Slow Cooker Turnip Greens makes easy work of a delicious Southern dish. This turnip greens recipe is a favorite and perfect for busy weeknights, Sunday suppers and New Year’s Day!
Turnip greens and cool weather go hand in hand, don’t they? And slow cooker turnip greens sure do make cooking this turnip green recipe even easier!
For Sunday suppers or lunches after church, it is just hard to beat having the slow cooker out on the countertop doing as much of the work for you as possible. As a matter of fact, most Sunday’s I’ll have more than one just working away to make our day run a whole lot more smoothly. Slow cookers are always great for that extra help in the kitchen.
Slow Cooker Turnip Greens Recipe
A few years ago, I’d planned to make a traditional Southern supper one Sunday but knew we were going to be out of the house most of the day with various activities. I knew the turnip greens needed to cook low and slow to produce tons of pot liquor like my husband likes for eating with his cornbread. Otherwise, I could’ve made quick skillet turnip greens like I’ve shared before and that we love to make for easy weeknights. But, this particular Sunday, I wanted the style my Grandmother would’ve made and cook all day.
So, I decided I’d give them a try in my slow cooker. Goodness gracious if they didn’t produce some of the best tasting, traditional Southern turnip greens I’ve ever tasted! The best part, I didn’t have to worry with them all day long. I popped them into my slow cooker, added water and seasonings and set the timer. My slow cooker did all the work.
I love it when things come together like that. Don’t you?
How to Make
Fill your sink or a large stockpot with lukewarm water. Then, chop your turnip greens and add to the water. Agitate the water to clean the turnip greens and remove any dirt or grit that may be on the greens. Drain away the water and repeat until the turnip greens are cleaned and there is no dirt in the bottom of your sink or stockpot when cleaning the greens.
Spray the insert of your slow cooker with nonstick cooking spray and then add half of your turnip greens with about 1 cup of clean water. Add any peeled and quartered turnips if you are using along with a ham hock or olive oil. If you are using the sugar and red pepper flakes, add those as well. Set the timer for 1 hour at the low setting.
Once the timer has completed for the hour, add the other half of the turnip greens to the slow cooker and set the timer for 4 hours on the low setting.
Once they are done, serve with cornbread, mashed potatoes, black-eyed peas (especially for New Year’s Day) and other southern favorites! So delicious!
And remember, never discard your pot liquor from your turnip greens. For many, that is the very best part! You can always add a few more ingredients to left over turnip greens for my Pot Likker Soup or just have a simple meal of turnip greens and cornbread.
Here’s my Slow Cooker Turnip Greens recipe. I think you’ll love how easy they are to make in the slow cooker!
Slow Cooker Turnip Greens Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 large bunches fresh turnip greens
- 3 medium turnips, peeled and cut into quarters
- 1 (1/2 pound) ham hock, or 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 tablespoon granulated sugar, optional
- pinch red pepper flakes, optional
Instructions
- Fill clean sink about halfway with lukewarm water. Chop turnip greens and place into the sink to clean. Agitate the water and turnip greens with your hands to dislodge any dirt and grit from the turnip greens. Drain water and repeat once or twice until the greens feel clean and no dirt remains in the bottom of the sink when rinsing.
- Spray insert of slow cooker with non-stick cooking spray.
- Add half of greens to the slow cooker with about 1 cup of water, peeled and quartered turnips, and ham hock or olive oil. If you are using the sugar and red pepper flakes, add those as well.
- Cook on low setting for about 1 hour until greens have reduced. Add remaining greens to the slow cooker and set time on low for 4 more hours.
- Note: The longer turnip greens cook, the better the flavor, in my opinion.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Enjoy!
Robyn xo
Originally published 2012.
I’m sorry I meant to say that I’m gonna use 2LBS of each of the greens.
I love the idea of using my crockpot to make my greens. I’m making a mixture of 2LBS of Turnip Greens, Collard greens and couple turnips etc I’m not sure what size crockpot to use. Can you help me out with that?
Thanks for great recipes!!
Patty, I use my 6-quart slow cooker for this recipe. You may be able to use a 4-quart size with yours.
I haven’t tried cooking greens in a slow cooker but have cooked greens in a pressure cooker for at least 40 years. Southerners like their greens cooked until they are very tender and the pressure cooker does a stellar job. I pare boil the greens after they are cleaned and then drain the water. It will be brown. I then put them in the pressure cooker with the seasoning and enough water to cover them and close the lid and when the steam starts , I put the pressure control on. I pressure for at least 30 minutes. When I remove the lid and check them for doneness and adjust for seasoning if they aren’t as tender as I like, I will put the pressure back for 15 minutes or so.. I’ve never been a stickler for how long, just until they are done.
I’m going to try this way for New Years Day because I just don’t have the time to cook on the stove. I mix turnip greens and collards 1/2 and 1/2. But my Granny always used either vegetable or chicken broth instead of water (preferably vegetable). Do you think I should stick with that or use water? My Granny was from a town called Hoo Doo TN and I’m not sure she would approve of the crockpot method but as long as they turn out like hers…I’m all for it. I don’t think I could use pressure cooker for this. I know that’s the new way to cook things but some things just have to be cooked the “right” way. Don’t mean to offend anyone!! But it’s like cornbread should only be made in a hot iron skillet…lol. Yes…I’m southern and country!! Thanks for thinking of this and hopefully getting back to me soon. I would NEVER live it down if my New Years Day dinner wasn’t perfect…lol. Thanks again and Merry Christmas!!
Instead of a ham hock, I put a small pork roast in to cook with the greens. I find it much tastier than smoked meat. Also, in response to another post, a tablespoon of sugar doesn’t make the greens sweet, but it does lessen any bitterness.
Sounds delicious, Anne! Glad you enjoy the turnip greens! Thanks so much!
Hi! I am desperately trying to recreate my Mom’s greens and your sounds similar and delicious! How would you cook them on the stove top rather than in a slow cooker? (Cooking does not come naturally to me :))
Thank you!
This recipe turned out perfect. I used smoked pig tails that I had to boil for an hour to tenderize them a bit and used the brine for the water when cooking the greens. I am definitely going to use this again in the future.
Thanks, T-Bone! So glad you liked these.
I got greens that I determined to be turnip greens in my vegetable box from the local produce person. There was actually also a turnip in the box even though the greens and the turnip weren’t attached. I also did not have 8 pounds of greens either! But I sized things down and did them in the crock pot. Though DH and I are not huge greens fans, this is tasty and I like the pieces of turnip in them. A definite go to way to make turnip greens I would say.
Sounds delicious Janet! I’m so glad you enjoyed these! Thanks!
I’m in a hurry, anyone use a pressure cooker for turnip greens? How many minutes? Dp you add salt, meat or spices for flavor.
Robyn,
I just got lovely turnips complete with greens from the farm share and decided to make this on a busy afternoon. It turned out wonderfully–thanks for a great recipe!
I SO APPRECIATE THIS!!!! THANK YOU!!!
Ole’ southern girl that loves her greens & cornbread but doesn’t have the time to cook them!!
Usually pay my bff to make them for me!!
I too, would not add sugar to my greens. I don’t like the sweetness!!