Southern Collard Greens

Name: Southern Collard Greens Recipe
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 45 min
Total time: 1 h
Cuisine: southern
Ingredients: 8 slices bacon chopped; 1 medium onion finely chopped; 3 cloves garlic; 1 lb collard greens washed, trimmed, and cut; 3 cups chicken broth (enough to cover the greens); 1 1/2 teaspoons apple cider vinegar; 1 tablespoon sugar; ½ teaspoon cajun seasoning; ¼ teaspoon smoked paprika; ¼ teaspoon crushed red pepper; Salt and pepper to taste

October 3, 2023 by Beth Pierce 79 Comments

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These southern-style Collard Greens are slow simmered greens with bacon, onion, garlic, and a perfect blend of seasonings to give it that down-home, fresh off-the-farm southern touch. This comfort side dish is one of our absolute favorites, and you don’t have to be a Southern cook to master them. I love to serve it with fried pork chops, rice, black-eyed peas, and cornbread. Or smoked turkey with mac and cheese.

If your family is anything like mine, then coming up with tasty side dishes that have not been served a gazillion times is always a challenge. If you have never tried collard greens, or maybe you just have not made them in years, then these are a must-try.

What are collard greens?

They are loose-leafed greens from the same family as mustard greens, turnip greens, broccoli, kale, and cabbage, although my husband swears that they taste like green beans. I like them better than mustard greens and kale. They are a staple at most southern meals and absolutely delicious when slow simmered with bacon or ham hocks. Fresh collard greens are in season from January to April.

This comfort side dish is one of our absolute favorites, and you don't have to be a Southern cook to master them.

How to cook collard greens?

Start by cooking your bacon and onions until the bacon is crisp and the onions are soft. Then add your garlic and cook for about 1 minute, stirring constantly. Next, add the greens and cook until they start to soften and wilt. Stir in the chicken broth, apple cider vinegar, sugar, Cajun seasoning, paprika, and red pepper flakes. Cover and simmer for about 1 hour, letting the liquid cook down, and the greens really cook tender. Then drain most of the excess chicken broth or use a slotted spoon to remove it. For best results, serve promptly with a side of hot sauce.

It is super easy to cook southern greens.

Recipe notes and helpful tips

Look for greens in the refrigerated produce section of your local grocery store next to the kale and other greens. The freshest collard greens are in season from January through April.
Pro-tip – Bacon is easier to chop when frozen or partially frozen.
When picking the greens, look for dark green leaves that are not wilted and blemish-free. See below for tips on prepping and trimming them.
After cooking, save the pot liquor in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days to flavor soups and stews.
Just like spinach, the greens cook down in volume. A whole lot of greens cook down to several cups. So add some of the greens to the pot, cook them down to wilted, and add some more. Repeat till everything fits in the pot, and the greens are wilted down before proceeding with the rest of the recipe.
Save a little bit of the crispy bacon to garnish the top.
They are best served promptly. However, leftovers heat up well in the microwave at reduced power.
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
To freeze, add fully cooled collard greens along with the pot liquor to a heavy-duty freezer bag. Flash freeze by laying flat on a baking sheet in the freezer. Once fully frozen, store the bags on their side for easy access. Freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw in the refrigerator overnight and heat on low on the stovetop.

These scrumptious and easy Southern Collard Greens are the perfect side for all your favorite southern main courses like fried catfish, hamburger steak, fried chicken, and smothered pork chops.

How to prep and trim them

Either rinse the leaves under cool water or wash them in a large sink full of cool water to remove any dirt and grit. Then dry well with paper towels. Now fold the leaf in half lengthwise making it easy to remove the tough stem and thick ribs. Then using a sharp knife, cut away the stem and ribs. Now lay the leaves on top of each other in a somewhat orderly stack and cut to the desired size. Some stores sell prepackaged collard greens that are prepped, washed, and ready to go.

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