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0 from 12 votes

Sweet and Spicy Collard Greens with Bacon

Sweet, spicy, smoky, and tender -- you'll love these collard greens with bacon, tomatoes, and onions!

Prep Time
10 mins
Cook Time
1 hr
Total Time
1 hr 10 mins
Servings: 6 people
Calories: 125 kcal
Course: Side Dish
Cuisine: American

Ingredients

  • 2 slices thick-cut bacon, cut into ¼-inch strips
  • 1 sweet onion, sliced
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced or pressed (about 1 ½ teaspoons total)
  • 3 fresh tomatoes (about 1 ½ lbs.), cored and diced, or 1 (28 ounce) can whole tomatoes, chopped, with their juices
  • 6 cups chicken broth or chicken stock
  • ½ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes, or more or less, to taste
  • 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
  • 1 ½ - 2 teaspoons light brown sugar, plus more to taste
  • 1 (16 ounce) bag chopped collard greens, or 1 (1 ½ lb.) bunch collard greens, stems removed and leaves coarsely chopped (about 8 cups)
  • kosher salt, to taste

Instructions

    Cup of Yum
  1. Heat a large Dutch oven or other large pot over medium-high heat. Fry the bacon until it’s starting to brown, about 5 minutes.
  2. Reduce the heat to medium; add the onion. Cook stirring regularly, until the onion softens, about 7-10 minutes. Add the garlic and cook until fragrant, about 45-60 seconds.
  3. Add the tomatoes with their juices, broth, and red pepper. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat to maintain a simmer. Cook, stirring occasionally, for 20 minutes.
  4. Return the liquid to a boil. Add the chopped collard greens in batches, waiting until they wilt to add the next batch. Stir in the vinegar, brown sugar, and salt to taste.
  5. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the greens are just tender, about 15-20 minutes. Taste and season with additional red pepper flakes, brown sugar, or salt, if desired.

Notes

  • Buy pre-washed and pre-chopped collard greens for a shortcut.
  • Buy pre-washed and pre-chopped collard greens for a shortcut.
  • It's important to clean greens really well before using, since dirt, grit, sand, and soil can get trapped in them. To clean them, fill a sink or large bowl with cold water. Add the greens and swish them around so that any dirt falls to the bottom of the sink. Pull out the greens, rinse out the sink, and repeat the process until the greens are completely clean.
  • It's important to clean greens really well before using, since dirt, grit, sand, and soil can get trapped in them. To clean them, fill a sink or large bowl with cold water. Add the greens and swish them around so that any dirt falls to the bottom of the sink. Pull out the greens, rinse out the sink, and repeat the process until the greens are completely clean.
  • If using canned tomatoes, I like to coarsely chop them with kitchen shears as I add them to the pot.
  • If using canned tomatoes, I like to coarsely chop them with kitchen shears as I add them to the pot.
  • Adjust the total cooking time to suit your preferences. I simmer these greens just until tender, which only takes about 15-20 minutes. If you like very broken-down, very tender greens (not at all crisp!), you may like to cook them for up to 2 hours. 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.
  • Adjust the total cooking time to suit your preferences. I simmer these greens just until tender, which only takes about 15-20 minutes. If you like very broken-down, very tender greens (not at all crisp!), you may like to cook them for up to 2 hours. 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.

Nutrition Information

Serving 1/6 of the recipe Calories 125kcal (6%) Carbohydrates 13g (4%) Protein 6g (12%) Fat 6g (9%) Saturated Fat 2g (10%) Polyunsaturated Fat 1g Monounsaturated Fat 2g Trans Fat 0.02g Cholesterol 13mg (4%) Sodium 975mg (41%) Potassium 453mg (13%) Fiber 4g (16%) Sugar 7g (14%) Vitamin A 4366IU (87%) Vitamin C 38mg (42%) Calcium 207mg (21%) Iron 1mg (6%)

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 6people

Amount Per Serving

Calories 125

% Daily Value*

Serving 1/6 of the recipe
Calories 125kcal 6%
Carbohydrates 13g 4%
Protein 6g 12%
Fat 6g 9%
Saturated Fat 2g 10%
Polyunsaturated Fat 1g 6%
Monounsaturated Fat 2g 10%
Trans Fat 0.02g 1%
Cholesterol 13mg 4%
Sodium 975mg 41%
Potassium 453mg 10%
Fiber 4g 16%
Sugar 7g 14%
Vitamin A 4366IU 87%
Vitamin C 38mg 42%
Calcium 207mg 21%
Iron 1mg 6%

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