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5.0 from 15 votes

Southern Collard Greens

Smoky and tender, these Southern collard greens are a delicious side dish for any homecooked meal.

Prep Time
30 mins
Cook Time
1 hr 30 mins
Total Time
2 hrs
Servings: 8 people
Calories: 174 kcal
Course: Side Dish
Cuisine: American

Ingredients

  • 8 ounces hickory smoked bacon, chopped
  • 1 medium sweet onion, diced
  • 1 ½ tablespoons minced garlic  (about 3-4 large cloves garlic)
  • 48 ounces chicken broth
  • 2 lbs. fresh collard greens, trimmed and washed
  • 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
  • 1 ½ teaspoons sugar
  • ½ teaspoon kosher salt
  • ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
  • Optional garnish: crushed red pepper flakes or hot sauce

Instructions

    Cup of Yum
  1. Cook bacon in a large stockpot or Dutch oven over medium heat for 10-12 minutes, or until almost crisp. Add onion, and sauté until translucent, about 7-8 minutes.
  2. Stir in garlic and sauté 1 more minute. Add broth, collard greens, vinegar, sugar, salt, and pepper. Use a wooden spoon to stir, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom of the pot.
  3. Simmer (uncovered) over low heat for about 1 ½ hours, stirring occasionally (or until collards reach desired level of tenderness). Taste and season with additional salt and pepper, if necessary. Garnish with crushed red pepper flakes or hot sauce.

Notes

  • Buy pre-washed and pre-chopped collard greens for a shortcut. If you choose to wash and trim your own greens, be sure that you rinse them really well to get out any sand or sediment in the leaves.
  • Adjust the total cooking time to suit you preferences. An hour might be sufficient if you like slightly more crisp greens, while a full 2 hours might be necessary for really tender, broken-down collards. That's the beauty of using a Dutch oven (rather than a slow cooker or Instant pot) -- you have full control and can easily take them off of the heat when necessary.
  • Recipe adapted from Southern Living

Nutrition Information

Serving 1/8 of the recipe Calories 174kcal (9%) Carbohydrates 9g (3%) Protein 7g (14%) Fat 12g (18%) Saturated Fat 3g (15%) Cholesterol 18mg (6%) Sodium 975mg (41%) Potassium 459mg (13%) Fiber 4g (16%) Sugar 1g (2%) Vitamin A 5700IU (114%) Vitamin C 53.5mg (59%) Calcium 281mg (28%) Iron 1mg (6%)

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 8people

Amount Per Serving

Calories 174

% Daily Value*

Serving 1/8 of the recipe
Calories 174kcal 9%
Carbohydrates 9g 3%
Protein 7g 14%
Fat 12g 18%
Saturated Fat 3g 15%
Cholesterol 18mg 6%
Sodium 975mg 41%
Potassium 459mg 10%
Fiber 4g 16%
Sugar 1g 2%
Vitamin A 5700IU 114%
Vitamin C 53.5mg 59%
Calcium 281mg 28%
Iron 1mg 6%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.