add enough water to create approximately 1 inch of liquid in the bottom of the pot.
5. Cover and simmer until the pork is cooked through. A larger roast will take around an hour, depending on its size. Try to keep the lid closed while it cooks and use a meat thermometer to check for doneness.
6. Remove the cooked pork from the pot and let it rest while you finish the gravy.
7. Using an immersion blender right in the pot, blend the cranberry cooking liquid until smooth. If you prefer pieces of cranberry in your gravy, you can skip this step.
8. If the gravy needs thickening, make a slurry by mixing 1 tablespoon cornstarch or flour with 2 tablespoons cold water until completely smooth. Gradually stir the slurry into the simmering gravy until it reaches the consistency you like.
9. Slice the pork and serve with plenty of warm cranberry gravy.

The 30-Minute Pork Tenderloin Version

For an easy weeknight dinner, use pork tenderloin instead of a larger pork roast.

Because tenderloin cooks so quickly, you can have the whole meal ready in about 30 minutes. Brown the tenderloin, add the cranberry sauce and water, cover and cook until the pork is done. Remove the pork to rest while you blend and finish the gravy.

It’s one of those dinners that tastes like you did considerably more work than you actually did.

How to Make the Cranberry Gravy

The gravy may be my favourite part of this recipe. Once the pork is cooked, I remove it from the pot and use an immersion blender right in the cooking pot to blend the cranberry mixture until smooth.

If it needs a little thickening, mix cornstarch or flour with cold water to make a smooth slurry. Add it gradually to the simmering sauce until the gravy reaches the consistency you like.

The result is a smooth, slightly sweet and savoury gravy that is especially good spooned over mashed potatoes. In our family, it earned the nickname “candy gravy.”

What to Serve With Cranberry Pork

I keep the rest of this meal simple. Serve the pork with:

• Mashed potatoes or roasted potatoes
• Whatever vegetable you have on hand
• A warm homemade baguette or crusty Dutch oven loaf

Try It With My Easy No-Knead Dough

Use the same easy dough to make homemade baguettes or a crusty Dutch oven loaf.

[LINK “Easy No-Knead Dough” TO YOUR BREAD RECIPE]

Make It for Company

The traditional roast version is also an easy option when you’re having people over. It requires very little hands-on preparation, but the cranberry gravy makes an otherwise simple pork roast feel a little more special.

Serve it with roasted or mashed potatoes, a green vegetable and warm homemade bread for an easy dinner worth gathering around.

A Little Family History

I learned this recipe from a dear aunt of mine who inspired much of my cooking when I was a teenager. I love that something so simple has stayed in my kitchen all these years.

Those are often the recipes worth keeping: uncomplicated food, passed from one person to another, that becomes part of your own family table.

Easy Cranberry Pork Roast Recipe

Save or print this recipe so you have it handy the next time you need an easy dinner.

Simple food. Made with love. Shared with people you love.