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Photo of white pot filled with cooked collard greens and a wooden spoon.
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5 from 1 vote

The BEST Southern Collard Greens Recipe

Collard Greens are a flavorful, traditional Southern side dish slowly cooked low until tender. Perfect for New Year's Day and as a delicious everyday side dish!
Prep Time10 minutes
Cook Time2 hours
Course: Side Dish
Cuisine: American
Servings: 8
Author: Robyn Stone

Equipment

Ingredients

  • 3 pounds collard greens
  • 6 slices bacon chopped
  • 1 medium onion diced (optional)
  • 2 quarts chicken stock or broth or store-bought
  • 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar or white vinegar
  • 1 tablespoon sugar or maple syrup

Instructions

  • Prep. Wash and chop collard greens. Set aside.
  • Cook bacon and onion. Cook bacon and onion in a large stockpot or Dutch oven until the bacon is crispy.
  • Cook collards. Add chicken stock, apple cider vinegar, sugar, and collard greens. Reduce heat to low and cook until the greens have reached the desired level of tenderness. I recommend about 2 hours.

Notes

Take care not to overcook your greens. They will give a sulfur smell when they have been overcooked.

How to Store and Freeze Collard Greens

To store. Cool the greens and then transfer them to an airtight container. Store in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
To freeze. Cool the greens completely. Transfer to an airtight, freezer-safe container or zip-top freezer bag. Store in the freezer for up to 3 months. To serve, thaw in the refrigerator overnight and reheat on the stovetop or microwave until heated throughout.

Variations

Vegan Collard Greens: Substitute 2 tablespoons olive oil for the bacon and bacon drippings. Substitute vegetable broth for the chicken stock used.
Sugar-Free Collard Greens: Omit the sugar (or maple syrup) used. Note that the collard greens will have a bit of bitterness.
Slow Cooker Collard Greens: This provides a relatively hands-off solution for cooking these greens. Add the cooked bacon and onion to the slow cooker along with all of the remaining ingredients. Cook on low for 8 hours.

Nutrition

Calories: 221kcal | Carbohydrates: 21g | Protein: 13g | Fat: 10g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 4g | Trans Fat: 0.02g | Cholesterol: 18mg | Sodium: 477mg | Potassium: 669mg | Fiber: 7g | Sugar: 7g | Vitamin A: 8551IU | Vitamin C: 62mg | Calcium: 406mg | Iron: 1mg

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